Staff of the Joy brands at The Multimedia Group has thrown a surprise party for their former Managing News Editor, Elvis Kwashie.

Popping champagne and raising glasses the team sought to celebrate Mr Kwashie’s exceptional 10-year leadership in the newsroom and his promotion as General Manager of the Joy Cluster.

For the team, Mr Kwashie has been an outstanding individual who has, in unique ways influenced not only their professional lives but their personal lives as well.

“You are tough but you are kind” those are the words of Seth Kwame Boateng.

For the award-winning journalist, it took Mr Kwashie's effort for him to get the opportunities and guidance as he embarked on the journalism journey.

“When Elvis came back in 2010 he invited me to his office and we had a long chat and he made me aware of my strengths and weaknesses and he told me they [Joy] are here to support me. And by the grace of God, I started winning awards in 2013 and now I have 25 awards.

“Through his leadership over 1000 prisoners have been freed. Through his leadership, maternal mortality at Okomfo Anokye has drastically gone down and a hospital has been built, through his leadership, I can say, 'I am a star'" he said.

Taking her turn, host for JoyNews’ The Pulse, Gifty Andoh Appiah stated that although she was employed to work with the TV department, it took her former Managing News Editor to introduce her to radio.

She further highlighted the multi-role he plays in the lives of his subordinates.

“I just want to say thank you for all those times you prayed for me. One day I was in the newsroom and I didn’t know what was wrong with me, but I was really down that day.

“And I think it takes a good leader to say, ‘we need to pray’ and he prayed with me. Those are the little things that we cherish,” Miss Andoh Appiah said.

JoyNews Prime anchor, Israel Laryea, described Mr Kwahie as a ‘jolly good fellow’.

He admitted that although his relationship with the boss has some rough patches, it doesn’t take away the relationship they have built over the years.

“He is a good leader, and under his leadership, we have won so many awards and for that we say ‘God bless you’.”

“So I want Elvis to continue to lead us, and take us to the promise land. Where we [Joy] need to be,” he said.

Channel Manager for JoyNews, Emily Nyarko said, “Elvis is not my boss, he is my friend. I share everything with him and he also shares everything with me. I will talk to everyone here but there are things I will share only with Elvis. And his leadership has guided me and brought me this far.”

The visibly stunned boss, Mr Kwashie on his part expressed gratitude to the team for the thoughtful gesture.

“I thank God for people like you, because when you are a shepherd, and you are leading a sheep they have to listen to you else you will not be successful.

“I celebrate each and every one of you here today. There are people who are well endowed than me and I do not see myself higher than anybody. I propably have one talents and people have five talents but I had an opportunity to lead, it is just by grace and it is a privilege to lead you people.”

Mr Kwashie then charged the team to give the same accord of respect to his successor, Fiifi Koomson.