Born Elinam Amenyo, GHOne TV’s screen diva is a product of Mfantsiman Girls Secondary School and the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.
She hosts a segment on E-Talk, an entertainment talk show presented by Amanda Jissih, and presents Entertainment news on GhToday, the morning show on GhOneTV. Starrfmonline.com had an up-close and personal session with Eli Kharis, touted as a talent to look out for in the entertainment industry.
WHO IS ELI KHARIS?
All I can say is I’m not just the normal kind of girl, I am very outgoing but I’m a puzzle to figure out unless you get close enough. Also, I’m a free-spirited person (making a positive outlook on life despite situations and trying to make the most of it) and that is one key point to winning) Geez, I used to worry a lot over little things like mistakes and situations…and that definitely had to change.
HOW WAS LIFE LIKE GROWING UP?
Wasn’t rosy at all as people will perceive per the outcome, due to Daddy’s occupation I should say I have lived in every security barracks in Ghana (thanks to transfers from here and there, meeting new people and adjusting to new environments). Dad is currently the Keta Divisional Commander Alex. K. Amenyo, my mother is a Caterer Sena Annah Akakpo, and I have the loveliest Stepmother ever Mrs Catherine Amenyo (A Soldier). I’m the 3rd born out of eight children (yaaaaaasss quite huge thanks to Dad). I have always worked for what I want, Dad will always say to me ‘You aren’t the daughter of a rich man’, so yeah I basically strive for everything I want in life and making it a point to make my family proud of my chosen career. (Daddy isn’t really much of a fan of my chosen field…(yeah for now..just for now).
ANYTHING MEMORABLE WORTH SHARING WITH US?
I have always been the smartest kid amongst my siblings unless my kid siblings prove me wrong, I’m kind of popular too because I was everywhere trying to learn new things. Dad used to call me ‘Philomina kpetenge’ and I respond ‘Ge ge’ (remember Tic Tak’s song? Anyway not for the reasons in the song though, but just for being a favorite and a brilliant child. My sisters (1st born Police and 2nd born a soldier should be planning to sell me off ‘like Joseph in the bible’ with all these details…Lol)
WHAT SETS YOU APART FROM OTHERS?
I believe I stay true to myself (I don’t have any other persona that I put on, I just don’t know how to feign it), I am very compassionate (and that’s a problem to some friends, they don’t just understand why I continue to support and show love to people who have done the most despicable things to me, but yeah Christ still loved us even after we crucified him…such is life, I strongly believe in the goodness – forgiveness brings). And I believe ‘I’m a Modern Ancient Lady’ (someday I will share…lol)
TELL US ABOUT LIFE IN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL?
Life in High School, quite exciting for the most wanted girl (not for bad reasons, but for the fact that I was the Entertainment prefect of a prestigious single sex school ‘Mfanstiman Girls Senior High School’, you know what I mean right). So yeah every guy wanted to meet the Entertainment prefect if not for events collaboration, then it was because she needed to be the hottest girl on campus (hehehe..), only for them to find out, she was just this ‘small girl’ making big things happen (organizing educative and entertaining programs, which was my main aim as I took upon the role: ‘Entertainment for all’). There’s a whole lot to talk about when it comes to Senior high school…memories though; the ‘false accusations’ and all… to be continued (LoL)
WHAT WERE SOME OF THE FOND MEMORIES AT THE UNIVERSITY?
Life in the University: I embraced a whole new experience, the ‘very busy life’ (aside studying a course that was very demanding, I was also in between working and hosting two radio shows (a health and a relationship/social issues show’ on our campus radio ‘Focus FM’, I was one of the only three ladies part of the K.N.U.S.T SRC Entertainment body made of strong abled men of the school, I was also the Sponsorship Committee Chairperson of the Faculty of Arts Students Association (2013/2014), and oh hey I used to model as well…so yeah you could say I was a veeeery busy young lady (my male friends had a problem with that though)
TELL US ABOUT THE FIRST JOB YOU TOOK UP
In between school, I was honored to have an internship with Millennium Excellence Foundation (Organizers of Millennium Excellence Awards). After completion of school, I joined Charter House production, where I did my National Service with the Event department. And after sometime I auditioned at Ghone TV for a presenter role, so as I went up and down assisting Events organisation (even as a National service person, I barely had free time for any other thing rather than work), I did use my lunch break to go record for TV, and back to the office. God being so good, I got employed at Ghone TV after my national service.
HAVE YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO BE A BROADCAST JOURNALIST?
Honestly speaking, I wanted to be a Doctor when I was a child (I think Daddy will love to hear a change of profession whenever I call him…Lol). But as time went by, I discovered who I am and what I am made for, I built on it…and I believe if this wasn’t meant to be, so many things wouldn’t have occurred (I trust this journey).
IF YOU HAD THE CHANCE TO CHANGE ANYTHING ABOUT YOUR JOB WHAT WOULD IT BE AND WHY?
Well….I ‘m very passionate about what i do i can only get better at my work for more opportunities.And hoping the industry as a whole ensures equal opportunities for all based on their level of creativity and hard work.
WHO AND WHAT MOTIVATES YOU AND WHY?
My mum; I want to strive hard to be able to give her a comfortable life and ‘spoil’ her. For what motivates me: Heartbreaks, Disappointments and when someone looks down on me. Those three meeehn, they just want me to do the impossible. So yeah they make me want to be a better person.
HOW DID YOU END UP AT EIB NETWORK?
GOD… GOD…GOOOOD is the reason
WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU ARE NOT WORKING?
Planning something very exciting aside Tv presentation and hopefully coming soon by God’s grace: writing pieces and putting other things together. Family and friends time (hanging out with the girlfriends; importantly talk about improving upon now and plan towards the future).
HOW IS A TYPICAL DAY LIKE FOR YOU AT WORK?
I’m up by 3 or 4 am for work: I supervise editing of content (mostly for the Lifestyle and Entertainment segment on the morning show (could be done days before), and I also produce the following segments ‘Word play’ and ‘Healthy you’, a health segment on the show). I make sure everything is intact, Guests sorted out before I get glammed up for Tv. After the morning show, preproduction for next day kicks off with shoots on location, events/programs coverage if any (This is mostly on the weekends and also getting scoops on what’s trending).
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES YOU FACE AS A FEMALE BROADCASTER?
A comment I detest from some men is ‘For you ladies everything comes easy’, ignoring the fact that for one to succeed you need to put in effort and hard work. And you will agree with me that notable women of today never excluded hard work and determination from their journey. And please “If it were easy, everyone will do it’. …so yeah it’s never easy for both sexes.
Also, pressure from the society expecting a female broadcaster to look all glam up, and perfect always; honestly I’m not moved by that. As I said earlier I don’t have any other persona to put on just to please people. I’m imperfect, want to be a better person and I love to keep it simple.
WHAT IS THE MOST EXCITING ASPECT OF YOUR JOB?
The fact that I get to learn something new everyday from the mistakes, everything around me and the inspiration I get from experiences shared by the people I meet (because the plan is to get better at what I do).
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE HANG OUT?
I don’t really have a favorite (most of my hangouts are places I find myself working in/at: Pubs, concerts, Cookouts, Exhibition centers etc). But I do love somewhere a bit private, with less crowd and where I can eat good food (yaaaaas I’m a foodie and no one does it better than mum, the question is where does the food go to? My reply is ‘the Forehead’ Lol) and importantly have a me time.
HOW DO YOU DE-STRESS?
Eat some hot Akple and okro soup, take a cold shower, watch a movie/read through lifestyle magazines and have a long sleep.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE SPORTS?
I don’t have any (Just that I use to play basketball in Senior high school and I quit after my 3rd training, I love to swim but I’m still learning, I once jogged and I ended up buying two balls of hot kenkey on my way back home, Guess what: my friend captured me on snap chat after we had previously displayed to the world we were on a fitness course)
WHO IS YOUR ROLE MODEL AND WHY?
Eli Kharis: I love the woman I have flourished into. It hasn’t been easy trying to stay focused. I only want to get better to enable me help impact positively in the lives of others. And yes I do admire women who are fighters like my self; because ‘If you quit, they win’, so why not continue to put in the effort and Earn your Crown (Glory). #EarnYourCrown (my favorite quote)