On Sunday afternoons, Ghanaians tune their radio stations or switch their TV channels to Ghana Television (GTV) to watch/listen to one of the country’s longest-running trivia shows.
What Do You Know? is a quiz show hosted by Dan-Afari Yeboah, whose measured cadence has become a national soundtrack for nearly five decades on Ghanaian airwaves and TV sets.
The show challenges three to four teams of individuals with questions that span human knowledge, the capitals of distant nations, and Ghanaian and world history.
The show is reminiscent of other popular shows, including Jeopardy, a televised US-based quiz show, which has run for 59 years and is still going strong.
However, compared to its American counterpart, What Do You Know? has not been given the same resources and investments to become a bigger brand name.
While other quiz shows like the National Maths and Science Quiz (NSMQ) have attracted more sponsorships and even Government support, What Do You Know? is still stagnant in its growth.
Concept Of The Show
Launched in the 1970s by the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), What Do You Know? is among the oldest continuous programs on Ghanaian airwaves.
The show has long served as a democratizing force, rewarding those who read widely and think quickly.
The show’s staying power is remarkable in an era dominated by flashy reality TV and social media.
Yet it has not escaped the challenges of time.
Unlike the NSMQ, a glitzier rival that has captured more national attention through robust sponsorship and slick production, What Do You Know? has struggled to secure consistent funding.
According to its host, the show barely gets by due to a lack of sponsorship.
The Lawyer Who Became Quizmaster
Dan-Afari Yeboah, a lawyer who has devoted his time to the show, has become What Do You Know’s? quintessential quiz master.
The original quizmaster on radio from 1972 to 1983 was Dr. Kofi Sarpong Frimpong.
Trained at Mfantsepim School and the University of Ghana, Mr. Yeboah brings a scholar’s precision to his role, crafting questions and speaking with pristine eloquence.
Although he has hosted the show for close to 40 years, Mr. Yeboah has acknowledged the program’s current precarious position.
In September 2024, he announced plans to seek ownership of What Do You Know? from GBC, a move driven by frustration over its lack of financial support.
“We’ve operated for close to 10 years without any financial backing from a sponsor,” he said in a TV interview.
“I think I have concentrated too much on my practice as a private legal practitioner. Maybe that’s one of the factors I have not endeavoured to go and take it up,” when asked why he has taken so long to seek ownership of the show.
GBC has not publicly spoken about selling the rights to the show.
The Business Behind The Show
GBC’s financial issues are a major contributor to dimming the program’s star. The entity has received no significant funding in the past 25 years, according to its Director-General Amin Alhassan.
What Do You Know?‘s continued dependency on GBC might be restricting its growth.
Jeopardy, which has operated in the US for close to six decades, is owned by a private corporation. The show has continued to attract audiences, securing TV and streaming rights with different online platforms to boost its visibility and attract more sponsorships.
If Mr. Yeboah’s attempt to gain ownership of the rights to the show succeeds, it could open opportunities for more growth.
But whether GBC decides to relinquish the show is another question.
What Do You Know? could be revitalized, utilizing digital tools and platforms to appeal to young Ghanaians and international audiences.
As more of its audience evolves, so too must What Do You Know?.
The worst-case scenario is that Ghanaians tune in on a Sunday afternoon to find that the show has ceased operations due to a lack of funding.
In an era where media has become more ubiquitous thanks to the internet, it would be a tragedy for a national treasure like What Do You Know? to meet its demise due to financial constraints.
Dani Yeboah has been asking, “What Do You Know?” for four decades on radio and television. It would be great to give him and the show more flowers and financial rewards.
