Osei Kwame Despite, often referred to as Dr. Osei Kwame Despite, is a prominent Ghanaian entrepreneur and philanthropist. He serves as the founder and CEO of the Despite Group of Companies, a major conglomerate spanning media, food processing, real estate, and finance.
Profile Summary
| Full name | Osei Kwame Despite |
| Date of birth | 2 February 1962 |
| Place of birth | Agona Wiamoase (Wiamoase), Ashanti Region, Ghana |
| Nationality | Ghanaian |
| Region of origin | Ashanti Region, Ghana |
| Partner (spouse) | Married; wife named Ernestina Ntiamoah |
| Children | Multiple children; commonly reported as five or more |
| Occupations | Entrepreneur, businessman, philanthropist; founder and CEO of the Despite Group of Companies / Despite Media Group |
| Net worth | $1 billion USD |
Early Life and Education
Osei Kwame Despite was born on February 2, 1962, in Agona Wiamoase in Ghana’s Ashanti Region to a family facing financial hardships.
He completed primary education locally and demonstrated early talent in trading over extended formal studies. After basic schooling, he entered informal trading and later earned an honorary doctorate for his business and charitable work.
Career
Despite began as a petty trader in Dunkwa-On-Offin, dealing in items like music cassettes and household goods. He briefly ventured to Nigeria for trade before returning to Ghana around 1983 due to regional tensions. Back home, a short-lived timber business failed, but he rebuilt through cassette distribution, laying groundwork for broader commerce.
Building the Despite Group and Media Empire
In 1999, he launched Peace FM in Accra, using Akan-language content to gain a massive following on 104.3 FM. This success expanded to stations like Okay FM, Neat FM, and Hello FM, plus UTV, forming the Despite Media Group core.
The wider Despite Group also covers food production such as NEAT fufu and banku, salt manufacturing, banking, real estate, and agriculture, serving millions daily.
Personal Life
Despite maintains a private yet family-focused life as a devout Christian. He is married to Ernestina Ntiamoah, with whom he has several children, and is known for grand family celebrations like birthdays and weddings featuring luxury cars and donations.
Net Worth
Media estimates position him among Ghana’s richest, with personal fortune in the hundreds of millions of dollars and group assets potentially over $1 billion across media, manufacturing, property, and finance.
Awards and Achievements
He has earned multiple local honors for entrepreneurship and philanthropy, including an honorary doctorate. Notable contributions include hospital donations like to Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital and aid to disaster victims. His journey from poverty to conglomerate leader inspires as a tale of grit and savvy.
