On Cue with Kafui Dey: MCs, moderators & mistakes: behind the mic at Ghana’s biggest corporate events

If you’ve ever attended a big corporate event in Ghana — or anywhere in Africa — you know how unpredictable they can be.

You arrive on time (which already makes you a hero), only to find the program starting an hour late. The projector refuses to cooperate, the microphone squeals like a protesting goat, and the first speaker is missing in action.

At that moment, all eyes turn to one person — the Master of Ceremonies.

Now, as someone who’s spent years behind the mic hosting everything from presidential banquets to product launches, I can tell you: being an MC or moderator is not as easy as it looks. You’re part pilot, part peacekeeper, part performer — and 100% responsible for making sure the event doesn’t fall apart before dessert.

The myth of “just the MC”

I’ve heard it many times: “Oh, he’s just the MC.” Let me assure you, there is no such thing as just an MC.

An MC is the glue that holds the event together. The one who reads the audience’s mood, adjusts the energy, fills the gaps, and still makes everyone feel like the event was designed to go exactly that way.

Think of a corporate MC as the conductor of an orchestra — except the violinist is the CEO, the trumpeter is the keynote speaker, and the drummer is the catering team that insists on serving lunch halfway through the panel discussion.

When the unexpected happens (and it will)

One of my favorite stories comes from a major awards night. The sound system died — completely. No microphone, no music, no announcements. The audience shifted uncomfortably. For thirty long seconds, panic hung in the air. Then I did what any self-respecting MC would do — I raised my voice, cracked a joke about “unplugged performances,” and kept the show going.

Fifteen minutes later, the sound came back, but the audience had already forgotten there was a problem. That’s the job — not just to fill silence, but to turn chaos into calm.

At another event, the Guest of Honour — a Very Important Person — dozed off mid-speech. The cameras caught it. My job, in that moment, wasn’t to embarrass him. It was to re-energize the room without drawing attention to the nap. (Let’s just say a well-timed applause line can work wonders.)

The art of moderation

If emceeing is performance, moderating is diplomacy. You’re juggling egos, opinions, and time — often simultaneously.

Imagine moderating a panel that includes a government minister, a startup founder, and an academic. Each has strong views, and none wants to stop talking. Your secret weapon? The “Compliment-Interrupt-Redirect” technique:

1. Compliment: “That’s an excellent point, Honorable.”
2. Interrupt: “And if I could just bring in our entrepreneur’s perspective…”
3. Redirect: Smoothly move the conversation without bruising any egos.

It works every time — well, almost.

Why good MCs are worth every Cedi

A great MC or moderator is not just a voice with jokes. They’re a brand ambassador for your event. They set the tone, manage expectations, and ensure your sponsors, speakers, and guests leave with smiles — not sighs.

Unfortunately, many organizations still see the MC as an afterthought, hired at the last minute with the leftover budget. But here’s a business truth: the way your event is hosted reflects the way your organization communicates.

When done right, the MC becomes your invisible marketing asset — building goodwill, reinforcing professionalism, and turning ordinary programs into memorable experiences.

Lessons from the mic

After years on stage, here’s what I’ve learned:

• Preparation beats talent. The best MCs don’t “wing it” — they plan every transition.
• Humour is a bridge, not a weapon. Laugh with your audience, not at them.
• The show must go on — but with grace. Mistakes will happen. Handle them, don’t highlight them.

So, the next time you attend a glittering gala or power-packed conference, spare a thought for the person holding the mic. Behind every seamless event is an MC quietly juggling chaos — with a smile, a story, and maybe a secret prayer.

And if you’re planning your next corporate event, remember: don’t just hire an MC. Invest in one.

Because in the world of business and branding, how you sound is how you’re remembered.

>>> Need an MC for your next corporate event? Book now: [email protected]

The post On Cue with Kafui Dey: MCs, moderators & mistakes: behind the mic at Ghana’s biggest corporate events appeared first on The Business & Financial Times.

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