Though all the contestants, general public and media were made to understand that the winner of the MTN Hit Maker would walk home with a cool GH¢100,000 from MTN and a year’s promotional package and other souvenirs, and the first runner-up, an amount of GH¢50,000 from the MTN Foundation, plus a promotional package, none of them has received a pesewa after emerging winner.
According to MTN, it did not promise to give cash to any of the winners but rather to keep the money in an account and use it to promote the music careers of the two winners. Almost a month after the event, neither Naterial nor Miriam has received any money from MTN and their music careers have also not been injected with any money whatsoever.
When NEWS-ONE contacted MTN over the seeming disappointment, the paper was directed to speak to Eugene Ntri, who claimed that all the contestants were made to understand that the money would be used for their career but not given to them.
According to Eugene, MTN would ensure the money is well accounted for and that there was no cause for worry. But NEWS-ONE checks revealed that the contestants were never made aware that they would not be given the cash amount.
Their understanding was that the cash amount was different from the year’s promotional package MTN promised.
Just before the final event, NEWS-ONE had an exclusive with all the four finalists, during which each of them explained in detail what they would do with the cash amount should they emerge winner.
When NEWS-ONE asked Mirian what plans she had with the prize money, this was her response: “I need that money badly and I want Ghanaians to vote for me. We are being ejected from our house and I need the money to pay our rent else we would be stranded….Oh yeah.
You can add it because it is true. I went to Takoradi over the weekend and we are being ejected so I need the money. So they should vote for me.” Naterial also had a similar response when he was asked the plans he had for the cash amount: “I’m the only man standing in my nuclear family.
My dad is gone and I am the only son. Secondly I am not from a rich home though we are very gifted. I would use the money to help my mum set up an income generating venture to keep us going.
I would use part to promote my music career because when I hit, I would rake in more money. I also intend opening a music and dance school to help others just like MTN is helping us.
There are several other talents even better than me out there and they also need my help.” As it stands now, the two winners, despite the national fame the MTN Hit Maker platform has given them, are still walking about cashless and their financial challenges have worsened.
Chikicherker and Atimbilla, the other two finalists, have also not received a dime from MTN.
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