MY GOSPEL SONG AWARD WAS COMPENSATION – O.J

Michael Oware Sakyi popularly known in showbiz as OJ has said the Gospel Song of the Year award presented to him at the recently held Vodafone Ghana Music Awards, was just to appease him.

OJ disclosed to Flex newspaper that he deserved more than what was given him. “I think this a public knowledge. Who doesn’t know I was supposed to have won the Songwriter of the Year award? I thank God that at least I did not fight for myself after the award eluded me. 

To be honest with you, I take solace in the fact that, a lot of people including some members on the VGMA board and the media at large have noticed the fact that the songwriter award should have come to me,” he said.

“Those who really know me know that I am an honest person and very principled. I don’t let my selfish interests steal my conscience. 

When one deserves something, I don’t fight for it. I make sure I say it as it is to set the record straight. Even in the first week the nomination list came out, I granted a lot of interviews to the media where I stated the fact that, categories like the Gospel Artiste of the year should be given to Sonnie Badu and also consecutive times even had always claimed my song stated why the Gospel Album of the year award should be given to Joyce Blessing all because, I believed they meet the standards,” he added.

He also believed that even if for nothing at all, a category like the Songwriter of the Year should have been given to him. “I believed in the song I wrote and many music pundits have said the same thing. The likes of Okyeame Kwame who has won that category two ’Ma Ye Se Mopen’ deserved the Songwriter of the year award including Rex Omar,” he lamented.

OJ says what hurts him most for not winning the songwriter award is the fact that, his strength lies in his song writing skills so denying him of that and giving him any other award, seemed compensatory and nothing else.

“I use this as an opportunity to thank my fans and loved ones who have always stood behind me all this while. I am grateful for their loyalty. I want to assure them that I am still OJ and nothing can discourage me or affect my music writing skills. I have a lot of deep songs that can beat the imagination of Ghanaians and I shall release them as and when God gives me the direction,” OJ concluded

WE DON’T PAY INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS TO PERFORM AT VGMA, CHARTER HOUSE

Organizers of the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards, Charter House has denied reports that they pay huge amount of money to foreign artists to perform at the main event of the annual Ghana Music Awards.

According to the Director of Productions at Charter House, Nii Ayitey Hammond, all the international artists including P-square, D’banj, Wizkid, Iyanya, Davido, Awilo and others who have performed at the main event of Ghana Music Awards are not paid for their services. 

He disclosed to Bra Chef on Radio Univers that “if they are coming to perform at the awards night, they don’t charge us and we don’t pay them. All we do is, we ensure that we take care of their flight, their accommodations, their per diem and give them their honorarium because they understand that it is an awards night”.

He continued that international artists are paid commercial fees when they are hired for other concerts in Ghana aside music awards.

He however stated that Ghanaian acts are paid commercial fees due them for their services at any of Ghana Music Awards events.

“Every Ghanaian act you see perform on any of the being it the nominees jam, the industry awards and the final events are paid”
“Obviously they will charge and us and we will negotiate so when we come into an agreement, then we put the money through” Nii Ayitey Hammond added.

The question remains, do you believe this? Let’s know you thoughts on this.

I HAVE PROMISED MYSELF & GOD I AM NOT GOING TO BE POOR

“I overhead they paid artistes from Nigeria 40,000 and 45,000 dollars but when I asked for 70,000 cedis, organizers refused because I told them I don’t really need an award from them because I don’t trust them, so I was really surprised they gave me all those awards.

“They refused to pay me because they wanted to take me cheap like they take other Ghanaian artistes for cheap that is why I didn’t go for the awards.”

“ As for me Shatta Wale, I have promised myself and God that I am not going to be poor in this music industry and I m going to make sure I bring a change because I want artiste to be respected ,So artiste who perform for free should stop because its killing the industry.”

Quotes from an interview he granted HITZ FM.

CHARTERHOUSE COULD NOT PAY ME – DJ BLACK

After four years of having played as the official DJ at Vodfone Ghana Music Awards night, DJ Black was missing on the stage this year, because, organizers of the award – Charterhouse, could not meet his professional charge.

The official DJ who played for this year’s VGMA night was JD Mic Smith. Though a top-drawer DJ, many patrons who attended the event as well as critics alike have expressed disappointment at his performance regarding his poor selection of songs and timing.

Speaking to Razz Newspaper, DJ Black said; “they contacted me but they could not meet my fee. That is the main reason why I did not play on the night.” As to how much he charged, he did not state it.

In his opinion on how DJ Mic Smith fared on the night, Mr. Tuntum told Razz Newspaper he was on air as DJ on Joy 99.7 Fm, so he could not listen or monitor the VGMA event which was broadcasted live both on GhOne and GTV.

He admitted that there is absolutely no bad blood between him and Charterhouse. DJ Black started his DJ career in 1993 in School. He later joined Prime Cut in 1995 and worked alongside veteran Ghanaian DJs like Azigiza Jnr, DJ Magic Sam, DJ Rab, DJ Kakra, among other.

In 1997, DJ Black moved on to manage Dope Rhyme Studios in Nima, giving rise to his clench on Hiphop music in Ghana. He became the DJ for the streets as he made mixtapes and spinned for Hiplifers like VIP, Bukbak, Obrafuor, etc and being in the forefront of people who strengthened the movement Hiplife.

DJ Black started radio in 1997 at Radio Universe. He holds a BA in Mass Communication from Ghana Institute of Journalism and University of Ghana. He as well has diploma in Public Administration.

He is the host DJ for almost all major shows in Ghana including the Ghana Music Awards. DJ Black won the 2013 Best Ghanaian DJ, Best radio DJ. He can be described as the hottest DJ in Ghana at the moment.
Razz

XCLUSIV FOTOS: MEMORABLE MOMENTS ON STAGE AT VGMA... KWABENA KWABENA GRABS DANCER'S BOOBS

Aside the glitz and glamour on the red carpet at the just ended 15th Ghana Music Awards, there were some unforgettable magic moments on stage.

Award presenters, award winners, performers, the MCs and others who kept the show going on the night were very important part of the awards night.

From a splendid opening performance by Castro De Destroyer, Guru’s “Boys Abre” performance, Elikem’s proposal, John Dumelo prank, Sarkodie’s world class stage presence, Bokom Banku and Ayitey Powers’ appearance, Okomfour Kwadee and Daasebre Dwamena’s surprise appearances, Davido’s energetic show, Iyanya’s average performance, OJ’s refreshing antics on stage, Kwabena Kwabena grabbing his dancer’s breast among other great moments on stage.

Peacefmonline.com brings you pictorial details of what happened on stage.

DON’T TOUCH THE HERITAGE FUND – OKYEAME KWAME

Musician and entrepreneur, Kwame Nsia-Appau popularly known as Okyeame Kwame, has waded into the national discussion on the Ghana Heritage Fund.

In an interview with citifmonline, he said the solution to Ghana’s current economic problem is for Ghanaians to ‘strap our boots tight’ and ‘kick out what is causing the problem'.

“I am not an economist, but I know the Cedi is dancing to this tune because we import toothpicks and noodles. We import everything, we import cars, we import planes, we import everything but there are things that we know how to do here in Ghana like make clothes, shoes, watch straps; we know how to weave baskets, we know how to farm cassava and we import $540 million worth of rice into Ghana.

When I say ‘kick them out,’ what I mean is we need to try as much as possible to reduce expenditure on importation. We need to create demand for locally made products, hence boost the Ghanaian economy. I don’t think it is rocket science.”

According to Okyeame, the Ghana Heritage Fund is meant for the future generation and should not be spent on the mistakes we are making in managing the current economy.

“The problem with Ghana is with lifestyle. We spend more money to learn how to speak English, wear suits and eat rice. If we tried as much as possible to eat kontomire and purchase more local stuff, we would be helping the economy.

If we change our lifestyles slightly, this economy will export to other parts of the world. Taking money to support a lifestyle that takes your money away is not the best to do. We must change or adjust our lifestyles so that we can only import things that we need to import and if it happens like that from my layman’s point of view, I don’t think we would go into funds we have saved for our great grandchildren.”

The Ghana Heritage Fund was established by law to provide an endowment to support development for future generations when the petroleum reserves for the nation gets depleted.

The General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia, has suggested that government must consider using the oil revenue reserved for future generations in the Heritage Fund to solve Ghana’s problems now.

Asiedu Nketia’s suggestion has received support from a section of the public, some bodies and Minister of State in-charge of Finance and Allied Institutions, Fiifi Kwetey – and has received stiff opposition from a section of the public, the minority in parliament and Sydney Casely-Hayford, A Financial Analyst.

FIPAG WARNS ITS MEMBERS TO STAY AWAY FROM GHANA MOVIE AWARDS

The Film Producers Association of Ghana (FIPAG) has ordered its members across the country to stay away from the Ghana Movie Awards or face the wrath of the association.

FIPAG President, Asare Hackman, told NEWS-ONE on Wednesday that his Association unanimously arrived at the decision at a recent meeting in Kumasi and would again be meeting in a fortnight’s time to decide what punishment would be meted out to members who would flout the directive.

“FIPAG is not boycotting the Ghana Movie Awards; we are disassociating ourselves from it. In the past, we endorsed it but now we would be organizing our own awards and we have asked our members not to submit works for the Ghana Movie Awards,” Asare Hackman told NEWS-ONE.

He, however, could not tell what laws of Ghana FIPAG would be using to punish its members who submit works for the Ghana Movie Awards, knowing very well that freedom of association is a constitutional right.

The FIPAG president could also not give a direct answer as to whether or not the awards his association intended to organize would be exclusively for members or open to non-members.

When NEWS-ONE called the Chief Executive of the Ghana Movie Awards, Fred Nuamah, over the matter, he expressed surprise that FIPAG would ask its members not to submit their works simply because they wanted to organize a similar one.

“Take this from me, I am organizing this award scheme in the interest of the movie industry and creative sector in general but not for my personal pleasure or glory so if FIPAG or any other group of persons wants to organize a similar award, I should be happy about it.

“The more awards we have in the industry, the better it would be for us all. I don’t believe in monopoly. I believe in healthy competition, I believe in variety and it means if one actor does not win an award here, he may win an award there or somewhere else so this is all good. Let’s wish them well,” Mr. Nuamah told NEWS-ONE.

Editor’s Note: As to whether Ghanaian actors and actresses, who are the direct beneficiaries of the Ghana Movie Awards, would applaud FIPAG’s decision remains uncertain. It is disappointing that FIPAG would set aside all the challenges facing the movie industry and focus on organizing awards. Challenges of too many movies released on the market at a time, challenges of piracy, challenges of television stations airing newly produced movies, challenges of moving from VDC to DVD, challenges of office location and logistics to run the Association and several other challenges. Asare Hackman seems to be losing focus.

YVONNE OKORO’S ENDLESS GROUSE WITH IYANYA OVER YVONNE NELSON

Iyanya may have stepped on the cobra’s tail and to think he will easily escape the cobra’s wrath might be damaging to him.

Recall that some months ago; Iyanya and Yvonne Nelson were in the news over a rumoured affair between them. At that time, Yvonne Nelson went on Twitter to rant over the way her ‘fragile’ heart was smashed on the hard floor by her Nigerian lover.

One person that was also not happy with the whole issue was Yvonne Okoro, a Ghanaian actress. And for Iyanya to think Yvonne Okoro will easily forgive him for jilting a sister may be very detrimental.

Over the weekend, Ghana was agog when the Ghana Music Awards was held. According to a source who attended the glamorous occasion, Iyanya was partly disgraced by Yvonne Okoro when he stepped beyond his bounds.

We gathered that after the first set of awards were given out, Iyanya mounted the stage to thrill his fans and after dancing and singing, he reportedly took a bold step to invite Yvonne Okoro to dance with him, a probably ‘request for her waist’.

To his shock, the pretty actress declined and the artiste was reportedly forced to meet his ‘target’ where she was sitting. She was said to have been called severally to dance with Iyanya, but still declined until she finally reluctantly agreed.

Well, Yvonne, kindly forgive your Nigerian brother, remember, he has already compensated Yvonne Nelson with a track. That’s fair enough.

HOW SARKODIE, CASTRO, GURU & DAVIDO SHINES @ THE VGMAS NIGHT

The just concluded Vodafone Ghana Music Awards on the 3rd of May, at the AICC, kicked off the roll-call of events for the year 2014, and it must be said that the night saw great feats which included beauty, great performances, memorable back-in-the-acts, lovely proposals and winners of emerged.

Among the winners that emerged were Sarkodie, Castro, Guru and Davido. These artistes didn’t only come out big on the night; they also thrilled with their individual, well orchestrated performances. Their constant hits after hits kept the audience on their feet all night long.

Sarkodie went home smiling with FOUR awards, ranging from Best Rapper of the Year, Album of the Year for “Sarkology”, Hip Hop Song of the Year and Hiplife/Hip Hop Artiste of the Year.

While Guru took home the Hiplife Song of the Year for his effort on “Boys Abr3”; whilst Castro picked up Highlife Song of the Year for the song “Odo Pa” which featured Baby Jet & Kofi Kinaata. Davido as well did not carry last has he picked up the African Artiste of the Year.

This bring home a message to those who have been waiting to experience the concert of West Africa’s best as these 3 acts have been booked to represent Ghana in ‘battle’ with their Naija counterpart at the long awaited GHANA meets NAIJA which is slated for Saturday 24th May 2014 at the Accra International Conference Centre.

The event promises to be unique and more spectacular as artistes headlined for the show are part of Africa’s best, as far as music is concerned.

According to the organizers, tickets are already out for GHS150 VIP and GHS100 Regular.

Sales outlets include MTN Stores (Osu, Accra Mall and Tema Community), Unibank Branches (Kokomlemele World Trade Centre, Accra Mall and Tema Community 1), Joy FM, Koala in Osu, Empire Entertainment, or Krew Mens Grooming Dansoman.

For limited VVIP tickets which comes with complimentary beverages and front row seating, call 054 594 9067 and 054 606 1118.

The 4th edition of GHANA meets NAIJA is brought to you by the nations’ BEST telecommunication network, MTN with support from Unibank - official sponsors of the Black Stars, Smirnoff - World’s no 1 Vodka, Africa World Airlines, Oak Plaza Hotel and Atlas Rent A Car.

D2 NOT DISCOURAGED AFTER VGMAS LOSS

Hiplife duo, D2 has promised to work harder to grab an award next year at the VGMA.

Although D2 were hopeful to win the Best Group of the Year and Best Reggea/Dancehall with their Fever song , the group failed to pick up an award.

According to the gentlemen, they are not down because they failed to pick any award on the night but rather they promise to work harder towards next year’s VGMA.

“Our Fever song featuring Shatta Wale was a hit and though we lost, we deeply appreciate the love shown us by our fans and promise to make Ghana proud by working harder”, they said.

For now, D2 said they have new singles which are ready to hit town soon and they know it will blow the minds of Ghanaians.

Had they won the award, D2 claim, they would have dedicated the award to their fans for supporting their music.

“We cherish our fans for the support they give us. Our fans are our motivation and without them we are nothing. The fact that our fans are behind us all the time is enough encouragement for us to do good music all the time.”

Known for songs like Ewo, Mama Ne Dada, Fever among others , D2 said apart from their latest single Back Side, their other singles will be released in a couple of weeks.

GHANAIANS KNEW THAT ‘TONGA’ WAS OKAY TO WIN ME AN AWARD - JOEY B

The nomination of Joey B’s Tonga set tongues wagging since his song is perceived as being sexually explicit and the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMA) did not encourage songs with risque music.

But Joey B has always insisted Tonga is not profane and he currently besides himself with joy that the song has earned him New Artiste of the Year at the VGMA hosted at the Accra International Conference Centre last Saturday.

Joey B told Showbiz in an interview yesterday, Sunday May 4 that he was not surprised Tonga won him New Artiste of the Year because he worked hard for it.

“When I was announced winner of New Artiste of the Year, I was not surprised because Ghanaians knew I deserved it. I am not saying the other artistes who were nominated were not up to the task but Ghanaians know I did a great job during the year under review and therefore deserved the award” Joey B said.

According to Joey B, when he was mentioned as the winner, he heard someone say he deserved it and that made him feel he has worked hard. “What people forget is that the song is good and has good lyrics contrary to what people think.”

To Joey B, winning the award will make him work harder to win more awards in subsequent years.

IT’S SAD TO LOSE ANOTHER GREAT SON OF OUR LAND - KOJO ANTWI

Ghana’s music maestro, Kojo Antwi is devastated following the loss of his friend and designer Kofi Ansah on Saturday morning.

In a brief interview with Suncity Radio in Sunyani, Kojo Antwi who was virtually in tears expressed his sadness at the loss of a friend and someone he has known for many years.

“Kofi was such a great guy, a very wonderful human being, and it’s hard to understand why most of the great guys in Ghana are dying so young…My sympathies to his family, it’s such a great loss” he told Suncity Radio.

Kofi Ansah, Ghana’s finest fashion designer passed away on Saturday after being rushed to the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, and it is still unclear what the cause of death is.

LADY WHO PICKED UP SHATTA WALE’S AWARDS WAS MUSIGA SPECIAL GUEST - MUSIGA

It has come to the notice of the MUSICIANS UNION OF GHANA of news making rounds that Shatta Wale’s awards are missing.

We wish to state that all the three awards are with MUSIGA and not missing as reported.

Shatta Wale who is a member of Musiga, asked the President of Musiga to pick any award he may win on the night on his behalf since he was not going to be able to attend the event.

The lady who received Shatta Wale’s awards on the night was a special guest of Musiga who is also a big fan of Shatta Wale and the Shatta Movement.

She is a very respectable and honourable person and we wish to apologize for any harm caused to her as a result of the publication.

Arrangements have been for Shatta Wale to pick his 3 awards from the Union (Musiga).

Musicians Union of Ghana

Communications Team

I DESERVE MORE THAN ONE AWARD - JOYCE BLESSING

One artiste who is disappointed with the just ended Vodafone Ghana Music Awards is the gospel songstress Joyce Blessing the "Monipini Moakyi" hit maker.

Joyce Blessing, who had about six nominations in the awards, had hopes of winning not less than three awards on the night but that didn't happen. The only award she won was the Gospel Album of the Year which was presented to her at the Industry Awards a week to the main event.

Speaking to the management of Joyce Blessing Mr. Kwasi Ernest the C.E.O of Media Excel re-echoed his artiste's sentiments to Flex, that awards at the VGMA were shared to winners so not to get many musicians offended.

“It is just like a mother who has too many children and is making sure everybody is happy. The credibility of the Ghana Music Awards keeps going down as the year goes by. After they had denied OJ of the Song Writer of the year award, they had no option than to share the awards among O.J and Joyce Blessing,” he said.

“We were hopeful that our artiste Joyce Blessing would win not less than three awards on the night but we were denied for no reason. Our artiste Joyce was supposed to have won the Gospel Album of the Year and the Gospel Song of the year because she had no contender with these two categories including the Female Vocal Performer of the Year award. Ghana needs to sit down and do things right for our next generation to emulate,” Kwasi Ernest added.

On the other hand Joyce Blessing was grateful to her fans for their support. She said she would continue to churn out good songs for her fans.

She said a very big thank you to her management, Media Excel, her lovely husband Dave Joy and the media who have pushed her to the top ever since she appeared on the music scene.

RENOWNED FILM PRODUCER, KWAW ANSAH BACKS FIPAG FOR GHANA FILM AWARDS

Renowned Ghanaian film producer, director and CEO for TV Africa, Mr. Kwaw Ansah has lauded plans by executives of the Film Producers’ Association of Ghana (FIPAG) to roll out its maiden edition of the Ghana Film Awards.

Mr. Kwaw Ansah who did not hide his excitement at the news applauded FIPAG and asked them go all out for it as he believed it was long overdue. Speaking at the educational workshop organized by FIPAG for its members in Kumasi, Mr. Ansah stated the film industry had been taken for granted allowing people with virtually no idea make money out of organizing their own awards and honouring undeserving people.

“Yes, we know what they have been doing. I live with them in Accra, they organize the awards and give it to their own circle of friends and that is not what we want.”

He however advised the executives of FIPAG to put the right plans in place and do it right. He also asked them to seek for his advice any time they deemed it fit.

Recently, the impasse between the Film Producers’ Association of Ghana (FIPAG) and the organizers of the Ghana Movie Awards for what the former believes is an untrusted awards scheme seems to have grown as the former believes the latter does not recognize the good works of all but a selected few based in the national capital, Accra.

FIPAG has as a result asked its members to disassociate itself from the Ghana Movie Awards organized by Fred Nuamah.

According to FIPAG, the Ghana Film Awards will encompass all sectors of the movie industry as they believed that would help build a better industry.

The maiden edition of the awards is scheduled for 2015.

SONNIE BADU EXPRESSES GRATITUDE TO FANS

International Gospel Singer Minister Sonnie Badu has expressed appreciation to Ghanaians, his management and his fans for voting for him to win the Gospel Artiste and Male vocal performance award at last Saturday’s Vodafone Ghana Music Awards.

According to him all the nominees in the various categories are winners and deserved to win, hence he is grateful for being the ultimate winner. Expressing shock at winning the two awards, the “Worshipper” explained that with the many negative stories surrounding his nomination through to the night of the awards, he least expected to emerge the winner.

Sonnie, who is also known as the “General” on the night, dedicated his second award- the Male Vocal Performance award to his fellow musicians who live outside Ghana. He disclosed that it is tough to make a mark outside your homeland, but was grateful things turned around for good in his favour.

Sonnie who left the shores of Ghana on Sunday in an interview disclosed “I am thankful to God, to my fans and my management led by Mrs. Selassie Ibrahim and the entire Smartty’s production and Management team. This is my third award here in Ghana. The first from MUSIGA and the two from the VGMAs. I am grateful to God and to my fans. We did this together Team Sonnie Badu”.

Speaking on his performance at the VGMA’s the “Worshipper” expressed appreciation to his fans on social media for commending him on his impressive performances at the VGMA. According to him, he accepted to perform at the awards night because this would be his last performance in Ghana for year 2014.

“This gig is my last performance for my fans this year and I only prayed to God to help me do my best. I am thankful to God that my ministration impacted the lives of people on the night”.

Sonnie also extended his condolences to the Fashion Industry in Ghana and to the family of the late Kofi Ansah, saying that Ghana has lost a father, a support for the fashion Industry and a true gem.

Meanwhile, Minister Sonnie Badu who left Ghana on Sunday has apologized to his fans saying he had to leave early to prepare for his “Teach me How to Worship Conference” in New Jersey, New York and Baltimore, Maryland respectively. The conference would start on 8 May though to 2 August 2014.

The conference would highlight on how to worship and would also draw many souls to Christ.

Sonnie Badu picked two awards at the just ended VGMAs: the Gospel artiste of the year and the Male Vocal performance of the year award with his “Wonder God” song on the Aroma of Worship album.

AGYA KOO’S EX-WIFE STARS IN NEW MOVIE

Virtually a month after Ghanaian actor Kofi Adu otherwise known as openly stated on Kumasi based Angel Fm that his wife was selling on the streets of Accra after she allowed herself to be used by some producers as a coy to bring his career to a halt, the ex-wife Victoria Darko (aka Akua Vic) is said to have starred in a new movie titled, ‘Agya Awiey3’.

The title of the movie sounded a bit cynical and seemed to revolve around Agya Koo but an interview with the producer of the movie Jones Agyemang proved otherwise as he disclosed the movie had nothing to do with the ace actor Agya Koo.

Answering questions as to why the choice of Agya Koo’s wife as a major character in such a movie that seemed to revolve around Agya Koo, the producer refused to comment on it and stated Mrs Victoria Darko (Agya Koo’s wife) had always nurtured the dream of acting and wouldn’t mind casting her for any movie.

He further stated the movie was a reflection of the many challenges a lot of people had to go through, struggling to find a strong footing and how they end up losing due to lack of diligence.

In a separate interview with Agya Koo’s ex-wife, Mrs. Victoria Darko to find out if she indeed starred in the said, she disclosed to www.nydjlive.com that she would not fall cheap to act in a movie that will cast a slur on the ex-husband although they had their issues.

“Why do people think the movie is about Agya Koo? I just don’t get it. All I can say is the movie is not about Agya Koo because I wouldn’t fall cheap for such a thing even though we are no more together.” Also reacting to news of on the streets of Accra, Mrs. Victoria Darko explained she was not selling and that she was living a good life as she had started her acting career.

Some few months ago, Agya Koo interview indicated that, though he had no regrets marrying Akua Vic, he will find it difficult to reconcile with her now. “I will die if I take her back - wadwuma besei die, anka woyere nwu” the Popular Actor/Musician noted, to wit, it is better to lose your wife than to lose your job.