NO MORE ADVERTS OF KUMAWOOD MOVIES ON ACCRA-BASED RADIO STATIONS?

In situations like this, one is likely to ask more questions than answers because the only solution one is looking for is where we went wrong as a people.

Again, the work of the media will once again be questioned since it is believed that it is not easy for a business entity to deliberately ignore the media and what their activities entail.

On record, Flex newspaper reporters have monitored low patronage of advertisement of Akan movies in Accra, and we see that as a disturbing factor at this time that we all need to put our hands on the desk to support the growth of the movie industry.

At a point on various Accra-based radio stations, one type of a commercial that inundated our airwaves were Part 1 & 2 with a cartoon voice supporting the real advertisement message.

At that same time Kwame Dzokoto, a popular television and radio personality became more famous because his voice was used for all the voice over which was used for the radio commercials.

It can be said that the average radio station enjoyed enough of the booty until recently that we seemed not to be hearing anything on Akan movies, therefore, the need to look out for answers.

To make matters clear, Flex newspaper spoke to the Public relations officer of the Film Producers Association of Ghana (FIPAG) Ola Michael, and he confirmed our fears in that regard.

Read what he told this paper when we called him on the phone last Monday. “Every business person knows his catchment area and his target market so the movie producers have also come to the realization that their market, geographically is changing to the hinterlands.

They are now having more and more people patronizing their movies in regions like the Brong Ahafo region, Ashanti region and Northern region so they seem to be paying more attention to advertising in those areas than in Accra.

They have recorded low sales in Accra over the months, and that alone is discouraging them from advertising on Accra radio” he told Flex newspaper in a telephone interview last Monday.

Should the media in Accra be blamed for this new development because we continuously castigate movies produced in our Akan language as being of low quality?

This is an exact situation of the adage “If a fetish priest calls doom to his village, he should not forget that he or she lives in the same village."

GHANA’S SICKNESS BIGGER THAN EBOLA - WANLOV

Afro-gypsy musician, Wanlov the Kubolor, says there is a disease in Ghana that is deadlier than the Ebola virus or the Cholera that is currently killing a lot of Ghanaians.

According to Wanlov, instead of wasting their time in church, Ghanaians should concentrate on how to rid themselves of the diseases he calls ‘corruption’ and ‘lies’.

“We have a very serious sickness right now in the country. Ghana is currently hard because most of us don’t care about the country, we care about church and how nice heaven will be so we don’t want to fix the problems in Ghana.”

“Most people believe that instead of trying to solve our problems, we should rather pray. We are using prayer to waste time instead of doing the work we have to do to clean Ghana and make Her a better place. When I say clean Ghana, I’m not only talking about filth around which is bringing us the diseases like the Cholera that is killing us more than the Ebola. I’m talking about the corruption in our minds, hearts, the lies we tell to ourselves and believe them whiles we are lying to other people at the same time,” he told NEWS-ONE.

CASTRO, JANET BANDU NOT DEAD – POLICE

Missing hiplife artiste, Castro, and his female companion, Janet Bandu, can only be declared dead, per Ghana’s laws, after seven years and seven days.

Ada District Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Dodzi Hlordzi told Starrfmonline.com in an interview on Monday that as far as the Police and the Law are concerned, Theophilus Tagoe, as Castro is known off stage, and his female companion cannot be declared dead or said to have died until after seven years have passed.

This means Castro and Janet can only be declared dead or deemed to have died in July 2021. Until then, the law still recognises them as being alive.

According to Chief Supt Hlordzi, the families of Castro and Janet can only organise funerals for the two missing persons until after seven years and seven days.

Their estate, if any, can also be inherited, only after that period.

The two went missing early July while surfing the waves at Ada in the Greater Accra Region. Frantic searches by Marine Police have not yielded any results.

AMBOLLEY REVEALS WHY HE DIDN'T GO TO SECONDARY SCHOOL

The Simigwa do man, Gyedu Blay Ambolley, has revealed that he never attended secondary school because all the schools which existed at the time were Missionary schools, and he didn’t want his mind to be polluted with the doctrines and teachings of the west.

Speaking on Joy FM, Ambolley who regards himself as the ‘rap tree’ and Reggie Rockstone, a ‘branch’ of him said since the schools at that time were Missionary schools.

They came with the sole purpose of imposing their doctrines on Africans and he didn't want to be cajoled into believing certain things and accepting certain things as the truth," he said on Thursday, August 21, 2014.

The 'Sekonde' man is one of the living legends in the Ghanaian music industry with songs to his credit dating back all the way into the 70’s.

He’s travelled extensively around the world by air. He has benefited immensely from the royalty system existing in Europe and the Americas where he played several gigs- all of which were made possible by western education.

However, the Glo Ambassador said he decided not to attend secondary school for fear of having his brain corrupted, but rather took off with his music career right after basic education.

“All the schools at the time were called Missionary schools; Anglican, Presbyterian, Catholic and all those were missionary schools. So the curriculum, the books they brought the same time around. So they taught us what they wanted us to know, and that’s what I didn’t want to go through,” he said.

Gyedu- Blay Ambolley also added that he doesn’t regret his decision one bit and would have taken same now.

“Would you have taken the same decision, with the benefit of hindsight? I’m telling you my brother I would and I will.”

Arguably the rap originator, on the converse, defended why he allowed his son to go to the second cycle school. Ambolley said his son didn’t have any interest in music. He, therefore, had to let him follow and develop his dream.

“In making a choice, you know that I’m with music and he never took anything about music. He said he wanted to do something technical, so I made him go to a technical school,” he indicated.

Legendary Gyedu-Blay Ambolley is currently taking on the Guinness book of world records and is hoping it corrects an anomaly about who the originator of rap is in the world.

According to him, the rap group that has been credited with that feat, The Sugar Hill Gang released their song, 'rapper’s delight' in 1979 whereas his “first ever commercially recorded” rap song was released in 1973."

BARIMA SYDNEY SET TO TRAVEL TO LIBERIA ON SUNDAY

Based on the travel advisory issued by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hannah Tetteh at a press conference in Accra on Thursday, August 14, 2014; Barima Sydney has confirmed plans to travel to Liberia for the video shoot of the Ebola hemorrhagic fever (EHF) campaign theme song titled, ‘Ebola; Africa must stand and fight together’.

The directive by Ms. Hannah Tetteh indicated “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on behalf of the Government of Ghana is advising all Ghanaian citizens not to travel to the Ebola affected countries of Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia unless it is absolutely necessary. Even then we would encourage you not to travel especially given the accelerated presence of the Ebola disease.”

Speaking to GhanaWeb Entertainment, the controversial Hiplife musician, Barima Sydney said, “Finally, all is set for me to travel to Liberia on Sunday, August 31 to shoot the video to the campaign song to the deadly virus that has us all woes.”

“The shooting of the video will be a 2-working day which I will return to Ghana without the disease on Wednesday,” he noted.

According to Sydney, Mr. George Weah Oppong together with a France-based video production team came back to the country to conclude and have a final review on the concept of the video.

"Mr. George Weah Oppong upon his return from Ghana few weeks ago went to France to create the awareness there too opening an ‘Ebola Emergency Fund Account’ and also solicit for medical apparatus to ensure the safety of the entire campaign team members.

The France-based production team in support of the campaign is in this way contributing their quota to the awareness creation on the deadly virus,” he disclosed.

The campaign theme song titled, ‘Ebola; Africa must stand and fight together’ recorded under the cover of Lionel Peterson’s ‘Peace’ song, has been played on BBC radio and other international networks.

BIG BROTHER AFRICA UNLEASHES ‘HOTSHOTS’

Big Brother Africa, the continent’s biggest reality show, returns for its ninth season on Sunday, September 7, with the housemates competing for a massive prize pot of $300 000.

AfricaMagic can reveal that the new season will be known as Hotshots. This season’s housemates have hidden talents; they adore the spotlight and will let nothing stand in the way of their pursuit of fame and fortune.

Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu, M-Net Africa regional director (West Africa), says viewers are in for almost as many surprises as the housemates.

“We work hard to make each season of Big Brother Africa bigger than the last — and we have really upped the ante this year,” she says.

“Big Brother Hotshots is going to bring viewers exciting innovations, heart-stopping twists and uniquely African glamour, 24/7 for 91 days.

“Both fans and housemates are in for some hard-to-miss television!”

The housemates will start the game in two ultra-glamorous houses which are built with magic, fun and mischief in mind.

For 91 days, they will do their best to outshine each other in the hope of convincing Africa that they are the continent’s biggest Hotshot.

They will party like A-listers, rub shoulders with celebrity guests and face formidable challenges while negotiating Biggie’s famous curveballs and twists.

The logo for Big Brother Hotshots hints at the glamorous aspects of this season but viewers will have to stay tuned 24/7 to see what Biggie has planned this season.

Nigerian star IK Osakioduwa, will once again be the host for the fifth time in a row.

DUMELO PRAYS FOR LIBERIA

Popular Ghanaian actor, John Dumelo, has called on Africans and the entire world to help eradicate the Ebola pandemic in West African, especially in Liberia.

The outbreak currently continues to spread in West Africa, with 142 more cases recorded, bringing a new total to 2,615 with 1,427 deaths, the World Health Organisation said on Friday.

Most of the new cases are in Liberia, where the government was delivering donated rice to a slum where 50,000 people have been sealed off from the rest of the capital in an attempt to contain the outbreak.

New treatment centres in Liberia are being overwhelmed by patients who were not previously identified. One centre with 20 beds opened its doors to 70 possibly infected people, likely coming from “shadow-zones” where people fear authorities won’t let doctors enter, the U.N health agency said.

Liberian fleeing with an alleged Ebola patient

The award winning Ghanaian actor seems to have also agreed with persons who think that the pandemic has a spiritual dimension and needs spiritual attention, as he took to social media to call for prayers for Liberia in particular.

“Let’s pray for Liberia #StopEbola,” John Dumelo said on Twitter last Thursdays.

Meanwhile more and more other African celebrities have been using their social media platforms to educate and create awareness about the virus and the ways to stop spreading it.

COME HOME IF YOU MISS ME; KOBBY, FORMERLY OF WUTAH TELLS AFRIYIE

Daniel Morris, popularly known as Kobby, of Wutah fame has advised his former group mate, Kwadwo Osei Afriyie to come home if he misses him.

Afriyie had said in an interview on Joy FM that he misses his former group mate, Kobby after some years of parting ways.

Reacting to the confession in an interview during an interview on Showbiz Today on Hitz FM with Mic Gizo, Kobby urged his former group mate to approach him if he really misses him.

He stressed that he has no issues with Afriyie and therefore if he truly misses him, he can give him a call or perhaps visit him at home.

“He is my brother and I don’t have any problem with him but I believe that if he misses me he would give me a call or probably come home,” he said.

Wutah separated just when they gained prominence on the Ghanaian music scene with several hit songs including 'Kotosa' which enjoyed heavy radio rotations.

After they separated, there have been numerous calls for them to come back together mainly because they haven't really enjoyed major successes working as individuals.

The group hit the limelight when they placed second to Praye during the maiden edition of the Nescafe Africa Revelation music competition in Accra in 2004.

They released their debut album, 'Anamontuo', with songs like 'Adonko', 'Gossy Gander' and 'Big Dreams' which earned them nominations at Ghana Music Awards including the 'Most Popular Song of the Year', 'Album of the Year', and 'Artiste of the Year'.

Their song 'Big Dreams' won the Reggae Song of the Year at the 2006 edition of the Ghana Music Awards.

SONNIE BADU MARRIES IN LONDON

Ghanaian gospel minister Sonnie Badu has finally said “yes I do” today in UK, where he took his fiancee, Ann-Marie Davis to the alter and exchange marital vows.

According to sources the ceremony was officiated by Rev. Dr. Victor Osei of the Family Chapel and Pastor Kingsley Appiagyei of the Trinity Baptist Church.

Some of Africa’s biggest ‘boys’ and ‘men’ attended. Brother of Ghana’s president, Ibrahim Mahama as well as mining magnate, Sam Jonah, attended. 

Check out some photos from the ceremony. 

HI-LIFE MUSICIAN P.K YAMOAH DIES 86

The Musicians Union of Ghana announces with heavy heart, the demise of Veteran musician Peter Kwabena Yamoah aka P.K Yamoah of Serwah Akoto fame.

The 86 year old veteran died yesterday after a short illness at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra.

P.K Yamoah nurtured many musicians in Ghana and gave Nana Kwame Ampadu his break in the early 60s prior to Nana’s formation of the African Brothers band. P.K Yamoah is also credited with grooming the likes of Agyarku and Smart Nkansah who went on to form the Sunsum Band and Lee Duodu of Bisa Goma and Akoote Brofo fame.

P.K Yamoah who was based in Kumasi after an initial sojourn in Accra is one of the most influential musicians whose imprint on the Ghanaian music scene was widely recognized.

In 2008 as part of the ninth edition of the MTN Ghana Music Awards, Yamoah was celebrated with a Certificate of Merit for his immense contribution to the Ghanaian music scene.

Yamoah’s repertoire of hits included songs like Fa Asem Kye, Onantefo and Obido Me, Sika Mpe Rough and Nya Asem Hwe.

In a statement, MUSIGA President Bice Osei Kuffour noted that PK Yamoah who was a member and a beneficiary of the Unions Ageing Musician Welfare Fund (AMWEF) was a real pillar of the music industry and very supportive of the Union. He is survived by four children.

DIANA ANTWI HAMILTON WINS "FEMALE ARTISTE OF THE YEAR" AT AFRICA GOSPEL MUSIC AWARDS 2014

Ghanaian international gospel songstress Diana Antwi Hamilton was awarded the Female Artiste of the Year, the highest accolade for a female artiste at the prestigious Africa Gospel Music Awards (AGMA) of 2014.

The awards ceremony which celebrates achievements in the gospel music sector is in its fifth year and was held at the plush Fairfield Halls in Croydon, London on Sunday the 24th of August 2014.

A spokesperson from Diana's Management says this came as a shock to her as it was announced just before she went on stage to perform one of her hit singles, "Papa Reigns".

The artiste whose career is certainly on the rise recently had a successful USA tour and held a massive concert dubbed 'The Experience with Diana Hamilton' in London in May.

GHANA ACTORS GUILD WARN UTV...

The most-viewed television station in the country at the moment, United Television (UTV) attracted nationwide interest via the showing of some popular telenovelas including the ever-famous ‘Maricruz'.

The station has for time now been promoting a new local series, ‘Abrabo,’ which is yet to start showing and features the likes of Kumawood stalwarts like Lil Win, Akrobeto, Kwaku Manu and a host of others.

In an interesting twist, 'Razz Newspaper' has intercepted a strong-worded letter written by the Ashanti Branch of the Ghana Actors Guild to the management of UTV, asking them to withdraw the showing of the commercial and the airing of the local series.

According to the letter signed by the Chairman of the Ashanti Branch, Bill Asamoah; members of the Guild who featured in the series - Kwasi Boadi (Akrobeto), Kwadwo Nkansah (Lil’Win) and Kwaku Manu amongst others, are protesting vehemently against the showing of the series on UTV because the production house responsible for the series, "Nakwadus" Productions did not shoot any series with the said actors but took fragments of already shot movies produced over the years and pieced them together to coin the series, ‘Abrabo’.

In the letter, the Guild stated that the producer in his dealings with the actors did not disclose to them the movies being shot will be out as series in future. It went on to state that, there was no contractual agreement between the actors and the producer to turn the movies into television series.

In one of the quotations in the letter to UTV, the Guild stated; “Failure on your part to adhere to this objection would only lead to us together with the aggrieved persons heading to the law courts for the laws of the land to take its course.”

In their response, a reliable source from UTV did confirm their receipt of the letter from the Ashanti Branch of the Ghana Actors Guild. According to the source, management of the station were in the process of drafting a response to the letter and revealed that the station respects the position of the Guild but rejects their plea to stop the running of the commercial and the impending airing of the series.

The station said it contracted 'Nakwadus Productions' to produce a local series for screening on the station and has already invested in the production and also have a contract with the production house to that effect. It also stated that, it has no contractual obligations with the actors; therefore, if the aggrieved actors have any concerns, they should deal with 'Nakwadus Productions'.

"The station at the appropriate time will air the series as being advertized," the source added.

I'VE MOVED ON - SAYS JULIET IBRAHIM'S EX-HUSBAND

Ever since their June 2014 divorce, Juliet Ibrahim’s ex-husband has had nothing to say to the media about his ex-wife and their decision to split until now.

“There are always fairytales with relationships, and when it ends, reality kicks in,” said young business mogul Kwadwo Safo Junior in an interview with Starrfmonline.com.

News of the divorce made a lot of waves in both the Ghanaian and Nigerian media and even though the actress has had a word or two to say, Kwadwo has been very quiet on the matter.

“With the divorce issue, I feel normal. I’m still cool with my ex-wife. Truth is we need to talk. Come-on we have a baby together so we have to be in touch with each other. We are very good friends and there wasn’t any heartbreak,” he said.

The two always came across as the most beautiful and united couple but Juliet is quoted to have said they agreed on a separation because of “irreconcilable differences.” Kwadwo described it as “reality check from the fairytale…our separation was mutual.”

“I have moved on,” he noted. “I am not really interested in the personal stuff now. I am concentrating on making money, a name and the power that it comes with so I immerse myself in my work. “The least chance I get I sleep instead of feeling sorry: I sleep or speak to my father about our businesses.” "I want to become like my father and nothing can delay my dreams.

“…I see the things that he has done and I feel if he didn’t get the foundation, exposure and opportunities he has given me, yet he has been able to reach where he is now, I am supposed to go higher than he is.”

'Celebrity gossip' seems to suggest Juliet Ibrahim has also moved on as she is now dating up-and-coming Nigerian model/actor/ex-boyfriend, Bryan Okwara.

BIG BROTHER AFRICA PRODUCERS DISRESPECTED GHANA...THEY'VE LIED TO US - KOO FORI

Ghanaian Comedian, Actor and Radio Presenter Seth Karikari known in public life as Koo Fori has slammed Endemol, Producers of the continent’s biggest Television reality show, Big Brother Africa, accusing them of subtly trying to impose their own choice of housemates to represent Ghana at this year's contest.

For the first time in the history of Big Brother Africa, all four finalists chosen at auditions held in Ghana (Holiday Inn Hotel) on 5 and 6 July 2014, to represent the West African nation, have been disqualified; and entirely new auditions have been reportedly held in South Africa for Ghanaian nationals living in South Africa.

According to a press statement from producers of the show:
“The candidates applied for visas to travel to South Africa for the final stage of auditioning but unfortunately, their visas were not able to be processed and issued in time. The SA Home Affairs now requires all applicants to submit their own applications personally and the visa process takes a minimum of ten working days.

The South African High Commission in Ghana was following the necessary processes but unfortunately there were delays in producing additional documentations such as bank statements, which meant that Endemol had to take the necessary measures to ensure Ghana is represented in BBA 9 and does not miss out of the show.

The production company had no option but to find alternative Ghanaian candidates to audition in South Africa, as they could not hold up the processes that lead up to the show”.

But Koo Fori believes this is just a well calculated ploy to impose their own choice of housemates as Ghana’s representative.

“This is not reasonable, I don’t see it as a reasonable excuse. If they knew about the new SA Visa application process and they knew that you need 10 working days to process the visa, what were they waiting for?” he quizzed in an exclusive interview with Peacefmonline.com.

According to him, had it not been for the media's exposé about another audition in SA regarding Season 9 of Big Brother Africa, Endemol would have quietly gone about it without informing the Ghanaian representatives who auditioned in Accra that they have been somewhat disqualified.

He described the action by the producers of the show and Multi-Choice Ghana, local partners of the event as an insult to the intelligence of Ghanaians, and wondered why virtually everyone in the entertainment appears unconcern about the gross disrespect and raw deal meted out to the country.

Koo Fori strongly held the view that Endemol is being economical with the truth and believed “there is more to it than what they stated in the press release”.

“With the kind of reasons they gave in their press statement, they are just throwing dust into the eyes of Ghanaians. I think it is just a flimsy excuse they are giving us and it is not going down well with us at all and I can’t believe nobody is saying anything,” he added.

He questioned why the issues concerning the acquisition of visas affected only Ghana out of the 14 participating countries whose representatives auditioned in their respective countries. He further wondered how the producers who are based in South Africa, and have been in the business of organizing the reality show for almost a decade now, could not be aware of the changes in SA visa processing requirements on time enough for them to find a proper solution to the problem.

“I think they have not been fair to all Ghanaians and Africans as a whole because if you are producing such a competition you need to make sure you are on top of your game in everything.”

Koo Fori, who claims to have religiously followed the Big Brother Africa reality show since its inception (Season 1) till date, told Peacefmonline.com that BBA producers “Should also see us as very important because we contribute a lot in the sense that if they bring Ghanaians who live in South Africa to participate, the question is do Ghanaians know these people and how can they (The producers) prove to Ghanaians that they are indeed nationals from this country and not some foreigners posing as Ghanaians?”

He also sounded surprised at the loud silence of government institutions, particularly the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, over this blatant show of disrespect, considering that the show is expected to begin on September 7 2014; a little over a week from now.

“Because whether we like it or not, these people are going to represent the whole Ghana and they are going to use our national flag and the image of our beloved country on continental television,” he pointed out.

The Big Brother Africa season 9 “Hotshots” kicks off on 7 September at 19:00 CAT and runs 24/7 on DStv channels 197 and 198, with the best of the live highlights shown on GOtv.