JULIET IBRAHIM PREMIERES ‘THE NUMBER ONE FAN’

Juliet Ibrahim’s first self-produced movie, ‘The Number One Fan’ will premiere at the National Theatre on October 25.

After starring in several movies and garnering the much needed experience, Juliet Ibrahim has taken a leap into movie production and her first effort is the much awaited movie, ‘The Number One Fan’.

The film features a cluster of stars both from Nigeria and Ghana, the likes of Juliet Ibrahim herself, Yemi Blaq, Selly of BBA Fame, Keitta of BBA Fame, Zainab Sheriff of BBA fame, AY, the comedian, KC Ejelonu, Emmanuel V Mensah, Kofi Adjorlolo, Stephanie Owusu, Narsh Smith, Prince David Osei, Eddie Nartey, Ruweida Yakubu and introducing Sonia Ibrahim.
The premiere will be hosted by Bassey of BBA the Chase fame.

In attendance would be Alex Ekubo and a number of Ghanaian movie and music stars with performances from D-Black, R2bees, Jupitar, Chris Waddle and other surprise artistes.

NIGERIA & GHANA MOVIE INDUSTRY ARE SAME- JACKIE APPIAH

Though some stakeholders will disagree with her, a popular Ghanaian actress says she sees no difference between Ghana’s movie industry and that of Nigeria.

Jackie Appiah, who is one of Ghana’s longest serving actresses to have worked in Nollywood, made the claim in the first edition of Nigerian version of UK’s Hello Magazine.

“For me the Ghanaian and Nigerian movie industries are the same, there is no difference. The only thing is that in Nigeria there’s a sense of urgency when getting things done, while in Ghana everyone is more laid back, that’s the only difference. Whenever I’m in Nigeria I’m always hyper but by the time I go to back to Ghana I’m more relaxed and calm,” she said.


The magazine was launched in Lagos last September.
True Tales Publication, publishers of Complete Fashion, Beauty Box and Hints magazines, became the official publisher of the first Sub-Saharan African edition of HOLA!, the brand which owns HELLO!

Fifteen icons in Nigerian music, film, fashion, culture and style, except for Jackie Appiah and Aisha Obuobi from Ghana cover the debut issue.

Jackie Appiah joins the likes of Richard Mofe Damijo, Femi Kuti, 2face Idibia and Mo Abudu to make the cover of the magazine. She told the magazine that she looked ageless because she uses natural products and loves to gym.

SOCRATE FIGHTS MINISTER- OVER GH¢100

The Chief Executive of Movie Africa Productions, Socrates Sarfo, is up in arms against Abla Dzifa Gomashie, Deputy Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts over matters relating to the funeral of Professor John Evans Atta Mills of blessed memory.

Mr. Sarfo complained that after more than a year since the death of former president Atta Mills, a group of actors hired by government to perform as part of his funeral activities, have still not been paid.


 He said the actors, numbering about 200, were hired to perform in Accra and Cape Coast, hometown of the ex-president, with an agreement that they would be given an amount of GH¢100 each for both performances.

He said the money has since not been paid and all attempts to get it have proved futile.

The Movie Africa boss therefore took his anger to the doorstep of the deputy Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, who is actually the link between the creative arts players and government.

According to Mr. Sarfo, before the appointment of Dzifa Gomashie to the deputy ministerial position, she was very vocal in trumpeting the need for government to take care of the creative arts players, but she is now telling the actors to exercise patience as government does not have enough money to pay them GH¢100 each.

This was how Mr. Sarfo expressed his grievance on social media: “Folks, could you believe the 200-man contingent of the Ghana Actors Guild (GAG) who performed in Accra and Cape Coast during the funeral of President Atta Mills have still not been paid their GH¢100 allowance for both performances? The whole amount is GH¢20,000.

“Yet the deputy Minister for Creative Arts who was also a performer and cried for better treatment from government just some few months back is saying there is no money so the actors should exercise patience. What a world?”

IDIKOKO RAISES ALARM – OVER FIPAG CHOP CHOP

The Film Producers Association of Ghana (FIPAG) has not accounted for an estimated GH¢63,000.00 (630 million old cedis) it claims to have spent in organizing its recent election of new leaders, an address by past President Augustine ‘Idikoko’ Abbey has revealed.

Idikoko said the money was handled by the Transitional Team and Election Committee that organised the elections and that they spent an additional GH¢5,600.00 (56million) just for the handing over ceremony, but unfortunately, the out-going executive could not account for these transactions due to the absence of adequate information and appropriate source documents such as receipts and invoices, even though the outgoing financial secretary requested these in a letter to the transitional team.

Idikoko lamented that though he and his team handed over an amount of GH¢57,569.27 in May this year, when the transitional team and election committee took over, that amount was reduced to only GH¢7,203.47 as FIPAG’s bank account balance just within six months.

He said before the transitional team and electoral committee took over, FIPAG could boast of some GH¢57,569.27 in its accounts. However, the new handlers of the accounts withdrew an amount of GH¢24,766.80 for the elections.

Idikoko said apart from the GH¢24,766.80, Agya Appiah Bitters sponsored the FIPAG elections with an amount of GH¢30,100.00. He revealed that SKD also sponsored the group with an amount of GH¢3,000.

In total, the GH¢24,766.80 withdrawn from FIPAG accounts, added to the GH¢30,100.00 from Agya Appiah Bitters, the GH¢3,000 from SKD and the GH¢5,600.00 withdrawn for the handing over, raises the expenses on elections and handing over to GH¢63,466.80.

The irony is that while Idikoko was president of FIPAG, he was accused on countless occasions of financial impropriety. It is therefore surprising that at his handing over, he rather accused his successors of dwindling the Association’s account by spending money without accounting for it with proper documentation.

It is also curious to note that several industry players including Host of Peace FM’s Entertainment Review, Akwasi Aboagye and Chief Executive of Slip Music Mark Okraku Mantey who were invited by FIPAG as observers during the elections, publicly complained about the poor conditions the lived under during their stay in Kumasi.

Meanwhile, some members of FIPAG have tasked the new President, Asare Hackman and the executive body to provide an audited report on how monies where spent during the elections and swearing-in ceremony.

KISA DROPS SINGLE AFTER LEAKED HALF NAKED PHOTOS

Ghanaian actress Kisa Gbekle, in the wake of controversy about her recent half-naked photos has let loose, a surprise single to those who care to listen.

The new song which is titled ‘Target’ makes the cute actress another Ghanaian actress to try a singing career this year after Juliet Ibrahim.

Several years ago leading actress Nadia Buari tried to pursue a career in music but failed to continue after her first single. Perhaps Kisa’s will not be a nine-day wonder too.

The new song is produced by Dikoder Master and features Flexing Bo. It was released on Saturday morning and downloaded by a number of music lovers across the country.

In the song, she alluded to an unknown guy, who is her target. “…That guy be target…hey boy who be your target? Kisa be your target? All the boys shaashi, I be the market? …don’t mess with me, bizz (ask) your father, Oak Plaza hotel one midnight…” Kisa said in her hardcore rap lines.

Sources said this is not her first music work as she had done an Azonto single in past which is currently on youtube.com.

Kisa was recently in the news over half-naked photos of her. She reportedly said on an Accra-based radio that she was speaking to her lawyers to deal with NEWS-ONE for publishing the photos.

The paper has not received any direct query from the actress yet. However, she went on social network, Facebook to defend the photos after attacks on her by readers. “In Ghana, everything revealing flesh is pornography….Stars dey take bikini pics …My own private picture turn public picture. My own kraa (even) is not bikini ooo. Challey l love my fans…. Mwah.”

She went on to post a copy of her half-naked photo and a similar photo of Rihanna showing her sexy figure, to buttress her point.

MUSIGA LAUDS KWABENA KWABENA

The Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) says it "salutes" Kwabena Kwabena for his ongoing initiative to raise funds in support of patients at the Korle Bu National Cardiothoracic Centre through the “Save a Life" concert.

The concert which comes off this Saturday October 19, 2013 at the state House in Accra will be supported by Samini, OJ, Efya, Funny Face, Joojo, Okyeame Kwame, Stella Seal, Sarkodie and Becca.

MUSIGA says it is happy by the "recent spate at which many of her members are embarking on social corporate responsibilities in helping to address some of the critical issues that affect society as a whole."

The group lauded Kwabena Kwabena and the supporting Artistes for using music as a tool to influence and create developmental and progressive change. These were contained in a press statement issued Thursday.

The statement also urged other musicians to emulate Kwabena Kwabena's "laudable" initiative.

"The Union equally recognizes the likes of Okyeame Kwame, Becca, Dela Hayes, Lynx All stars, Chemphe, Kwaw Kesse, Sherifa Gunu, Nicholas Omane Acheampong, Obour and the many others who have taken it upon themselves to use the powerful tool of Music to help in making this world a better place for all", the statement added.

The statement was signed by MUSIGA General Secretary, Mrs Deborah Anaman.

BAN ALL SONGS ASSOCIATED WITH TERRORISM

The Chairman of the Eastern Region Council of Muslim Chiefs, Chief Abu Adams, has, as a matter of urgency, called on the government to ban all songs associated with terrorism in the country.

Such songs, he said, had the potential of promoting terrorist activities which must not be allowed in Ghana.

He has, thus, cautioned Ghanaian muslims not to associate themselves with terrorist organisations such as Al-Queeda and Al-Shabab of Somalia because terrorism had no place in Islam.

Chief Adams, who is also the Chief of the Dagomba community in Koforidua in the Eastern Region, gave the caution after saying prayers to mark this year’s Eid-ul-Adha Festival in Koforidua on Tuesday.

According to him some musicians have recently composed a song on Al-Queeda, a notorious terrorist organisation, just to make that organisation popular, and that if such songs were to dominate the airwaves and homes, they would glorify terrorist activities with severe consequences on the peaceful Ghanaian society.

Terrorist acts, Chief Adams said, involved the killing of innocent people and was therefore unfortunate and wrong for such dastardly acts to be associated with a peaceful religion such as Islam.

The government, he indicated, should therefore immediately ban such songs that would popularize terrorism.

Referring to the recent Al-Shabab attack on the Nairobi shopping mall in which more than 60 people, including Ghana’s former Chairman of the Council of State, Prof Kofi Awoonor, perished, Chief Adams said that unfortunate incident was an issue between Somalia and Kenya and was therefore not to be associated with Islam.

Ghanaians, he indicated, should, therefore, heed the warning from Britain of a possible terrorist attack on the country since Ghana had also sent troops to Mali, which was formerly under terrorist attack.

Dilating on the peace the country was presently enjoying, he attributed it to all the nine judges of the Supreme Court who sat on the 2012 election petition case and delivered judgment, and Nana Akufo-Addo, the New Patriotic Party’s presidential candidate, who accepted the ruling although it went against him.