I CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT FENNEC – URSULA OWUSU WEEPS

Member of Parliament (MP) for Ablekuma West, Ursula Owusu Ekuful, has said she does not know how to continue to live in the absence of Fennec Okyere, the artiste manager who was murdered last Thursday.

“Fennec was everything to me. Anytime I wanted to get something done but did not know how to go about it, I would call him and he would direct me on what to do.

“I don’t know how to live without him… he was very very hard working and generous to a fault,” Madam Ursula noted on Peace FM last Saturday.

According to Ursula, Fennec stayed with her for a very long time and many people who knew them thought he was her son.

Ursula said she bonded very well with Fennec and through him she got to know several of the movers and shakers of the showbiz fraternity.

Sounding rather sober, Ursula pleaded with the media and the general public to exercise restraint and wait for the outcome of the Police investigations into the homicide rather than embark on speculations as to who might have killed him.

“The speculations are becoming too many, and they rather make the family sad and worsen the situation. I would plead with the media and the public to stop the speculations in these trying times. The family is not enjoying any part of this,” she added.

Fennec was murdered at his residence last Thursday dawn. He is survived by a wife and a year-old son.

SUPPORT GHANAIAN LOCAL FILMMAKERS -PATIENCE OZOKWOR

Popular Nigerian actress Patience Ozokwor aka Mama G has called for support and encouragement for local Ghanaian movie producers.

Her reason is because they are doing well producing movies in the indigenous language.
“I am glad things are changing in Africa, where Ghana is taking steps to use and trade with its local language through movies.

Bollywood is second when it comes to moviemaking in the world. They use their local language to shoot, which tells you that it’s not bad for an industry to use local language to shoot movies.

“When one makes mistakes in English, the whole country laughs at the person, but we forget it’s not our language but rather it’s the white man who forced us to learn it; so if Africa needs to grow, one of the things we can grow with is our language,” she said.

The Nollywood actress is currently in Ghana shooting a Kumawood movie. She spoke to journalists after the screening of the new movie titled ‘Sundiata.’

According to her, after watching the movie ‘Sundiata,’ she concluded the producers needed to be encouraged.

‘Sundiata’ tells the story of a chief’s wife who struggled many years to give birth to a baby boy, but their joy was short-lived.

MY SMALL SIZE IS UNIQUE – ACTOR JOE SHORTINGO

Actor Joe Shortingo, born Joseph Pamfo, is one of Ghana’s celebrated actors excelling in the local Twi movie industry.

Sometimes he is also featured in English movies and TV series.

In this interview with NEWS-ONE’s Francis Addo, Joe says he does not regret his diminutive nature but rather finds it unique.

He also says he is not prepared for marriage now and does not have a lover.

What is happening to Joe?
I am good and still on a TV series called ‘Check Yourself’ on Viasat1.

I thought you were getting ready for your big marriage.
No, I’m not prepared.

Your friends Aki and Pawpaw are settling down; what are you waiting for?
Osita has not, he is still searching. I think when Osy is done, I will prepare towards mine.

Do you have somebody in your life?
Hmmmm…Still searching.

What’s your kind of lady?
Hmmmm. I’m not certain. But when its time and I see the right person it will strike me.

What’s your new series about?
It’s about a brilliant boy who completed senior high school but because his father is womanizing, he could not let the boy further his education to the university. He sent the boy to his fitting shop to assist him. Now, the boy is also womanizing and is also good in fitting.

Who is the boy?
It’s me.

What do you find unique about this role?
Apart from going after ladies as usual, this small boy always instils some sense into his friends, girlfriends, and elders in communities by educating them on sanitation, principles of life and above all, he inspires kids and young guys to learn and flow. Some parents sometimes invite me to their houses just to interact with their wards. I think they think I inspire kids to learn.

Remind us of how you started movie career?
First of all, I thank God for making me realize one of the talents he gave me and for bringing me this far. Also, I thank movie producers in Ghana for bringing me this far.

Osita and Chinedu inspired me since 2002. I was a little bit jovial and good at teasing when I was a kid. So after Junior High School, I went to Accra Arts Centre and joined a drama group called Bomkasa Drama Group since 2004. A friend and I went to Opera Square and Miracle Films discovered me in 2005. In 2006, I completed Senior High School and I wrote a letter to quit my drama group because I will be away from them for a long time.

Miracle Films gave me script while I was in school. Miracle Films editor Naa Borkai Addy taught me some technical aspects of acting whenever I closed from school (SHS) and passed through to visit her at her studio for some hours. Samuel Akwesi Nyamekye took me to Kumasi to shoot the script he gave me in October 2006.

After that I started shooting a series called ‘Broadway’ from Point Blank Media Concept while reading a short diploma course, Computer Software Application sponsored by Mr Addo, proprietor of Vision One Media Concept.

Why acting? Do you have other dreams apart from acting?
I had in mind Computer Science and Presenting.

What’s the most interesting shoot you’ve had so far?
‘Boys Abr3.’

What is interesting about it?
Because it had been one of my dreams to act with Osita or Chinedu—those who inspired me.

How was it like working with Osita?
I was excited to act with Osy and I found every scene we did interesting. He was co-operative.

How would you define success from acting point of view and do you think you have it?
On course.

Tell me About Joe. What’s his real name? Where do you come from?
Joseph Pamfo, born and brought up in Accra. I come from Apam and the last born of my parents.

How old are you?
27 years, I will be 28 years this year.

Your age does not reckon your height and looks. Any idea why?
Mr. Kwame Djokoto’s (Edziban fame) son looked at me and told me that I’m seven years old, just because I play with them as their co-equal.

Did you inherit your size from your family?
No, I am just unique.

Do you regret your size?
No, I don’t regret at all. Edey bee k3k3.

Thanks for your time.
Thank you for your time too.

MOVIE PRODUCER DENIES SABOTAGING GHANAIAN ACTORS

The Chief Executive Officer of Paul Gee Productions, Mr. Paul Agyei, has rubbished claims that his outfit and other production houses want to sideline some actors and actresses in Ghana.

Zionfelix.com has received reports from some industry players and entertainment critics who have accused Paul Gee and a section of the film producers of trying to sideline some actors and actresses in Ghana specifically those in Kumasi by invading Nigerian actors and actresses to shoot movies in the country.

Whiles Agya Koo, Nana Osei Kwame Brempong aka Sharpiro, Papa Kumasi and other actors have expressed disappointments about the moves by these film producers, Rose Mensah (Kyeiwaa), Akrobeto, Lil Win and few other Kumawood actors are happy with the new development.

Responding to this accusation on Ashh fm Entertainment Zone, Mr. Paul Agyei said the allegation leveled against movie producers is unfounded and unfortunate.

He said there is no way they will intentionally bring foreigners into the country just to collapse the film industry.

“Some of us don’t have any other job than marketing and producing movies, so how can we intentionally sabotage the work that we are earning money from?’’ He asked.

"We want to upgrade ourselves to a different level – international level, and I bet you, we will change the phase of our industry. Most of the local actors are glad to meet their Nigerian counterparts so how can someone sit somewhere and condemn us."

Paul Agyei said those actors accusing them of bringing foreign actors don’t want to learn and upgrade in their field.

"These people will bring in something new which our actors can learn from them to improve upon their performance” he added.

Paul Agyei revealed that he is working on a new movie titled ‘’Mama Africa’’ that features Patience Ozokwor, Lil Win, Kyeiwaa, Akrobeto , Maame Serwaah and others.

FENNEC OKYERE HAD SEPARATED FROM WIFE BEFORE HIS DEATH...

Contrary to reports that came from some media houses – online, print and social media regarding the death of Kwaw Kesse’s manager, Fennec Okyere, that he was shot to death, Ursula Owusu, a legal luminary and now the spokesperson for the deceased’s family, has cleared the air.

Speaking on Hitz FM, on Monday 17th March, 2014, Ursula Owusu revealed that on Thursday 13th March, 2014, she had a call concerning the news.

"I went to the house and saw him dead in a pool of blood. There was blood all over his bathroom – the toilet tub and the washing tub," she said. "The whole room was flooded with blood."

"It’s obvious they – the assassins started stabbing him from the bedroom. He was stabbed, not shot. So he ran to the bathroom and the assailants chased him there. The whole room was filled with blood. He crawled to the bedroom and that is where he died. As I narrate the story, the visuals are still indelible on my eyes. Nobody deserves to die that way. Nobody!"

Ursula went further to reveal that Fennec separated from his legally married wife just after 2 months of marriage. When asked why Fennec and his wife were separated, Ursula said “when they separated, the lady was living under my roof, but, I wouldn’t want to go into all of that for now on air. Let’s see how best we can bury him first and all other matters will follow.”

Unknown to many, Fennec Okyere lived with Ursula Owusu from the mid 90s till the year 2001 when grown up Fennec took his destiny into his own hands and left Ursula’s abode. Fennec finally ended up managing Hiplife/Hiphop artiste, Kwaw Kesse, until Thursday 13th March, 2014, when news broke out he was dead.

KALSOUME FOUNDATION SUPPORTS 2,000 SCHOOL CHILDREN

The Kalsoume Sinare Foundation (KSF) in partnership with Coca-Cola Company has distributed over 2,000 shoes to school children in ten selected schools in the Northern Region to encourage the less privileged to remain in school.

Kalsoume Sinare, an actress and the Executive Director of KSF, presenting the shoes to some beneficiary pupils at the Dakpema Primary School in Tamale on Monday, said her outfit in partnership with Coca-Cola Company was to give relief to the less privileged in the three northern regions.

She explained that the aim of KSF was to ensure that children who could not afford to be in school due to poverty were supported with uniforms; and indicated that the shoes were given because without shoes children were susceptible to the heat and other dangerous materials on the ground.

She noted that as an indigene of the north, she knew the problems poor children faced and how some of them were socially excluded, hence the need to partner Coca-Cola Company to address some of the bottlenecks confronting education in the area.

The Head of Public Affairs and Communication for Coca-Cola in Equatorial Guinea, Ama Bawuah, said apart from partnering KSF to distribute over 2,000 shoes to school children, the Coca-Cola Company in the past had renovated and refurbished some schools across the country, as well as providing books and other educational materials to promote education.

She said the company’s initiative “5by20 female economic empowerment programme” was aimed at helping needy children and women to improve upon their living standards and assured that Coca-Cola would continue to partner with KSF to achieve its aims and objectives.

According to her, the 5by20 programme was also to help women succeed as entrepreneurs by providing them with access to business skills training, credit, asserts and support networks of peers and mentors. She said: “5by20 is aimed at helping women succeed as entrepreneurs by removing barriers they face, while creating thriving sustainable communities.”

Madam Bawuah said the 5by20 programme was initially piloted in four countries namely Brazil, India, South Africa and the Philippines, and that it had expanded to ten additional countries including Ghana and aimed at supporting some five million women.

She added that Coca-Cola’s 5by20 programme in Ghana was currently providing financial management skills training for female retailers of Coca-Cola, where over 300 women in Accra and Kumasi had undergone a 2-day business enhancement training programme to equip them with better bookkeeping.

Madam Bawuah further said some 1,000 women in the three northern regions would also be supported with access to business skills, financial services and asserts, while others would be supported and equipped to set-up small-scale Coca-Cola retail businesses.

“Others would also be supported to improve and expand their commercial activities such as Shea butter production, ice-block making, catering, dressmaking, hairdressing and batik-tyre and die”, she added.

IS ELIKEM JEALOUS OF BBA LADIES MAN BOLT OVER ABENA?

Speculations making rounds has it that the tailors neck, BBA star Elikem is no longer in good terms with Ghanaian afro pop singer and winner of Top Model Ghana 2013, Abena.

The two who seemed to be getting on well and mostly spotted at some vintage places in and out of the capital city after her “Regulate” official video have all of a sudden stopped seeing each other after Big Brother Africa house mate and ladies’ man Bolt from Sierra Leone arrived in the country to do collaboration with Abena.

A section of the public rumoured the two as love birds after featuring Elikem in her “Regulate” video which had the BBA star acting as her lover boy. Some perceived they were seeing each other before the official video, others think otherwise.

The big question which many have still not gotten answers to is, if Elikem and Abena were going out and what really happened after Pokello and Bolt’s visit?

Information gathered as of this publication reveals the two are at loggerheads and are not receiving calls from each other.

Meanwhile Bolt is still in the country still planning on his collaboration with Abena. The two sees each other every day and reported to be getting on very well.

Efforts to reach these stars have still not been fruitful as of time of this publication. Keep reading as we promise to bring to you some answers to the many questions that have been running through your minds.