Parents of Janet Bandu– the lady who
went missing together with hiplife musician Castro at Ada on Sunday, are
demanding that the hiplife star produces their daughter alive.
“I
will tell him [Castro] to look for my daughter for me,” mother of Janet
Bandu told Myjoyonline.com's Samuel Bruce on Wednesday at her
residence.
The parents are also threatening to take legal action
against Castro if he is found alive without their daughter and also
against Peace Holiday Resort, in Ada.
Background story
Castro,
who went Jet skiing on Sunday together with Janet Bandu, is believed to
have drowned at the Estuary in Ada when they went on a holiday trip at
the Peace holiday resort on Sunday July 6.
Rescue officers
including the Marine Division of the Ghana Police Service, Navy, Ada
East District Assembly and local divers appear to have given up hope of
finding the two alive.
The family is grieving over the incident. They are even angrier over reports that their daughter is a mermaid.
Madam Laleba Bandu, mother of Janet Bandu told Bruce her daughter is only beautiful and cannot be said to be a “mermaid.”
She said her daughter, 24, is studying fashion and design at the Joyce Ababio fashion school.
She was unhappy with the subtle attempts by the media to sideline her missing daughter.
While
threatening to take legal action against Castro and the Resort for not
providing adequate security for her, Miss Bandu called on the Almighty
God to intervene in the matter.
“At times I think she is alive
and at times I think she is dead because where she is there is no rope
to cling on to. I can't sleep, I can't eat," she sobbed.
She maintained that the girl has a family who is earnestly awaiting her return.
The
mother revealed that on Friday, 4 July, Janet told her she was going to
hang out with her friends, and that was the last time she saw her.
She
said she called her several times the next day to find out how she was
doing, but there was no response. Only to be told she had drowned with
Castro on Sunday.
Family Background
Madam Laleba Bandu
revealed that she has five children but lost one only recently. She
explained that Janet was the last amongst the five.
Mr. Joseph Bandu, an ex-soldier and father of Janet said all the children were born and schooled at Burma Camp.
Mr. Bandu also said that he was on vacation in their hometown in the Upper East region.
It was after his return that he was informed that the daughter had drowned.
Janet
left her bag and mobile phone with her female friend she hanged out
with at the resort before she left with Castro. The items have been
deposited at the Ada police station to aid in investigations.
Big Brother Africa offers
opportunities for the very unknown to get international exposure and it
offers a lifetime experience of enjoying free booze, free food and other
benefits apart from sharing space with other personalities from
different countries across Africa.
Regardless of your actions in
the Big Brother house, your entry to fame is assured and who doesn’t
want that? Surely, Ghanaian actress, Vicky Zugah wants a piece of the
action too.
It therefore came as no surprise, when the actress
was spotted as one of the over 200 aspiring persons who turned up at the
Auditions at the Holiday Inn in Accra over the weekend for the
selection of representative(s) for the 9th edition of the most watched
show across Africa. Unfortunately, Vicky was disqualified and could not
make it to the next stage of the auditions.
When Razz Newspaper
caught up with the actress after the announcement of her
disqualification, she looked upbeat and tried to conceal her
disappointment. She claimed that, there’s nothing wrong with celebrities
participating in Big Brother auditions.
According to her, the
Big Brother Africa platform and its benefits are huge, and considering
the credibility of the program, she sees no reason why any celebrity
should not be involved in it.
Asked if she would try again next
year, she responded: “If God gives me life next year and I’m not too
busy, I will surely come back and audition.”
Speaking about her
disqualification, Vicky claimed that she was told after her introduction
to the panel that – she doesn’t fit in this year’s theme for the
reality show.
However, the likes of Selma Mumuni, BB Bright, Leo Mensah and Vicky Zugah’s boyfriend managed to make it to the second round.
In
a chat with the PRO of Multi Choice Ghana, Mr. Atu Abbassah, he said
that the responses this year have been positive and looking at the class
of people coming to the audition, he’s impressed.
In less than a year, the Ghana Music industry has been hit by the death of famous musicians, both young and old.
The deaths involve high profile musicians raising questions as to what exactly is happening on the music scene.
It
must be stated that each time a Ghanaian musician dies; it has serious
repercussions since musicians are loved and have great influence in our
society.
Over the weekened, news broke that popular musician
Theopilus Tagoe, aka Castro, had died in a jet ski accident while on
holiday with footballer Asamoah Gyan and other friends.
Ghana’s
classical highlife musician, Dr. Paa Bobo, Ronnie Coaches of popular
award-winning group BUK BAK fame, veteran highlife musician Thomas
Frimpong, and Fennec Okyere, manager of Hiplife artiste Kwaw Kesse, all
died in less than one year.
While the deaths of Dr. Paa Bobo and
Thomas Frimpongs can be understandable because they were relatively old,
the same cannot be said of Ronnie Coaches, Fennec Okyere, as well as
Castro, because they are all less than 40 years old.
Ronnie died at the age 36 while Okyere was killed at the age 32 years. Castro is also 32 years old.
Theophilus Tagoe, aka Castro
Theophilus
Tagoe, aka ‘Castro, who has been described as the ’50 Cent of Ghana’
was reported missing after trying to rescue drowning Janet Bandu near
the coastal town of Ada.
The 32-year-old singer, whose real name
is Theophilus Tagoe, along with Bandu, Ghanaian striker Gyan and some
friends, hired jet skis from The Aqua Safari Resort on Saturday.
Bandu
is said to have fallen from the back of the jet ski Castro was riding,
and witnesses say he jumped in to try and rescue her.
Black Stars
striker Gyan frequently takes holidays in the region and was visiting
following Ghana’s exit from the World Cup after the group stage.
Aside being captain of his national side, Gyan had recently appeared as a guest vocalist on some of Castro’s biggest hits.
Castro, whose style is described as ‘ hiplife’ a combination of hip-hop and highlife, is one of Ghana’s top-earning musicians.
Ronnie Coaches
Ronnie Coaches died on Thursday, November 21, 2013.
He was reported to have suffered a heart attack before giving up the ghost at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.
The sad news came on the heels of the groups new single ‘Feelings’ and ‘Ex Girlfriend.’
Buk Bak started off as a 3-man rap group with Prince Bright, Ronnie Coaches and Shoetan.
The
trio registered a sensational hit with ‘Komi Ke Kena’ and soon became a
household name. Their light-hearted and often amusing lyrics and catchy
rhythms had both the old and young dancing.
However, Shoetan had
to quit the group for his studies abroad. The remaining two remained
strong and together and continued to release amazing hits after hits.
They went on to enjoy more success with albums like Awensem, Sika Kokoo and Gold Coast.
They have won several Ghana Music Awards and have performed in major cities across the globe.
Buk Bak was the first Hiplife group to be successful with Ga lyrics in Ghana. They rap in Ga, Twi and Pidgin.
They also banded with groups like K-2 (Juliana) and 4x4 to release more hit tracks.
In 2006, Ronnie and Bridget pursued separate projects.
Bright debut album was quite successful with tracks like ‘Condom’ and ‘What Dem Plan.’
Some
of their hit songs are Gonja Barracks, Komi Ke Kese,Klu Blofo,
Chingilingi, Kelewele, Trotro, Dienpo, Akwasi Broni, Tankase, U 4 know
say, Kakatsofa, Kakalika, Twen Me, Akwele ne Akuoko, Yenko Ne Brebre, Ma
Me Odo, kululu, Bibini Ba.
Fennec Okyere
Fennec
Okyere, manager of hiplife artiste Kwaw Kesse aka ‘Abodam,’ was on
Thursday, March 13 cruelly murdered in cold blood by unknown assailants
at his Manet Gardens residence, off the Spintex Road in Accra
The
32-year-old businessman was found lying in a pool of blood with his
face down in his bedroom, on the first floor of the storey building. He
was shot at the left side of his stomach.
The assailants were
reported to have used cement blocks to break into the study and the
bedroom, where Fennec was lying, before he was attacked.
His bathroom was also said to have been smeared with blood as live ammunitions were found inside it.
Fennec’s bedroom was also vandalized, heightening suspicion that his attackers might have been looking for something valuable.
Dr. Paa Bobo
Classic
highlife musician Dr. Paa Bobo died at about 2pm on Saturday, December
28, 2013 after battling with sickness at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital
for some weeks.
Dr. Paa Bobo’s real name is Kwaku Agyapong Danemah. He was born in 1951 in the eastern part of Ghana (Akyim Maase).
In
1968, Kwaku Agyapong Danemah started his music career by learning how
to play rudiments of goiter from Smart Nkansah (Ghana’s ace guitarist)
and later formed a band in Nigeria – Aba (Former Imo State).
Standing
as the only African music legend who recorded two hit albums in two
hours with Decca Nigeria, Dr. Paa Bobo has 40 albums to his credit and
35 great hit songs.
The multi award-winning superstar and African
legend has worked with great names like Okukuseku International Band,
All Brothers Band, the Kusum Agoromma (Drama studio now known as
National Theatre), and Smart Nkansah. And has toured and musically
explored countries like Nigeria, Ivory Coast, United Kingdom, Italy and
Holland.
Thomas Frimpong
On Wednesday, September 18, 2013,
Ghana’s music industry was once again hit by sad news, with the death
of veteran highlife musician Thomas Frimpong.
His untimely death
occurred while doctors were trying to save his life at the Korle Bu
Teaching Hospital in Accra after an under-closed illness.
As a
musician, Thomas hoped to reach the top of the highlife ladder. He was
with the Noble Kings for about 17 years and helped solidify the popular
‘sikyi’ beat. Some of the songs he either wrote or co-wrote with
guitarist Eric Agyeman for the Noble Kings included ‘Obaa Baako Agyemang
Me,’ ‘Mebewu A Mennim,’ and Nsem Keke Adooso.’
He went solo
after leaving the band and recorded the ‘Sasakroma’ album before leaving
for London. While in London, he released popular songs such as ‘Odo
Pa’,’Aye Yi’, ‘Mada Meho So,’ Okwan Bi, Wobre’, Okesi Ama, and ‘Kweku
Anansi.’
One of the projects Frimpong embarked on when he
returned to Ghana form London was to team up with colleagues Agyaaku and
Eric Agyeman to record an album titled The Giants.’
Ghana’s Award-winning rapper Sarkodie
turned 29 on Thursday with a special prayer request for God to
intervene in the ongoing search for fellow musician Castro and his
friend Janet.
Sarkodie had been silent since news broke on July 5
that the hip-life artiste, Castro, had drowned in the Volta Lake, till
he posted a picture with him on a social media yesterday.
“My biggest bday gift…God Please Bring Ma Brother Home Please!!!!!!,” Sarkodie posted on his Facebook page.
Castro was on holidays with Asamoah Gyan and a few other people at a resort at Ada Foah where he drowned.
Rescue
operations commenced last Sunday for Castro and Janet Bandu, the lady
he was riding the Jet Ski with before the unfortunate incident happened.
Till date, both bodies have not been found, neither have they washed
ashore.
Sarkodie is among the host of celebs in this country who
have been calling for people to keep the hope of finding both Castro and
Janet alive.
Sarkodie aka Michael Owusu-Addo is one of the
artistes who had very close relations with Castro-Theophilus Tagoe. The
two released an inspirational tune titled ‘Adonai’ which is currently
receiving a lot of airplay.
Sarkodie won the ‘Best Hip Hop’ at
the 2014 MTV Africa Music Awards at the Durban International Convention
Centre (ICC) in Durban, South Africa in June.
He also got
nominated for the ‘Best International Act (Africa) category at the just
ended Black Entertainment Television (BET) Awards.
Popular Ghanaian actress Khareema
Aguiar says she is bitter and disappointed at how the search for Castro
and Janet is being handled.
The ‘Checkmate’ actress said she was
disappointed in the President of Ghana, John Mahama, President of
Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) Obour and the entire entertainment
industry in particular because they are not giving the sad incident the
serious attention it requires.
Khareema could not tell exactly
what ought to have been done but said if it was a government official’s
son that was involved in the incident, the whole country would have been
at a standstill.
Khareema said Castro and Janet’s case was being treated like any ordinary incident without any seriousness.
“I
am highly disappointed in everybody; the government, the industry and
all. See, this could have happened to anyone. Some months back we saw on
all social media, how the whole world was telling people to bring our
girls back when some students were kidnapped in Nigeria. Now what are
Ghanaians saying now that they have lost their very own Castro. Is he no
more a Ghanaian? Is he not in the same industry anymore?
“Didn’t
he thrill us with his music? What are we doing about this unfortunate
situation? Where is the president of MUSIGA? Where is our President John
Mahama? Does he not care about entertainment anymore? I thought he did
when they wanted power. Nobody is saying anything after four days of
Castro going missing. Musicians are sitting unconcerned, actors too are,
the entire industry is gone quite. Don’t we want our very own Castro
back?
“People sit in their houses talking rubbish about he doing
rituals, is that what is going to bring him back? ECOWAS summit so roads
are all blocked, is it not proper that we are happy as a nation before
we host other nations?
I can bet the millions of cedis that would
have been put into this if it had been a government official’s son who
was missing,” Khareemah told NEWS-ONE yesterday.
She continued:
“I thought as entertainers, the nation has our back. This clearly tells
me that what we do as entertainers just entertains these people when
they want to get entertained but after anything that happens to you, you
are left to face it all alone. Indeed some sacrifices are worthless.”
“My
fellow colleagues in the industry should note clearly from today that
they hail you when you are there at the top but immediately you fall to
the ground, nobody gives a f–k about you. Each one for his or herself;
God for us all.
“Asamoah don’t be surprised when you hear rumours
in the coming days that you had a hand in this. Ghanaians for you…too
much talk but always doing very little. We all in the industry must take
a good lesson out of this…they don’t care as they seem to…fake
individuals. My hopes are that they find Castro and Janet. God knows
best,” she added.
Leader of the Ebenezer Miracle
Worship Centre, Prophet Dr. Ebenezer Adarkwa Yiadom has added his voice
to the search of hiplife musician Castro who is believed to have drowned
during a boat cruise at Ada Foah last Sunday.
Opambour speaking
on New Mercury in Kumasi on Thursday night expressed his disappointment
in the calls of spiritualists to reveal the whereabouts of Castro
whilst he thinks men of God should have been the first point of contact.
According
to him, even though he has heard about the sad story on radio and TV,
he is waiting for Castro’s family to respect him by coming to his
presence to inform him about the incident. He added that until that is
done, he will not utter a word.
He said he has more information
to give about Castro to aid in his search but he is waiting for his
parents to visit him before he reveals it.
Prophet One quoted the
bible saying “they have eyes but they can’t see, ears but can’t hear”
adding that he knows whatever is happening to Castro. The prophet did
not say anything about Janet Bandu, the lady who went missing together
with Castro.
Credible information reaching
Peacefmonline.com indicates that the current 12 member interim GHAMRO
board has been dissolved by court this afternoon, Friday July 11, 2014,
after several days of court hearings.
A historic ruling by the
Human Right Court in Accra today dissolved the board of Ghana Music
Rights Owners Organization [GHAMRO] headed by Mr. Carlos Sakyi.
This
follows reliefs sought by ace musician Nana Kwame Ampadu and hundred
other music right owners following the expiry maximum tenure of two
years by the directors.
The court further appointed a three
member board namely Kwame Nsiah Apau popularly known as Okyeame Kwame,
Nana Aboagye Dacosta and Enoch Agyapong with a representative from the
copyright office to take over and conduct election of a substantive
board within the next six months.
Meanwhile issues related to
accountability and a thorough investigation on breaches of the company
code of 1960 of unlawful payment of salaries to Carlos Sakyi and three
others management committee members is still pending in courts.
