SHORT CODES FOR VGMA VOTING RELEASED!

The highly anticipated 2014 Vodafone Ghana Music Awards nominations are out!

The official Launch and unveiling of the nominees list was organized on Saturday March 1st at Golden Tulip and now the way has been paved for the general public to start voting for their Favourite songs and Artistes to catapult them to win the all enviable awards, come May 3rd 2014.

And you have the power to determine who wins what; you can push your favorite artistes and songs to win in any of the categories

The clock is ticking fast and the race is hot. Who makes history? The general public carries 100% votes for the Vodafone song of the year Category. This clearly implies that, majority of the votes lie solely in the hands of the general public.

The Voting instructions are as follows; to vote for Artiste of the year, text A to 1767 and for Vodafone song of the year text B to 1767 for the Nominees and for the rest of the categories, text C to 1767 and follow the prompt.

You can also log on to www.ghanamusicawards.com

The 15th Vodafone Ghana Music Awards Festival… Music Every Where

Brought to you by Vodafone –Power to you with support from Star Beer The Nations Favorite beer, Golden Tulip Hotel, Alisa Hotel, GhOne TV, KPMG Event statisticians and produced by Charterhouse. Find full list of nominee below:

Artsite of the Year
Castro
Kwabena Kwabena
Sonnie Badu
Shatta Wale
Sarkodie
Samini
Guru

New Artiste of the Year
Akwaboah
Joey B
Kumi Guitar

Highlife Artiste of the Year
Bisa Kdei
Kwabena Kwabena
Castro

Gospel Song of the Year
Osoree Nnwom – Cecelia Marfo
Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz- Nicholas Omane Acheampong
Wonder God – Sonnie Badu
Maye Se Mo Pen – OJ
Nyame Egwamaa – Joyce Blessing feat. Jewel Ackah
Menu – Patience Nyarko

Best Female Vocal Performance
Efya – Life
Joyce Blessing – Nyame Egwamaa
Miriam Afari – Ashei Nyame
Gena West – No Power Against Me

Best Male Vocal Performance
Sonnie Badu – Wonder God
OJ- Maye Se Mo Pen
Knii Lante – Baby Take Good Care
Kwabena Kwabena – Engya Me Ho
Castro – Odo Pa

African Artiste of the Year
Mafikizolo
P-Sqaure
Davido
Kcee
Wizkid
Flavour

Gospel Artiste of the Year
Sonnie Badu
Nicholas Omane Acheapong
OJ
Joyce Blessing
Patience Nyarko

Hiplife/ Hip Hop Artiste of the Year
Sarkodie
Eazzy
R2Bees
Guru
M.anifest
EL
Joey B

Afro Pop Song of the Year
Latext – Edem feat. Kaaki
Million Pound Girl – Fuse ODG
Dance (Neke Neke) – Itz Tiffany
Slow – R2Bees feat. Wizkid
Dance For Ne – Ruff N Smooth
Scream-Eazzy

Highlife Song of the Year
Adult Music – Kwabena Kwabena
Odo Pa – Castro feat. Baby Jet & Kofi Kinaata
Love – R2Bees
Metanfo- Bisa Kdei
Break Into 2 – Kumi Guitar

Reggae/Dancehall Song of the Year
Freaky Girl – Jupiter
Pull Up – Stonebwoy
Hot Cake – Pope Skinny feat. Shatta Wale
Dancehall King – Shatta Wale
Fever – D2 feat. Shatta Wale
Scatter Badmind – Samini

Vodafone Song of the Year
Adult Music – Kwabena Kwabena feat. Samini
Odo Pa – Castro Feat. Baby Jet & Kofi Kinaata
Slow Down – R2Bees Feat. Wizkid
Dancehall King – Shatta Wale
Metanfo – Bisa Kdei
Tonga – Joey B feat. Sarkodie
Maye Se Mo pen – OJ
Akaiyida (Boys Abr3) – Guru
Down On One – Sarkodie feat. Fuse ODG
Million Pound Girl – Fuse ODG

Record of the Year
Trigmatic – Wo Sika Nti
Knii Lante – Baby Take Good Care
Tseataa (Josh Laryea) – Everlasting Love
Akwaboah – I Do Love You

Best Collaboration of the Year
Odo Pa – Castro feat. Baby Jet & Kofi Kinaata
Down On One- Sarkodie feat. Fuse ODG
Slow Down – R2Bees feat. Wizkid
Adult Music-Kwabena Kwabena
Azonto Boys-Guru Feat. Lil Win
Hot Cake-Pope Skinny Feat. Shatta Wale
Nyame Egwamaa-Joyce Blessing Feat. Jewel Ackah

Album of the Year
Sarkology – Sarkodie
Heavy Price- Joyce Blessing
Aroma of Worship – Sonnie Bad
Thanks Giving – Bisa Kdei
Apae – M.anifest
Akaiyida (Boys Abr3) – Guru

Song Writer of the Year
Maye Se Mo Pen – OJ
Wo Sika Nti – Trigmatic
Engya Me Ho – Kwabena Kwabena
Baby Take Good Care – Knii Lante
Baba – Kisa Kdei

Best Group of the year

R2bees

4×4

Ruff N Smooth

D2

Gospel Album of the Year

Heavy Price – Joyce Blessing

Aroma of Worship –Sonnie Badu

Nokwasem – OJ

Maher Shalal Hash baz – Nicholas O Acheampong

Mekasa Ama Awurade – Patience Nyarko



Hiplife Song of the year

Boys Abre – Guru

Down on One – Sarkodie ft Fuse ODG

Tonga – Joey B ft Sarkodie

3 Points – Gasmila

Anadwo y3 D3 – 4×4



Best Rapper of the year

Sarkodie – Rap Attack

Trigmatic – Wo Sika Nti

M.anfest – Someway Bi

El – See Me Suffer

Guru – Let Me love You

Hip hop song of the year

See Me Suffer – EL ft Lil Shaker

Lies – Sarkodie ft Lil Shaker

Someway Bi – M.anifest

Marilyn Monroe – DeeMoneey ft Fuse ODG

Me Wi Dollar – Kwaw Kese ft E.L

Producer of the year

Kaywa

Shatta Wale

Killbeatz

Guru

DJ Breezy

Bisa Kdei

GHANA POLICE SAVED MY LIFE - YVONNE NELSON

Popular actress Yvonne Nelson has commended the Ghana Police Service for its recent rapid response to her distress call to rescue her and her friends from their attackers at a beach.

Reports on Tuesday said the actress was attacked by some four persons at an Accra beach. Yvonne would however not give details of what really happened at the beach when contacted.

She spoke on News-One: “I think the most important thing is to commend the Police for their quick response when I called their short code. It was so fast. I don’t know what would have happened to us if they didn’t come. I was surprised at how the police came that fast. It was amazing. It was like a movie and I must commend them”

Yvonne has in the past been receiving threat messages. Latter part of last year and early this year, she also received death threats.

However, the attack on her came as a surprise to some of her fan base.

FILM PRODUCERS ASSOCIATION ESTABLISHES NORTHERN SECTOR OFFICE

On the 57th birthday of Ghana, the President of the Film Producers Association of Ghana, Mr. Asare Hackman fulfilled a part of his promise of spreading the wide arm of FIPAG to cover all film producers in the country as a new baby was born to the film producers association of Ghana: the FIPAG NORTHERN SECTOR.

In a speech delivered by the president of the association, he expressed his utmost joy in seeing the dream come true and urged the members present to work hard to educate, entertain and transform their people and culture through the power of film making.

He added that even though people have not paid attention to films done in the sector, he was convinced with all he had seen in the few days in office that the films done in the sector could compete with others done elsewhere in the country.

He also disclosed plans were advanced to divide the country into three sectors to make administrative work easier for the association.

The opportunity was taken to elect and swear in new interim executives for the northern sector, with the promise of securing funds to acquire an office space for them for proper administrative work to be done for the association. 

ARE GHANAIAN ACTORS NOW TAKING OVER NOLLYWOOD?

Ghanaian actors like Jackie Appiah, Van Vicker, Majid Michel, Yvonne Nelson, John Dumelo, Nadia Buari, Yvonne Okoro amongst others have become household names in Nollywood, and Nigeria has become more like home to them.

There have been several questions regarding this phenomenon. Some have asked if this is a healthy development or if the the Ghanaians are gradually taking over the Nigerian movie industry? Nigeriafilms.com spoke with some of the Nollywood stars on this issue and these are their opinions.

 There shouldn't be discrimination! - Mercy Aigbe, Actress

I don't think the Ghanaian actors are taking over, I believe we are all one, be it Nigerian, Ghanaian or Kenyan, we are all actors. And as an actor, you can be featured in any type of movie, be it Hollywood, Bollywood or Nollywood movies, as long as you are good and the producer believes you can give him the best. There shouldn't be any discrimination!

 Nigerians prefer foreign things!- Bob Manuel Udokwu, Actor

It's a sad reflection of Nigeria's craze for something foreign, even if it's from smaller countries around us. Those countries don't reciprocate in kind, so in the end, we become fools! We really need to sit up both as a nation and as an industry (Nollywood).

 The industry is big enough for everyone - Belinda Effah, Actress

I don't think so. The industry is big enough to accommodate everyone. It's not a a problem, because I still get to play major roles alongside these Ghanaian actors.












We have Nigerians in Hollywood too! - Yvonne Jegede, Actress

How can they take over Nollywood.? Nigerians love foreigners and accept them, but that doesn't mean our birthright is washed off because of that.. Nollywood is big enough to accommodate anybody.
We have Nigerians in Hollywood too.










 It has brought about a healthy competition - Theresa Edem, Actress

This collaboration has helped the industry to grow. It's easier for Nollywood to break into Ghana and Africa as a whole. Africans like partnership. A united Africa sells anyday, anytime. It's been a great partnership so far. They've added colour to Nollywood and they've brought about healthy competition that has made the industry ( Nollywood) to wake up.

 It's nothing to worry about - Oma Iyasara, Actress

I think they are coming in with force, but it's nothing to worry about. It happened before and trust me, it won't last for long, it's just for a while, I have nothing against them.

 We own Nollywood - Lola Margret, Actress

Nigerians got all it takes and we are more committed than the Ghanaians. We lead while other Africans follow We own Nollywood.

 The Ghanaians are catching up fast - Bose Arowosegbe, Actress
The Ghanians are really catching up with us fast. They learned from Nigerians with very good producers, directors and good crew members who left Nollywood to Ghana. The competition got so high, but we will still continue to be the best in Africa. They are still behind us. We are neighbours and they are equally good. A lot of good directors and producers are either from Nigeria or started from Nigeria,so they will sure want to have actors from both sides in the movies.

 They almost took over - Maureen Cyril, Actress.

The Ghanaians almost took over our Nollywood two years ago. Though Nollywood doesn't have new young actors, just old ones. We need more actors so we can be contented with what we have and not go for Ghanaian actors

 That can only happen in X-rated movies - Chika Agatha Oguine, Actress

Ghanaians taking over Nollywood? Nollywood in Nigeria? That can only happen in X-rated movies, maybe!.

DECLARING SUPPORT FOR A POLITICAL PARTY SHOULDN'T JEOPARDIZE YOUR CAREER - PHILIPA BAAFI

Gospel musician Philipa Baafi says it is unfortunate that celebrities who have openly declared support for one political party or another in the country have seen their careers take a dip.

According to her, the development is worrying, considering the fact that Ghana believes in the ideals of freedom of speech which is a right that must be respected.

Some known personalities including Kumawood actor, Mr Beautiful and gospel musician Lenny Akpadie have seen their once illustrous careers take a nose dive after declaring support for a political party.

Philipa Baafi released the popular 'Go High' song which was used by the NPP in the 2008 elections. That she said nearly marred her career had it not been for God's intervention.

She has been absent from the music scene for the past three years, and there were reports that her absence might have been caused by an alleged affiliation to the NPP.

But speaking in an interview with Myjoyonline.com, Philipa refuted the claims, saying she was maternity leave. She explained that, she did not do the 'Go High' song for the NPP; "I just took my copyright and some people [thought] that I did the album basically for them but [it's not] so."

"I thought where Ghana is now it should be a normal thing because whether we like it or not everybody belongs to one party or the other. It's a democratic country, we have freedom of speech," she said.

A celebrity declaring his or her support for a political party should not "jeopardize or do something to your career, it should have been that but it's unfortunate that we are facing the problem here," she said.

Philipa Baafi is celebrating 15 years of her music career and she is out with her eighth studio album 'Aseda Piesie'.

'Aseda Piesie' has ten tracks and she is due to release ten music videos for the album.

C.K. MANN IS NOT DYING! - SON

The family of Ghana’s legendary highlife musician, C.K Mann, has refuted media reports suggesting that the 78-year old is in critical condition requiring financial assistance for medical care.

Describing the reports as “distasteful”, Anthony Mann, son of C.K. Mann, said they were considering legal action against a Ghanaian entertainment website where the story emanated from.

The story claimed the Adjoa Yankey hit maker who is currently in Takoradi, the capital of Ghana’s oil producing Western Region, was dying slowly of a terrible ailment.

It further suggested the maestro could not afford a square meal and his medical bills, hence launched an appeal for funds to support the man whose musical career spanned 40 years.

“We want to state emphatically that C. K. Mann like any 78-year person, is sick from any common sickness that affect older people and not a terrible disease the writer sort to portray,” he said.

A statement issued in Accra on Friday said at no point has the musician or his family sought financial assistance to cater for medical bills and his (C.K. Mann) upkeep.

However, reacting to the story, the son who speaks for the family directed the publishers “to correct the story immediately and cease from receiving any donations in C.K Mann’s name”.

He said, we are “capable of taking care of our father”. C.K., on February 13, was admitted in a hospital in Takoradi and discharged a week later but continued to be given medical attention at home.

He was said to have requested to be taken to the GHAPOHA Hospital on March 7, where he would feel comfortable. “I want to be at the hospital,” the son quoted C.K Mann.

C.K Mann has played an instrumental role in Ghana’s highlife music genre in the 1960s by incorporating new elements (funky highlife) into the traditionally styled highlife at the time.

The rosy sound that C.K. Mann created, however, began to dilute under commercial success by the mid-1980s.

I AM NOT INTERESTED IN ELIKEM – GERMAN FASHION DESIGNER

28-year-old fashion designer and Real Estate Manager, Theresa Onnen has vehemently denied speculations and news making rounds that she has snatched Elikem Kumordzie from his former big brother house mate and lover Pokello Nare.

Graphic Showbiz reported in its Monday, March 17, 2014 Edition with a headline; “End Of Polikem Fairy Tale?”

However, the state owned entertainment newspaper stated emphatically that Big Brother lovebirds Pokello and Elikem have split, and the “fairy tale” love affair which has won the couple considerable admiration in both Ghana and Zimbabwe has collapsed.

They continued that Elikem had confirmed the break-up to them but refused to give details.

In an interview with Peacefmonline.com, the German based fashion designer with Real Estate interests stated that she had no love relationship with the former big brother housemate but what brought them together on the fashion stage was purely business.

The mother of two who came from Hannover, Germany about a month ago to outdoor her clothing line confirmed that she and Elikem were not dating and was not pregnant as stated by the paper.

According to her it is barely a month since they got to know each other through the fashion show since Elikem modelled for her, but anyone who had seen them together would think they have been dating or known each other for years.

“What I have with Elikem is purely business and nothing more; since I’m somehow new in the country he is helping me with some stuff and my rounds around. I am trying to get a shop since I will be moving to Ghana with my mum and two children in April and a whole lot of other things.

“Though I have been separated from my husband for about six months now, we are not legally divorced as we are still working on it, so I don’t need any man or Elikem in my life at this moment,” she told Peacefmonline.com.

She added that she is not interested in Elikem.

Speaking to Elikem on the issue, he said Pokello is still the love of his life and nothing had changed.

“Nothing will make me change my mind from Pokello, we love each other and I don’t intend to leave her for any woman,” he confirmed.

He pleaded with all who are misinforming the general public to desist from that.