GHANA ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY NEEDS A FUNCTIONAL STRUCTURE - BECCA

Award winning Ghanaian songstress, Rebecca Acheampong popularly known as Becca in a brief interview gave answers to questions begging for clues about her love life, Ghana entertainment writers and entertainment.

Enjoy the excerpt…

Becca, while answering question in regards to a Nigerian artiste she would love to settle with if the chance presents itself, she reply thus: “I have never wished to settle down with a fellow artiste, but I don’t know who God might bring my way. But if I find someone in Nigeria who has the things I want in a man, I won’t mind.

For example; I think Ice Prince is an amazing person; 2face is also amazing, though he’s married. Dare Art Alade, MI is among.”

Addressing the low side of Ghana entertainment industry and things it need to learn from Nigeria entertainment industry to grow, she said: “There is a lot of support in Nigeria that individuals and corporate organisations give to the industry, and Ghana lacks that.

Our government needs to pump money in to the industry for it to flourish. Ghana entertainments need a functional structure. May be you guys (Nollywood) can come down and help us in that aspect (laughs).”

Commenting on the effort of Ghana entertainment writers in facilitating the growth of the entertainment industry, she said their effort has not totally being encouraging, but there is hope that they could do more.

“I am not going to lie about this, I think in everything, there are good and bad people. Ghanaian writers are doing quite well, but they could do better. There are writers who are there to bring you down, and there are some who will push you up. Ghanaian entertainment writers are doing quite well, but they could do better.”

“Sometimes when you have a new song, instead of making noise about it through reviews etc, what some rather do is to pick only the negative things about it. If we want to sell our own to the world, why not talk about the good things about it that will sell the country itself in good light?”

“Sometimes, I say to myself “we (artistes) need to meet with entertainment writers in Ghana and talk about it, because, to be frank with you, it is not helping us at all as artiste and a country. We need more entertainment writers who will see the positive effects of doing the right thing that will help and encourage the industry.”

“Our journalists need not to only pick on artistes negatives stories; they need to write about the positive ones as well. Mind you, as an artiste, I am human and I make mistakes” She said.

THERE IS NO BACK DOOR TO BIG BROTHER AFRICA - SELLY

The Ninth Edition of Africa’s biggest reality series, Big Brother Africa BBA, kicks off in September.

Already, Ghanaians who are interested in representing Ghana in this year’s Big-Brother Africa have started buzzing and knocking the doors of some ex-Ghanaian representatives to see how best they can assist them into the house.

One of Ghana’s representatives in the Big Brother ‘The chase’ edition, Selly seems, to be facing more pressure from her fans and social media friends, asking her to assist them with easy links to enter into the house.

Speaking to Razz Newspaper, Reporter (Mustapha Inusah)she confirmed that, it’s true that people are buzzing her phones and her social media with messages, asking her to assist them in any means to find their way into the BBA house and also help them pass through back door.

She said that, as far as she’s concerned, there’s no back door or any connections to entering into the BBA house. Talking about how she got into the BBA house, she said that her situation was based on luck because she didn’t know what BBA was and also, she was not a real fan of the show until she got into the house.

Talking about which kind of candidate she wishes should be selected and can go on to win the ultimate price of Ghana this time round, she gave the attributes of the fellow as someone who’s Bold, tolerant, with good personality, someone who can attract votes in other countries and someone who can easily understand other peoples culture because BBA is full of surprises.

She added that , she will not advise anyone not to go to BBA, ‘Although I will only go back to the BBA house when I am called again , only if I can be assured that there will not be shower hour and also the possibility of me winning the money. I will not advise anyone not to go to BBA because the benefits in it are huge’ she added.

Adding her voice to the debate across African countries about the fact that BBA Africa does not depict and speak well of the African rich culture, she mentioned, ‘I Don’t think BBA should be blamed for some of the bad cultures that goes on in the house . It’s the individuals that go into the house that needs to be blamed because anyone who enters the house is cautioned against his or her conduct.’

Talking about the various nude pictures that come in the public domain during the shower hour, she said that she doesn’t believe that the African culture tells that when when one is bathing, one should put on shirts and pants, so if the various representatives in the BBA house bathe and it manages to come out during the shower hour, she doesn’t think one need to blame them or blame BBA producers because that’s the format of the program.

As it stands now , BBA auditions have already began , with entry opened to the same 14 countries with the exceptions of Angola which will be replaced by newcomer , Rwanda as a results of the change participating countries this year are Botswana , Ethiopia, Ghana , Keyan ,Malawi,Namibia,Nigeria,Sierra Leone,Rewanda, South Africa , Tanzania , Uganda , Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Enteries are only opened to persons aged 21 and above , who are citizens of one of the participating countries and must have a valid passport , producers are looking for people who are entertaining and passionate about BBA experience , hopefuls must be fluent in English.

DROP YOUR RE-ELECTION AMBITION - MR IBU WARNS AGN PRESIDENT

Comic actor John Okafor popularly known as Mr Ibu has asked Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) president Ibinabo Fiberisima to drop her ambition of running for a second term.

According to him, about 90% of the association members do not want her as their leader, with many court cases being instituted against her.

He said she is still adamant to rule because she is gaining something.

“Going for a second term is making the anger in people expand. It is better for her not to come again. She should leave the office and allow another person to try. No progress at all. I am not part of it. As I speak with you, Ibinabo has about two to three court cases.

“We are tired, we want another person. We should try a new person, let's see what he or she would do. About 90% of the people she is ruling say no, but she insisted. Why? Because she is gaining something," he told Encomium magazine this week.

When asked about his assessment of the movie industry, he said “If I should talk about the movie industry you would make me shout because the industry is giving me headache. I am not happy at all. I believe we are matured enough to be independent.

“As big as AGN is we don't have a national headquarters, I mean a film village. Go to other countries in Africa, they have most of these facilities but we have not been able to achieve these because of greed.

“All the money promised by President Jonathan and other state Government, what have they done with it? Whether it has been collected or not we don't know. It is very painful considering the number of years we have been in existence,” he said.

MR. GHANA TIPPED FOR BIG BROTHER AFRICA, ZUGAH & EUGENE SAFO BOUNCED.

Big Brother Africa is undoubtedly the most viewed television program in this continent. Following the anticipation of this year’s edition, the BBA’s finally held its Ghana auditions over the weekend at the plush Holiday Inn Hotel and being a guest at the auditions, the Trace Report definitely has a lot to share.

Ghana’s many unsuccessful attempts in Africa’s major reality show has raised concerns for patrons in the industry haven seen the likes of Sammy B, Kwaku T, DKB, Keitta, Eazzy and Elikem’s inability to return with the cash.

The turn up for its first open call was promising as patronage only appreciated with time. What struck our attention though was the presence of celebrities who were there to also try out their luck, some lived up to expectations and others didn’t forget to disgrace themselves.

All through 2014, Mr. Ghana Nii Tackie Laryea did well to capture attention from the panel (judges), the ladies and our writers. We are unreliably informed he is the favorite of them all. His persona, awesome physique and good looks worked like magic.

Other celebrities who were present and yet were shown the door includes Eugene Safo of Peace fm online, actress Vickie Zugah and Salma Mumuni, Percy the comedian, beauty queens from Miss Malaika, Miss Ghana and Ghana’s Most Beautiful amongst others.

The Trace Report is strongly vouching for him to represent Ghana in the upcoming Big Brother competition. Nii Tackie Laryea is likely to bring the $300,000 home for the first time.

REAL NAMES OF SOME GHANAIAN MUSICIANS

Real Names Real Names Of Ghanaian Musicians Revealed

I must confess most of Ghanaian musicians have very nice names. But how comes they don’t make their names known to the public and prefer been called nicknames.

One the positive side, a new revolution is here with us where some of them are are going back to their root using their family names (surname)

Check out this list of real names of your favourite musicians

Reginald Osei (Reggie Rockstone)

Michael Kwesi Owusu Addo – Sarkodie

Rashid Mugeez – Mugeez

Faisal Hakeem – Paedae

Emmanuel Andrews Samini – Samini

Nii Addo Quaynor – Tinny

Frank Elinam Cobinah – Atumpan

Emmanuel Ababio – Promzy (VIP)

Joseph Nana Ofori – Prodigal (VIP)

Abdul Hamid Ibrahim – Lazzy (VIP)

Christelle Akua Sika Amankona – Lousika

Elom Adablah – E.L

Kwame Amet Tsikata – M.anifest

George Kwabena Adu – Kwabena Kwabena

Jane Awindor – Efya

Kwaku Nsiah- Boamah – Stone- Flowking (BRADEZ)

Kwaku Nsiah Amankwah – Kunta Kinte BRADEZ

Kwame Nsiah Appau – Okyeame Kwam

Rebecca Acheampong – Becca

Emmanuel Botchwey – Kwaw Kese

Osei Kweku Vincent – Strongman

Nana Wiafe Asante-Mensah – ASEM

Desmond Kwesi Blackmore – D Black

Nana Yaw Oduro Agyei – Trigmatic

Mildred Ashong – Eazzy

Fianko Bossman – Chase



Nana Kwaku Okyere Duah – Tic Tac

JoshuaAmpah – KECHEPA

Andrew Kudjoe – KECHEDE

Paul Nuamah Donkor – JaySo

Darlington Kwasi Agyekum – D.Cryme

Diamond Appiah – Diamond

Denning Edem Agbeviadey – Edem

Tiffany Owusu – Itz Tiffany

Jeffery Klu – Klu Monsta

“I DON’T NEED FACEBOOK, ARREST IMPOSTERS FOR ME” – AKROBETO

Ace Kumawood movie actor who is undoubtedly one of the best actors in Ghana, Akwasi Boadu popularly known as Akrobeto, last week Friday said on Pluzz FM’s morning show ‘AM Pluzz’ that success of his career can never be predicated on social media presence.

In an interview with host Sammy Flex, Akrobeto was asked if he was active on social media especially Facebook and his response was in the negative.

“What is Facebook? Is Facebook the key to life? Those who want to do Facebook are doing it and those who are not interested are also doing their own thing. It adds or takes nothing away from my career because that is not what will feed me. Most of my people are on Facebook but I don’t think I will waste my time on that thing,” he said.

When he was told that an advantage of the social media as a celebrity is for his fans to interact with him in and around the whole world, he answered: “It’s a headache, I am a busy man. Even for the past year, I haven’t stayed in my house for a week. Anyone who needs me for business will surely come to look for me and contact me. When was Facebook introduced? Were we not working successfully without Facebook before it was created?” Akrobeto asked.

“There is a facebook that bears the name Akrobeto. Is it not your page?” he was asked.

“It’s not me. About thousand people are complaining that when they send messages I don’t reply. Someone has created that page in my name and I haven’t given anyone the authority to do so. If it’s illegal you can arrest the person but for me I don’t have my image on it. My life is different,” he replied.

This comes at the back of the fact that most deals for showbiz people in modern times come with condition that the showbizer has strong presence on the internet, particularly the social media.

This was one reason why last year, some local movie actors who won topmost awards in Ghana Movie Awards were declined selection to have been part of actors that were flown to France for the Cannes Film Festival.

Could the absence of celebrities like Akrobeto from social media be attributed to sheer ignorance on their part or a choice to do what they want in life?

OFORI AMPONSAH PULLS CELEBRITIES TO HIS CHURCH

One time multiple award-winning high life artiste Ofori Amponsah now a man of God in an exclusive interview with Flex newspaper has revealed he wants to win more celebrities for God.

When he was asked if Ghanaians should be expecting another album from him, he said he was focusing on the calling because it’s not an easy task.

“I have to prepare myself for what God has called me to do. With regards to the music, it got to a time the interest wasn’t there. It could also be that for the past twelve to thirteen years I have always been in the studio trying to bring out something new, so I may say tiredness has set in but now another thing is that God gave me a platform in the music industry but I feel there is nothing to achieve anymore over there than to concentrate on the calling that I am doing now,” he revealed.

When he was asked if he will reduce the spate at which he produces music and pay attention to the calling, he said: “Exactly so, but for now I am bringing a serious one out. The main purpose is to evangelize the word of God. I am in the studio recording this new one that blow every one’s mind.

He explained that the first gospel album ‘Hallelujah’ was the beginning of his calling so the concentration wasn’t that massive. Music is a powerful tool that can be used for evangelism and that is what he is doing now.

According to Prophet Ofori Amponsah, Ghanaians accepted his first gospel album and even now radio stations keep playing it. “Actually the attention wasn’t like the past that I composed and sang high life songs. This time it won’t be like before and the expectation that it will be like the previous one is different. This one talks about God and humankind,” the man of God stated.

When he was asked how successful his ministry has been, he said he started the ministry before entering into the music industry which people didn’t know. “The ministry is something that if I don’t do, I wouldn’t know what do to because that‘s the higher calling but it depends on us to respond to that call. After gaining everything, one thing I lost was the relationship with Jesus Christ and that is what I wanted to achieve by drawing closer to the Lord Jesus Christ and by the grace, I am able to direct lost souls with the gift I have,” he revealed.

When he was asked if he still associates with his former colleagues in the secular world scene he responded: “My church is lucky because we have stars like Prince David Osei and more sometimes we get stars who visit us. There is a notion that when you are a secular artiste you are evil. Sometimes when I go for evangelism and God is working, people keep on asking if it’s for real because they feel I can’t be called but they forget that God calls the dirty ones and use them as his vessels.”