March 2013 ~ Let Me Be Your Ears

Monday, March 18, 2013

Rocky Rocks Music Week

International reggae artiste and songwriter Rocky Dawuni yesterday gave an impressive live performance at the much anticipated Ghana Music Week (GMW) organized by the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA).

The seven-day music festival, which started on Monday, March 4, has a series of power packed events to keep music loving Ghanaians hyper throughout the festival.

Rocky, who has appeared in various concerts with Stevie Wonder, Peter Gabriel, Jason Mraz, Shaggy and K’naan among others, performed most of his hit songs at the event which attracted music lovers from all walks of life.

Soon after his performance, the reggae superstar said he was happy that the Ghana Music Week had provided an opportunity for all Ghanaian musicians to come together and work as a team to move the music industry forward.

Rocky Dawuni has performed on stages around the world including the Hollywood Bowl and his music has been featured on popular US television shows like ‘ER’, ‘Weeds’ and ‘Dexter’, as well as on Electronic Arts video game FIFA 08, FIFA 10 and the 2010 FIFA World Cup, South Africa.

Veteran Highlife musician and music rights advocate Rex Omar has applauded Tema hiplife crew R2Bees for getting the highest nominations for this year’s Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMA).

In a discussion on Peace FM’s Entertainment Review, Rex Omar said: “If you listen to a group like R2Bees, there are some two songs that for me no one can tell me that they did not work hard to get on that list. They did very well.”

The ‘Abiba’ hit maker admitted that for a hip life group to release a song like ‘Odo’, it must have worked very hard and therefore deserved to be on the list of the various categories for which it was nominated.

The ‘Beela Trap’ singers got nominated in various categories including Artiste of the Year, Vodafone Ghana Song of The Year, Hip-hop Song of The Year, Hip Life Song of The Year, Hip Life/Hip Hop Artiste of The Year, Highlife Song of The Year, Best Group of The Year and Best Male Vocal Performance.

Rex Omar also acknowledged the hard work and dedication that some Ghanaian musicians attached to the production of their works, adding that this year, he had heard thought-provoking songs from artistes like the Rap Doctor Okyeame Kwame and gospel artiste OJ among others.

“In terms of non religious songs or secular music, a lot of people came out who were not that bad but these are the guys who caught my attention,” Rex Omar stated.

Rex Omar was in the news recently for resigning from his position as a board member of the Ghana Music Rights Organization (GHAMRO)

In his resignation letter, the ace musician indicated that his decision to quit his post was because people were accusing the management and the board of lack of transparency and professionalism in the running of affairs.

Dome Shuts Down

The projects manager of the Dome at the Accra International Conference Centre, Fennec Okyere, has stated that the entertainment facility will be closed down to pave way for renovation.

“Management is not folding up the place forever. For some time now, we have been trying to find a way to close down the place so we can carry out some reconstruction works and rearrange chairs to accommodate more people since it has been the plea of all the event organizers in Ghana,” Mr Okyere confirmed.

The reconstruction will factor in things like new sitting arrangements, inbuilt sound, better lighting systems, and modern screens among others, to meet the modern standards of an entertainment facility.

The shutdown will last throughout the year but the projects manager assured all Ghanaians that the place would be ready in time to host all the December shows.

Over the weekend, the Dome was the venue for the funeral of the late David Lamptey, one of the major financiers of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC).

“The funeral of the late David Lamptey was the last event to be held there.

We will shut down right after the funeral and carry out the repair works till we are ready for December shows.

We met all those who requested booking for the place early this year and we agreed that for their interest and their own future comfortability with the venue, they have all agreed to come along with as in our preparation,” Mr Okyere noted.

It was a tough decision since the venue over the years had been the first port of call for all event organizers in Ghana.

Kwesi Aboagye Slams Shirley

Movie producer Shirley Frimpong-Manso has come under severe criticisms over reports that she will soon come out with another season of ‘Adams’ Apples’, which has already reached its tenth chapter.

What has worsened the plight of Shirley, Chief Executive of Sparrow Productions, is that she is on record to have criticized other movie producers for serializing their movies into several parts when they could have put the entire story into one.

There is even an audio recording making the rounds in which Shirley was heard clearly saying she would not extend the ‘Adams’ Apples’ series because she had set certain principles for herself.

Reports that the Sparrow Chief Executive is about to go against the said principles is what has earned her some public bashing, spearheaded by Kwesi Agoagye, host of Peace FM’s Entertainment Review.

“When Danfo B.A. was producing ‘Kyeiwaa’ part one to like part 20, everyone was criticizing the producer and accusing him of collapsing the movie industry. Now we are here, someone is doing the same thing. If no one will talk about it, me I will talk,” Kwesi Aboagye mentioned on his show last Saturday.

The Ghanaian film director, writer, and producer was captured on tape some time in 2012 telling Socrates Sarfo -another movie producer- that she was never going to extend the Adams’ Apples’ series beyond chapter five because there were certain standards she had set that she was not ready to go against.

“I’m also sitting here and saying that I will never do it. When it gets to that extent, I will stop because there are some standards that I have set and I will never go below it,” Shirley was captured on tape telling controversial movie producer Socrates Sarfo, who is best remembered for shaving the pubic hair of an actress.

Kwesi Aboagye expressed surprise that nobody in the industry was talking about Shirley’s production like they criticized Danfo B.A. over the ‘Kyeiwaa’ movies

“I am not saying no one should buy the movie but my worry is the hypocrisy people have attached to the whole thing.

Why was Danfo B.A criticized and no one is talking about ‘Adams’ Apples?” Aboagye wondered.

Socrates Sarfo was credited as an industry prophet on the show for predicting correctly where Sparrow Productions was heading with its ‘Adams’ Apples’ movie.

Meanwhile, Shirley explained at the premiere of the second season of the ‘Adams’ Apples’ installment on Valentine’s Day that a new season of the movie would continue as a television series on DStv and some local TV stations as well.

The movie still has cast like Joselyn Dumas, Naa Ashorkor, John Dumelo, Anima Misa and Adjetey Annang among others.

Information reaching Nii Ogbamey Tetteh indicates that Joy FM presenter and DJ Nii Ayi Tagoe had schemed successfully to prevent hiplife artiste, Guru, of ‘Lapaz Toyota’ fame from making it on the nomination list of the 2012 Ghana Music Awards.

Nii Ayi Tagoe, a member of the award’s board, allegedly lobbied board members to drop Guru and his songs from the nomination list, although some of the board members had put ‘Lapaz Toyota’ under a couple of categories on the nomination list.

The popular ‘Lapaz Toyota’ song was on the lips of virtually all music lovers and also rocked at several shows but did not get a single nomination.

A source has disclosed that he has “evidence that Nii Ayi Tagoe is the one who personally asked that Guru’s song should be removed from the list.”

According to him, he overheard the DJ, the son of the former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, telling the rest of the board that ‘Lapaz Toyota’ was released around October 2011, a date which was out of the board’s year under review.

“He specifically told the board that Guru released the song in October 2011, out of the calendar year, so it did not qualify him to be placed in any category,” the source revealed to Nii Ogbamey Tetteh.

Meanwhile, Nii Ayi Tagoe, who outlined the various reasons why Guru was dropped from the nomination on Gh-One’s ‘Pundit’ show (confirming what the paper’s source had hinted), said as to whether or not he asked for Guru’s track to be dropped, he was not ready to talk about it.

The source noted that some members on the boards whose names he would not mention, were willing to overlook that small error the ‘Lapaz Toyota’ hit maker seemed to have committed but “Nii Ayi Tagoe insisted that he should be pulled of the list”.

Guru has openly expressed his displeasure towards Charter House and the VGMA board for leaving out his hit song in their nomination list.

Before he was appointed this year onto the board of the VGMA, Nii Ayi Tagoe was one of the very vocal critics of the music event.

According to the source, after receiving fat sitting allowances from the various board meetings, Nii Ayi Tagoe’s sense of criticism had suddenly gone in the other direction in terms of the nomination list.

“I remember how he used to bash some of the artistes that got nominated in the previous years but this year’s nomination, which is raising a lot of controversies, he is quickly defending them. He even used to bash the board,” he said.

Controversial music duo, Wanlov the Kuborlor and M3nsa, who are renowned for their unique pidgin lyrics and the humor they attach to their music, have denigrated some personalities in the Ghanaian Music Industry in their new track.

The ‘Kote Duro’ hit makers, in their new song ‘What You Dey Fear’ labeled D-Black as the worst emcee in Ghana currently.

They also described Becca as the worst singer in Ghana currently.

When Nii Ogbamey Tetteh caught up with M3nsa and Wanlov the Kuborlor, they explained that they do not have any beef with the ‘Oh Vera’ singer but insisted D-Black was the worst MC.

“We tell him anytime we meet him that he is the worst emcee in Ghana and like we said in the song, Yaa Pono the currently the best emcee,” Wanlov said.

The afro pop queen Efya was mentioned in the controversial song as being the best singer.

The mentioning of Blakk Rasta’s name in the song showed that bad blood between the broadcaster and the FOKN Bois still exists.

Ghanaian rap sensation D-Black has attributed the secret behind his success in his music career to a PHD he has.

“I don’t have a social life because I’m always in the studio. Another thing is I pray a lot; I’m hard working and I’m dedicated to what I do. So you can say I have a PHD,” D-Black noted.

According to the PHD (Prayer, Hard work, Dedication) holder who is known in real life as Desmond Kwesi Blackmore, the word impossibility did not exist in his vocabulary. He said so far as he had his PHD, all his dreams would come true.

“I’m a very positive person and nothing to me is impossible. I literally tell myself that I can achieve greatness. As far as I have my PHD, all my dreams will come true,” he said.

The ‘Vera’ hit maker, who has been in the music industry for about three-and-half years now and has two albums attributed to his name, said he went in for the PHD because his greater goal in his life was to be the biggest act from Africa.

D-Black, in an interview with Eddy Blay, recounted that when he started, he preferred the business side of the entertainment industry to the stardom that surrounded it but that preference had since change.

“When I started, I wanted to be an event’s organizer, promoter and an artiste manager but after I teamed up with Kwaku T to do a rap project-which allowed me to explore my talent for- I decided to I could take another step by going solo,” the ‘I Like Girls’ hit maker noted.

D-Black’s first album, ‘Music, Love and Life’, was an immediate hit. He recently signed a $150,000 brand ambassador deal for communication giants Rlg.

Yaa Pono, the uptown energetic rapper from Pigen Music, has in his latest single dissed some of the well-noted Emcees in the music industry.

The diss track was released weeks after the controversial music duo Foes Of Kwame Nkrumah Bois (FOKN) named Yaa Pono in its ‘What you dey Fear’ song as the best Emcee.

The ‘Good morning’ hit maker Yaa Pono, in his ‘Bayla Trap’ remix song, punched hard at the Rap Doctor Okyeame Kwame and his fellow Tema boys R2Bees.

“I’m so shocked that after 20 years your trap has now caught Bayla,” Nii Ogbamey gathered from a verse in the Yaa Pono’s new single.

‘Bayla’ is the local name given to a bush rat in Ga.

A line in the song also meant that if R2Bees had caught a bush rat with its ‘Bayla Trap’, it should enjoy its bush meant while Hiplife artiste Asem made all the money in the industry.

Yaa Pono compared the Rap Doctor Okyeame Kwame in the track to a Nigerian ‘Lil Wayne’. Why he did that baffles critics in the industry.

Nii Ogbamey can confirm that Yaa Pono’s track was released as a direct reply to R2Bees’s ‘Bayla Trap’ song which was meant to tell the rest of the Hiplife artistes that it (R2Bee) had struck gold in its music career and was leaving the rest of them behind.

Sensational musician of Ghanaian-Romanian parentage, Wanlov Da ‘Kubolor’ has told Nii Ogbamey Tetteh he is a gospel musician even though he happily showed his naked hairy penis to TV and radio presenter, Delores Frimpong Manso on her celebrity talk show, ‘Delay’, and sparked a record controversy.

Kubolor said he and his partner M3nsa are gospel musicians although their group, ‘FOKIN Bois’, is noted for profanity in several songs.

The ‘thank God we are not a Nigerians’ hit maker, in an exclusive interview with News One, pointed out that the word gospel is derived from the Old English word gōd-spell which means “Good News or Good Spell”, which is expected to make people happy.

Therefore since the lyrics in the FOKN Bois’ songs make their listeners happy, they are in one way or the other doing gospel music.

“The word Gospel is a general word that had nothing to do with Christianity until after the death of Christ when Christians adopted the word.

“A lot of people have tried to chastise or rebuke people with their songs but it doesn’t work.

We the FOKN Bois on the other hand, use the secondary school approach where you tease people so hard that they stop certain bad habits,” Kubolor explained.

The FOKN Bois are noted all over the world for their unique pidgin music and the kind of humor they attach to their music.

Some time ago, the single ‘thank God we are not a Nigerians’ was a hit song in Ghana, Nigerian and beyond because of its comical nature.

Since showing his penis on Delay’s show, Wanlov says he had released an apology song he calls Kote Duroi to all who felt offended by his act.

Wanlov also hinted News One that he, together with his music partner Mensa, was in the studio working on the second chapter of the movie ‘Coz of Moni’.

The ‘Cos of Moni’ movie, upon its release in 2010, was described by movie lovers as the world’s first ever pidgin movie and Ghana’s first original music satire movie.

Ghanaian comedian and new musician DKB, who hit the news last year for slapping housemate, Zinab when he represented Ghana at the 2012 Big Brother Africa reality show, has used the word ‘Dunaa’ (which means buttocks) in his new single.

The song ‘Winner,’ which is supposed to rally support for the Black Stars of Ghana as they begin the 2013 African Cup of Nations Tournament (AFCON) featured Nigerian comedian, Hogan who performed both at the 1013 and 1014 Laughs and Music.

DKB rapped “…my friend Asamoah Gyan bi the winner. If you don’t understand then you be holy sinner, he dey scatter Super Eagles pass Chicken Dunaa.”

The idea behind the song is said to have originated from an argument between the two comedians on Blackberry Messenger to find out which country was the best when it comes to football.

The names of great African footballers like Asamoah Gyan, Yakubu Ayigbemi, Dede Ayew, Richard Kingson, Obafemi Martins, among others were mentioned in the song.

The song, which is being played by radio stations in Nigeria, has failed to get attention because of the word ‘Dunaa.’

The Black Stars of Ghana and the Super Eagles of Nigeria have had the strongest form of rivalry on the pitch since the beginning of time.

The AFCON tournament, which will be played in South Africa, will host the best teams across Africa. Opening ceremony for the tournament will take place on January 19.

Football analysts have already named Ghana as tournament favourites.

Sydney-based Ghanaian gospel rapper and songwriter DISCIPLE has been adjudged artiste of the year in Australia and Asia by the Africa Gospel Music Association (AGMA).

The executive body of the AGMA who recognized the good job the young Ghanaian musician was doing across the world decided to crown his good work with an award.

Sources close to the gospel musician said he was very delighted to pick up the award.

DISCIPLE started writing poetry and converting them into rap at age 15 but by 2009, the approach to his art form changed and a contemporary approach was taken.

Since then, DISCIPLE has worked on a concept which he recently released this year called ‘In Their Shoes’ – where he got people from the bible who influenced him, studied their stories and then gave a contemporary/urban twist to them so he can relate them to the desired audience.

DISCIPLE, since joining the urban ministry ‘The Commission’, has been doing tours and feeding the homeless, with the aim of spreading hope, faith and love.

In all things done, there is one thing that always remains and that is the fact that the Ghanaian gospel artiste does not shy away from his faith.

He is a proud, unashamed Christian who understands the importance of sharing the love of Christ without condemning people.

He hopes to achieve all these through his music.

Model, Television Presenter, Fashion Designer and Singer, Debroah Venessa (kid sister of controversial musician Wanlov The Kubolor), is one of the newly emerged musicians making waves very fast on the music scene and the fact that she has not been sighted with a male, be it a friend, lover or husband, has sparked speculations that she may be a lesbian.

“Hell no, I’m not a lesbian, I’m not even a bisexual, I’m straight and I love men,” she said in an exclusive interview with Nii Ogbamey Tetteh.

She explained that even though she is not a fan of gay and lesbian relationship, she does not believe that people should be condemned based on their sexuality.

“I don’t think they should be condemned because we are all human beings and we need to respect their rights and their sexualities. Since we are not God, we can’t explain why a person feels a certain way,” she said.

Meanwhile, the entertainer says she is enjoying the popularity her song ‘Uncle Obama’ is getting after her interview on CNN to clarify issues on the song. She said the number of views on her YouTube page shot up massively after the interview

…AND SHE WEARS PANTIES TOO

Singer Deborah Vanesa has said unlike her brother Wanluv Kubolor, she can’t leave home without wearing underwear.

“I can’t do without a bra. Unlike my brother I always wear underwear,” she told Fashion 101 host Sandra Ankobiah.

Vanessa’s response was to a question on what she can’t leave home without. On a typical day at home, Vanessa explains she could do without make up but would go for a nice Tan top, and what she prefers to call “nice chale wote”.

Touching on her flawless sense of fashion, the ‘Uncle Obama’ singer says most of her designs are inspired by works from the 20s and 50s, adding that she would normally go for a touch of elegance, colour and quirkiness.

“I take inspiration from the 20s and 50s,” she said.

Apart from the extensive one on one interview with Vanessa, last weekend’s Fashion 101 looked at fashion editorials and how it can be improved locally.

Resident panel member Chester Ani, as well as two guest panel members, Charlene Asare and Rachqael Williams, expressed varying views on the subject.

All three, however, agreed there is a lot more to be done in that department if Ghana is to be taken serious as an emerging fashion powerhouse.

A member of the Peer Pressure Crew, Kwame Farkye, has said he prefers working on radio to television because, according to him, radio gives him freedom to do to do his ‘thing’.

The former XFM presenter who hosted the maiden edition of GH One’s ‘The Next Big Thing’ said even though he looked forward to more of television, radio had always been his thing.

“I was introduced to TV by my friend Eddy Blay but radio has always been my thing.

I think it’s the freedom to do my thing and steer the show that way I want,” Kwame revealed in an interview with broadcaster Eddie Blay.

The ace radio and TV personality, who is popularly known as Mr Swift, also applauded Ghanaian Hip life group R2Bees and D-Black for stepping up and taking their spot when the industry was tossing them around.

“You have to go out and get it which is what the guys did.”

Mr Swift, who has been off radio for some time now, also hinted that he would back on air soon.

“I have always had a passion for radio and yeah I will b returning to radio soon. You will be hearing me on radio shortly,” Mr Swift noted.

Kwame Farkye has also been involved in event planning, consulting and artiste management. He was one of the event handlers at the Wyclef concert in 2008.

In an attempt to defend her fellow countrymen, Nigerian actress Tonko Dikeh has jabbed Ghanaian dancehall icon Emmanuel Samini for questioning the originality of their ‘Alingo’ dance.

Samini threw a lyrical punch at Nigerian duo P-Square for stealing Ghana’s Azonto dance and modifying it into Alingo in his cover song.

But Tonto, who took offence, poured her frustration on social platform twitter, saying: “Azonto is Azonto n Alingo is Alingo!

So waz his stress gosh! Ova d years 9ja has been bringin out dif dance moves no diss of copywrit!”

Several Ghanaians have suggested on social platform Facebook and Twitter that the Nigerians are bitter because they did not create the Azonto dance.

“Why not Azonto and Alingo meet face to face in an international dance competition and let’s see which has got swag,” a comment sampled from twitter.com stated.

Tonto noted that sometimes she wondered why most Ghanaians always looked for “Nigerian’s trouble”.

“ @samini_dagaati HEY hold it rit dere! cuz if u think abt startin drama here on twitter beliv me am ready to bring it to your door stepOK,” she added.

According to the Nigerian actress, respect was the key of life and she believed Alingo was Alingo and Azonto was also Azonto “so sit in your zone and stop throwing stones to the glass house”.

The trend on various social platforms online suggests that a lot of Ghanaians are in favour of the campaign Samini is championing.

Peter Okoye, a member of the music duo P-square, also tweeted, “Don’t you worry your pretty little mind. People throw rocks @ things that shine”. The group has not made any official statement on the issue.

After four years of lyrical hibernation, Ghanaian lyricist Okra Tom Dawidi has bounced back with an apology song.

In his new single titled ‘Winner for Life’, Okra Tom Dawidi renders apologies to his fans all over the world for the inconsistencies that occurred in his music career.

“I have been absent for some time but now I am here to stay. Sorry for the delay but I have things to say. Anyway to my loyal fans I have a price to pay,” the Okra Tom lamented in his track.

Okra, who is currently in the studio working on his new album, told Nii Ogbamey Tetteh that he was missing in action mainly because he had to concentrate on schooling and tackling some other financial problems pertaining to his music.

“I was MIA for all these years because I had to take care of certain important things in my life like preparing for my Diploma in Business Studies (DBS) exams and trying to put things in place.

I also had to work out some financial problems related to my music career,” the versatile and thought-provoking lyricist stated.

Okra, who is known in real life as Emmanuel Ralph Kotei Nikoi, hinted the paper that since ‘Azonto’ was the new trend in Ghanaian music, he had a massive Azonto track for his fans.

“I have been working in the studio on so many songs and trust me, my fans will get a feel of the Azonto flavour from me as well,” Okra said.

Okra is best remembered for his brilliant wordplay, fiery flow and a nasally, aggressive voice in his ‘Ayeeko’ track which featured Tinny and Obrafour in the ‘Execution Diary’ compilation.

Model, Television host and fashion designer Deborah Vannesa whose song won her an international interview on CNN has revealed that her pet monkey resembles American singer, songwriter, rapper and actor Chris Brown.

Interestingly, Deborah, sister of Wanlov De Kubolor, has named her monkey Kiko aka Kiko-Brieezy, the same nickname Chris brown uses.

Monkey Kiko can be described as a ‘celebrity monkey’ after it appeared in a CNN interview for the role it played in the ‘Uncle Obama’ hit-track and also followed Deborah to some of her public music performances.

“I’m not saying Chris Brown looks like a monkey but rather, my monkey looks like Chris Brown…The funny thing is, Chris Brown also owns a monkey and we both posted pictures of our monkeys on twitter”, Deborah told Nii Ogbamey Tetteh in an exclusive interview.

The ‘Uncle Obama’ hit maker also added that not only did the 11-month-year-old monkey in a way looked like Chris Brown but it had blonde hair and could dance like him too.

Deborah also revealed that she was planning on getting a ‘girlfriend’ monkey for Kiko since it sometimes gets lonely.

The former late night celebrity show host who replaced Dzifa briefly on Etv said she fed her famous monkey with grapes, pears, apple and bananas from the Koala shopping centre.

“My monkey eats a lot of fruits, boiled yam, rice and stew but I don’t give Kiki meat because it is not healthy for him.”

The monkey, whose scientific name is ‘patas monkey’, is a ground-dwelling monkey found around semi-arid areas of West Africa, and into East Africa was said to have been bought in the Northern part of Ghana.

Controversial musician Wanlov da Kubolor has described radio personality Blakk Rasta as a hypocrite.

What seemed like a raging lyrical war that started between the two on social media platforms generated into something else when Blakk Rasta admitted on a Kumasi-based radio station, Luv FM that uncontrolled anger had made him call Wanlov a ‘coke head’.

Kubolor told Nii Ogbamey Tetteh in an exclusive interview that he thinks Blakk Rasta has a serious problem.

“The fake guy admitted on radio that he called me a coke head because he was angry.

He also claimed that he is not too big to apologise if he errs, but in the same breath, he won’t be forced to apologise.

You see his hypocrisy,” the ‘Cote Duro’ hit maker said.

Meanwhile, Blakk, in an earlier interview, had revealed that he and Wanlov were cool and that he would hug him anywhere he met him. He also noted that Wanlov’s Valentine’s Day comment was a gimmick to be more popular.

But the non-footwear wearing Wanlov told the paper that he also knew Blakk Rasta was enjoying all the attention his Valentine’s Day comment brought him and that anytime he insulted Blakk on any social platform, people kept asking him who the Blakk guy was.

“Blakk Rasta is a liar; we have not met since the late great Cephas Sackitey’s tribute and I will never greet or go on to even hug a person who gives false evidence against me,” he emphasized .

He therefore vowed that he would always insult or incite Blakk so he did not forget about their unfinished business.

Musician Wanlov the Kubolor never ceases to amaze; he walks about wearing a skirt with no underwear and no footwear.

Kubolor has told Nii Ogbamey Tetteh that he would have loved to be turned into a homosexual just so he could have a romantic date with Ghana’s reggae artiste of the year, Blakk Rasta.

“For Vals Day, God should turn me into a gay so that I can go on a romantic date with Blakk Rasta, listening to the instrumentals of the D-Black’s Vera,” Wanlov told the reporter.

“I want this wish because I want Blakk Rasta to know that gays are cool and not people who are out to rape you or anything,” he said, adding, “I only want to be gay and achieve that dream with Blakk Rasta and no one. After the date, then I will want God to make me straight again.”

It is shocking that Wanlov would want to express such thoughts in a country where homosexual relationships are considered both an abomination and a crime.

He however explained that the reason behind this wish was because the ‘conscious’ Blakk Rasta had been ‘bashing’ gays and lesbians in the world, quoting him, “I’m am allergic to pro-gay people.”

But Blakk, in response, told the paper he was not interested in dating a gay because his ‘Rastafarianism’ frowned on such acts.

“Kubolor’s sister, Deborah Vanessa, said on 4syte TV last time that she was dying to date me; why won’t I do her for Valentine instead of the brother?

“I am a Rastaman and we do not take gay relationships lightly.

It is not as if we do not know that gays have their basic human rights but we do not support what they do, as in having sexual intercourse with a person of same sex.

Black Stars striker Asamoah Gyan has been named the funniest, craziest, best singer and dancer in the team’s camp at Port Elizabeth in South Africa.
“He is more like our entertainment prefect. He is the best singer, the funniest guy, and of course the best dancer in the team,” his fellow teammates said before their defeat to Mali on Saturday.
The Ghanaian striker, who was criticised over his performance at the just-ended African Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament in South Africa in which Ghana placed fourth, is said to be the leader when it comes to their ‘Jama’ sessions.
“Asamoah Gyan is the craziest and can sing a lot. When it comes to jama, he is the best,” his teammate John Painstil hinted.
Asamoah Gyan and Agyemang Badu both named their senior colleague John Painstil as the player who motivates them at their training sessions and even during the game.
“Solomon Asante and Wakasu are the guys who train very hard during our training sessions. Agyemang Badu is the laziest and clumsiest at the camp,” Kwadwo Asamaoh and John Painstil said.
After placing fourth at the tournament, it is unclear if broken-hearted Ghanaian football fans will be at the airport to welcome the Black Stars.

McBrown Crash Was Murder Plot

Sources close to Nana Ama McBrown have revealed that the car crash which almost claimed her life last week could have been an assassination attempt possibly because of Maxwell, her reported lover boy.

“Nana Ama is very famous and has made so many enemies consciously or unconsciously.

Maxwell is gradually growing in the industry and has made some many enemies. We believe strongly that some hit men were hired to take them out,” a source close to McBrown said.

“Anybody can be a suspect for assassination attempt, even me. It could be an angry ex-boyfriend or ex-girlfriend trying to settle a score with them,” another source revealed .

Popular actress Nana Ama was in a black Range Rover with her lover Maxwell Mensah around 2am on the George Walker Bush Motorway, last Wednesday, heading towards their residence at Mallam, when the ill-fated incident happened.

Upon approaching the Lapaz traffic lights which were then blinking amber, a vehicle from nowhere rammed into their Range Rover.

They were rushed to the 37 Military Hospital whilst unconscious and the actress was immediately whisked to the Intensive Care Unit.

Maxwell also suffered a fractured arm.

Nii Ogbamey Tetteh can confirm that Maxwell Mensah has dated several female celebrities in the industry, with sexy saucy singer Mzbel being one of his conquests.

Though not proven beyond doubt, names like actress Vicky Zugah and singer Diamond have also been linked to him.

Nana Ama has also dated a few top shots in Ghana including Okyeame Kwame and Nana Wiafe Akenteng, an Ashanti chief. She was also linked to actor Omar Sherif but she has denied that link.

Publicist for Nana Ama McBrown, Eugene Osafo Nkansah said the actress was currently on admission at the Yaa Asantewa Ward (F2) of the 37 Military Hospital and responding to treatment.

She has a P.O.P on her right arm because she dislocated a bone on that arm.

Meanwhile, the Tesano Police say they are investigating circumstances that led to the near fatal accident involving the actress and her lover.

DSP Ernest Acheampong, the Tesano Divisional MTTU Commander, said because of the conflicting accounts of the incident by the persons involved, the police were conducting further investigations to ascertain the true cause of the accident.

Construction of Data Centre on Course

Outgoing Minister for Communications, Haruna Iddrisu has stated that the construction of the Data Centre of the Ministry is going as planned.

The Minister inspected the progress of the project said the intelligent building will serve the purpose of storage protection and security of National Data from all Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAS) across the country.

“Our determination as government is to ensure that we avoid the emergence of silos and to have shared resourced infrastructure to provide for security of National Data. So that when any ministry burns down, we will not panic because there would be a back up of every detailed information that would have been stored on a digital platform,” Haruna Iddrisu noted.

According Minister for Trade and Industry designate, the National Data Centre, upon its completion, will serve generations to come in terms of access and storage of data across the country.

“I hope that all MMDAS will take advantage it to improve upon data so that if the freedom of information bill becomes law, its reliability and sustenance as a legislation will depend upon the availability of data so that government will be compelled to make the data available for public consumption,” Haruna Iddrisu said.

The building if completed is speculated to house a number of important agencies under the Ministry of Communication such National Information Technology Agency –which will be largely responsible for information technology management in Ghana- and Information Technology Enabled Services (ITES).

The foundation of the entire programme was laid by the President John Dramini Mahama, who was then vice president of Ghana.

According to Mr Iddrisu , the president will commission the intelligence building come July 30, 2013, by which time the

Domestic Workers Deserve Better’

Trades Union Congress (TUC) boss, Kofi Asamoah has expressed disgust at the current working conditions of domestic workers across the country.

Mr. Asamoah, at an advocacy seminar on the International Labour Organization’s recommendation for domestic workers, said even though a lot of homes and organizations employ the services of domestic workers, their rights are not respected.

“In the foreign countries, being a domestic worker pays but in Ghana, domestic workers are not respected. They do not receive minimum wages and their working conditions are very poor,” Mr. Asamoah underscored.

He said “most domestic workers are subjected to various forms of physical, emotional and sexual abuse. There is no system to monitor the times they start working and when they are to close. Some domestic workers are made to work throughout the day because there is nothing like an appointment letter which defines their nature of work.”

The TUC and the Employers Association of Ghana are expected to work endlessly with the government to help improve the lives of domestic workers in Ghana.

A member of the Leadership and Advocacy for Women in Africa, Margaret Kutsoati, in a keynote address, stated that domestic work was one of the oldest professions in the world and that the rights of such workers must be respected.

She said, “In Ghana, domestic workers are needed from cradle to the grave. Most people experience the services of a domestic worker at infancy in the form of nannies, adolescence in the form of drivers, parenting in the form of house helps and during old age as care givers.”

The International Labour Organization states that 13.5 per cent of domestic workers are women and their welfare are not guaranteed.

In most cases, domestic workers are family members while in other case they are total strangers.

They are not considered to be workers because there is no regulatory body that protects their right.

Monday, March 18, 2013

Friday, March 8, 2013

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