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VGMA: A catalyst for growth of Ghana’s music industry

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The Vodafone Ghana Awards 2023 was a star-studded affair that hosted and awarded hardworking Ghanaian artistes. Since becoming the title sponsor of the Ghana Awards (VGMA) in 2011, Vodafone Ghana has consistently supported the development of the country’s music industry through the annual programme and helped elevate musicians. The 12-year partnership between Vodafone Ghana and Charterhouse, the organisers of the VGMA, has proven beneficial to the artists and the entertainment industry as a whole.

Over the years, Vodafone Ghana has taken extra steps to guarantee the success of the VGMAs by introducing new concepts, offering informative seminars, and launching unique initiatives to bolster Ghanaian artists. These programmes provide insights into various aspects of the music business, such as royalties, copyrights, and investment tips, helping artists to build sustainable careers.

For example, Kuami Eugene, who won the VGMA21 Artiste of the Year award in 2020, acknowledged that the support from Vodafone enabled him to secure a Range Rover gift and various business deals.

Ghanaian talent flourishing on international stages

It is interesting to note the trend of past VGMA winners going on to achieve international recognition and accolades at prestigious award events like the Black Entertainment Television (BET), MTV Base, and AFRIMA. This pattern has contributed to placing Ghana’s music on the map and increasing its prominence on the global stage.

For instance, Sarkodie, who won VGMA awards in the past, went on to secure the BET’s ‘Best International Act: Africa’ award in 2012 and ‘Best International Flow’ at the 2019 BET Hip Hop Awards. Similarly, Stonebwoy, another VGMA winner, claimed the ‘Best International Act’ title at the 2015 BET Awards. This trend highlights the potential of Ghanaian musicians to excel beyond their home country, further establishing the significance of the VGMA in identifying and celebrating outstanding talent.

Innovations and Initiatives in the music business

Vodafone Ghana’s influence on the VGMA has led to the introduction of several new concepts and initiatives, including the VGMA National Summit, a stakeholder engagement forum that brings together musicians, managers, producers, and other industry professionals to discuss key issues affecting the sector.

Another such initiative is the Vodafone Icons talent show, which aimed to provide a platform for rising stars in the Ghanaian music scene. The competition saw several talented artists emerge, such as Noella Wiyaala, who went on to achieve national and international success. The show has also supported artists like Christian Owusu and Bogo Blay, who won the 2014 Remix Edition and the 2018 edition, respectively.

The Vodafone 020 Live concert, one of the biggest musical events in Ghana at its time, featured both local and international acts, providing Ghanaian artists with a unique opportunity to share the stage with global icons such as P. Square, Dbanj, Trey Songz, and Ludacris. The event not only promoted the country’s music but also reinforced Vodafone’s commitment to the industry.

In addition to these, Vodafone Ghana has also launched the VGMA Unsung category, which recognises and supports up-and-coming artists. One key category in the VGMA is the Green Award, which rewards musicians for their contributions to environmental causes. For example, Stonebwoy won the Green Award in 2022 for his song ‘Greedy Men,’ which targeted illegal mining. In the latest instalment of the VGMA, Vodafone Ghana presented the Green Award to musician Worlasi Langani, popularly known as Worlasi, for his efforts to promote green spaces with his remarkable tree-planting project, ‘Giving Shade.’ These initiatives demonstrate Vodafone’s dedication to nurturing talent and promoting social responsibility within the music industry.

The 24th VGMA: A testament to Vodafone Ghana’s impact on the music industry

The 24th edition of the VGMA highlighted the profound impact Vodafone Ghana has had on the Ghanaian music industry. Top performers included new sensation Black Sherif, celebrated rapper Sarkodie, gospel singer Piesie Esther, and highlife artist Ofori Amponsah, among others.

The event culminated with 21-year-old artist Black Sherif winning the prestigious ‘Artiste of the Year’ award, demonstrating the ongoing success and growth of the music scene in Ghana. The event was a memorable one, with unique experiences such as the Vodafone Red Room, which offered an exclusive and unforgettable experience for VIP guests and the general public during the VGMAs. Attendees enjoyed the ceremony in a luxurious yet comfortable setting, watching the proceedings on live TV screens.

Vodafone Ghana’s commitment to nurturing talent and promoting environmental causes further underscores its dedication to the industry and the wider community. As a result, the brand has become an integral part of the country’s vibrant music scene, contributing significantly to its ongoing success and global influence.

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Entertainment

Peter Okoye reacts to alleged song ownership by twin brother

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Iconic Nigerian singer Peter Okoye has responded to allegations made by his twin brother Paul over ownership of a new song “Winning.”

Peter Okoye shared a detailed account of the song’s creation, clarifying his role and collaboration with others, including Ghanaian producer Vampire and songwriter Calypso.

He questioned Paul’s claims, citing their agreed-upon creative process and Paul’s removal of his (Peter’s) vocals from joint songs.

Peter also addressed his temporary break from music, stating he took time to recharge before returning with “Winning.”

He wrote on X: “If you have followed my journey as a solo artiste and even before, you will notice that I give people their due credit where necessary as I am a firm believer in teamwork; I know my strengths, where I need assistance or guidance I am not afraid to ask or work with those who are strong in the areas I am not; this includes the process of creating music, executing concepts and ideas etc. I will always credit people for their contributions to my projects.

“Sometime in June 2022, I stumbled upon a producer based in Ghana named Vampire, and my team and I also personally reached out to him via DM, that I liked his work and was interested in working with him. Before getting him to Lagos, I presented the idea of this producer to my twin brother and our team, getting their buy-in before I got him flight tickets and flew him to Lagos.“

It was when he got into Lagos I asked if he would be open to working on P-SQUARE’s next album project, that the 5 songs I had penned down from my end to be presented to our A&R team for the album project were: JAIYE, WINNING, FIND SOMEBODY, LEGENDARY, and ATTENTION, based on tracks he had produced.

“We started with my own 5 songs that needed to be submitted for PSQUARE’s album, which he produced for me: The idea for WINNING came from one of his beats that I discovered. I came up with the idea of changing the chord progression from the original version to what it is today with my own producer Goldswarm who is the co-producer of the song WINNING.

“I had also engaged a songwriter known as CALYPSO who wrote and composed the song WINNING and sent it to me on the beats through a voice note. And we started working on the song. Mind you, he worked on some other songs that were to make the album as well, so my brother was aware of his input to the production as we were all in the studio during this period.

“Then when my twin brother heard the song WINNING, which we had already created the hook/chorus for, he then wanted to start creating a verse. Our agreed-on process for each song presented by us was: arrange the song, leave a verse for the other person, then we both harmonise the chorus and refrain bits together. He wasn’t supposed to until Calypso and I finished it as part of my own song submission to the LEGENDARY ALBUM.

“After that, we finished and shared verses among ourselves. I do not wish to get into details of why the album didn’t see the light of day till date but it takes a different level of psychosis for one to steal what is theirs already; as since the release of this song, I have been labeled and called all sorts online and they have even gone as far as asking for the song to be taken down on various platforms, to what end?

“It was never part of his 5, now 6 (according to him) songs for submission, yet when he felt I was not interested in making music because I chose my sanity over the constant berating and drama that seemed to come up over creative direction in the group.

“If it were his song, why do I have all the music data including initial conversations and picture/video evidence on the above-mentioned titles/songs? Which of his songs do I have its data in my possession in that case? All because he was hoping for me to quit music. Even when I learnt that he had removed my vocals on songs we did together, suggesting that he sing the entire songs including the ones that he planned to present for the album without my input (a very absurd idea as we both make up the duo not just the one), but we both perform them on stage, I begun to have a rethink of the entire situation. Let me leave this here.

“Maybe because I was not posting anything music-related on my social media page for over 4 months. He believes I have lost interest in music. I took a breather to get my mind and head in the right space and when that was done, my epiphany was WINNING!”.

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DNA test more important than naming ceremony- Don Jazzy

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producer and executive, Don Jazzy, has urged men to prioritise the paternity of their children, stating that it is more important than a naming ceremony.

On his Instagram story, Don Jazzy emphasised: “DNA test is more important than naming ceremony.”

His statement comes amid ongoing debates about the necessity of DNA tests, fuelled by recent high-profile cases of paternity fraud.

Don Jazzy known in real life as Michael Collins Ajereh is the founder of Mavin Records – through which he has signed artistes including D’Prince, Rema, and Ayra Starr.

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Pastor Love jailed 48 months in hard labour for stealing

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Pastor Hammond Love, widely known as Pastor Love, has been convicted of theft and sentenced to 48 months in prison with hard labour.

GBC Ghana Online reports that Pastor Love, a former husband of gospel musician Obaapa Christie, was found guilty of the offence after seven years of trial. 

Before he was sentenced, Pastor Love pleaded with the court for mercy, adding that he was willing to pay any fine that would be imposed on him. 

The court presided over by Isaac Addo, took into consideration the fact that the convicted Pastor Love was a first-time offender.

The court held that as a Pastor, he was expected to hold a high level of integrity, especially in matters of trust, and therefore handed him the 48-month jail term as a fair deterrent. 

The facts of the case as presented by ASP Frimpong was that in 2016 one Samuel Amankwah, a resident of the US, shipped a 4×4 vehicle into Ghana and tasked Pastor Love to clear it from the port. 

The convict cleared the said vehicle with his money, after which the complainant told him to sell it for US$50,000 and deduct the amount he paid as duty.

Later, the complainant told Pastor Love to hold on with the sale of the vehicle as he would travel to Ghana and refund his money. 

In April 2017, the complainant arrived in the country and contacted Pastor Love for his vehicle, but he could not produce it despite several demands. 

The complainant complained with the Police and Pastor Love was arrested in May 2017. 

During interrogation, the convicted Pastor Love told the Police that he secured a loan of GH¢40,000 with 20 per cent interest to clear the vehicle and was accruing more interest, so he sold the vehicle at GH¢80,000 without the consent of the owner and paid GH¢70,000 to the loan company.

Meanwhile, Pastor Love was unable to lead the Police to the said loan company to verify the claim and could not also tell who bought the vehicle. 

The Judge said the convict was dishonest to the Court.

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