Omowunmi Aloba, the widow of the late singer, Mohbad, testified in court about the final days of Mohbad before he passed away.
Omowunmi addressed the Coroner Inquest at the session in Ikorodu on Tuesday, November 7, 2023, stating that Mohbad had died long before he was officially declared dead due to past incidents of bullying, psychological trauma, and arrest by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.
Interestingly, she revealed that she had no idea where Mohbad was buried, nor did she know which mortuary the late singer was taken to after his death.
She further disclosed that they had planned to kidnap Mohbad’s son, and for that reason, he intended to relocate the child to Canada before his unfortunate demise.
Omowunmi said, ‘Mohbad wanted to fly his son to Canada; that was why he obtained a visa because he didn’t want his son Liam to celebrate his first birthday in Nigeria.
Multiple award-winning Ghanaian rap artiste, Samuel Adu Frimpong, popularly known as Medikal has expressed his concern about being underrated in the Ghanaian music industry.
According to him, his unique style and hard work have not received the attention and acknowledgment he deserves in the industry.
Speaking in an interview with Andy Dosty on Hitz FM, the “Omo Ada” hitmaker expressed these sentiments, stating that he has been able to separate his personal identity from his artist persona while reflecting on some of his accomplishments.
“Sometimes, I feel like I’m underrated. I know how to dissociate myself from the brand Medikal. Some people carry their persona with the brand. I sit down sometimes and watch my shows, and I’ll be like, ‘This guy is dope.’ That’s why I have been able to remain relevant for a long time. It’s not easy,” he said.
Medikal emphasized that he’s not ungrateful but believes he deserves appreciation and recognition from Ghanaians for his hard work.
“I feel underrated; they should give me my flowers. I’m not trying to sound ungrateful; I just feel like there should be more light thrown at me. I am a very hardworking guy, so Ghanaians shouldn’t sleep on me. More attention should be given to me,” he stated.
When questioned about whether his distinctive style may be contributing to the lack of attention, Medikal defended his approach, stating, “I’m doing everything right. Just that my style is different; people find it hard to accept it.”
Controversial Ghanaian boxer, Bukom Banku has recently revealed he’s heartbroken and decided to confront his son for snatching his woman.
Speaking in a recent interview on Okay FM, Bukom Banku recounted the emotional ordeal that left him heartbroken following the introduction of his girlfriend he was dating to his son, believing he was sharing a special connection with his family.
However, after introducing them, his son went ahead to snatched the woman from him and started having a romantic relationship with her.
In an attempt to prevent his son from pursuing a relationship with the same lady he had once dated, Bukom Banku admitted that he had warned him about the potential consequences because it was going to be a curse on him, but he refused to listen.
Bukom further disclosed how his son has been pretending to be a woman to defraud people abroad, resulting in significant financial gains.
Some staff of the National Theatre are demanding the immediate removal of their Executive Director, Amy Frimpong, over claims of mismanagement and a lack of worker promotions for the past 12 years.
The workers, who spoke to Citi News accused the Executive Directors of misappropriating funds, and failing to maintain the facility.
Mismatched Seats and Non-Functioning Air Conditioners
On Wednesday morning, Novem 8, it was noticed that some seats had been replaced with mismatched “foreign” chairs.
Some event organizers seen at the facility who were busily setting the stage for a programme mentioned issues with non-functioning air conditioners.
The facility has seen no significant facelift in the past 30 years of its construction.
The workers expressed their discontent by wearing red and tying red cloth to the building while hoping to present a petition to management by the end of the day.
Multiple award-winning Ghanaian songstress, Adina Thembi Ndamse better known as Adina, has thrown weight on the discussion of the significance of songwriting and its role in the music business.
According to her, all contributors to a song during the creative process should be properly acknowledged when it comes to splitting royalties.
Speaking in an interview with Elsie Lamar on GhanaWeb TV, the “Take Care Of You” hitmaker said that she thinks all people who contribute to a song should be given credit and financial compensation for their work.
“I work with a lot of songwriters. Sometimes there’s somebody in the room when we are doing the song who will probably say, “let’s put this there”. That person is still recognized when we are doing the split sheets.
“If anybody contributes to a song, they should be given props. And then when it’s royalties, they also get some money or whatever it is because they put in work,” she said.
In response to the common misconception that artistes who don’t write their songs aren’t artistes, Adina cited well-known global performers like Beyoncé, who also collaborate with songwriters.
She stressed that the act of songwriting should not diminish one’s identity as an artiste.
“People need to be educated that it’s normal. Songwriting doesn’t mean if you don’t write your songs, you’re not an artiste. We all have different gifts.
“Someone’s own is to play the beats. Someone’s own is to sing. Someone’s own is to write. Some people can write and sing, great, but it doesn’t make one person better than the other. We all have our unique gifts that God gave us,” she added.
The Eastern Music Awards, a prestigious awards ceremony celebrating music talent from the Eastern region of Ghana, has announced its nominations for the 2023 edition. The nominations were revealed during a special event broadcasted on Bryt TV, a popular television channel in Ghana.
The Eastern Music Awards has become a significant platform for recognizing and honoring the efforts of talented musicians, producers, songwriters, and other industry professionals from the region. The awards showcase a diverse range of genres, including Highlife, Hiplife, Gospel, Afrobeat, and many more.
This year’s nominations reflect the vibrant music scene in the Eastern region, with various artists receiving recognition across multiple categories. Some of the notable categories include Artist of the Year, Best Collaboration, Best New Artist, and Album of the Year.
Fans and industry experts alike eagerly await the announcement of winners during the main award ceremony, which is scheduled to take place later in the year. The event will be a grand celebration of Eastern music, featuring live performances, special guest appearances, and memorable moments.
The Eastern Music Awards have been instrumental in promoting and supporting the Eastern music industry, offering a platform for emerging artists to showcase their talent and gain recognition. The awards also serve as a motivation for established artists to continue pushing boundaries and creating exceptional music.
With the nominations unveiled, the anticipation and excitement for the upcoming Eastern Music Awards are at an all-time high. Music lovers are looking forward to witnessing the best of the Eastern region’s music talent being honored and celebrated on Bryt TV, making it a truly unforgettable experience for all. The main event comes off on Saturday, 9th of December,2023 in Koforidua at Center for National Culture (CNC)
List of nominees and categories
HIP LIFE SONG OF THE YEAR ALEPKE – KOO NTAKRA THE PROPHECY – AYOWA KWAME DABEN – YAW BEE ALL CORRECT SIR – GYANESIS DATE RUSH – K.JOE
HIP HOP SONG OF THE YEAR SAD PEOPLE – RANY DOPESONGZ OPONO HINI ME – KATKIZ TRAP LIFE – STONE GEE OBIAA MAAME ADA – KOO NTAKRA HAPPY MAN – TEE RHYME FT AMERADO BOYS NAFEELI – SHARPGYAL GO AWAY – REAL LONGATION OBRA – KHOFI TONDA PRESSURE – JONNEY KHAY FT KATKIZ X SEAN KHARE
HIP HOP/ HIP LIFE ACT OF THE YEAR REAL LONGATION KOO NTAKRA TEE RHYME KATKIZ SHARPGYAL AYOWA KWAME
AFRO POP SONG OF THE YEAR KOLO – 2KHAY ONLY YOU – ANDY MAX BACKSIDE – KALI JU THIS THAT – KING MAAGA FT LASMID RIDE OR DIE – KOO NTAKRA FT KURL SONGX PARACHUTA – PTENZ NOBODY – RHYIMS MONEY – JAY BABA LONELY – SILLLA MY BABY – TIINI FT RAYMOND BURNA
AFRO POP ACT OF THE YEAR PTENZ KING MAAGA RHYIMS ANDY MAX SILLLA JAY BABA
HIGH LIFE SONG OF THE YEAR DAASEBRE NANA KWAKU BOATENG III – ATTA GHANABOY HOLD AM TIGHT – C CLARK FT CRYXTAL DE UNIQ BRA – DASSEBREBA KWAME FT EKOW MARVEL BROKEN HEART – KOO KYEI FT EKOW MARVEL X KWAME NKANSAH MOBROWA – KOO NTAKRA GYE WANI – KONANA FT OBOUR KO BE KIND – KOJO KINN SUPER MAN – STONE GEE MATWE AMA WO – WANA PLATA
HIGHLIFE ACT OF THE YEAR STONEGEE DASSEBREBA KWAME ATTA GHANA BOY KONANA C.CLARK KOO KYEI KOJO KINN
EASTSYDE SONG OF THE YEAR DABEN – BOY TEE FT DOSTY BRA – DASSEBREBA KWAME FT EKOW MARVEL PARTY ON THE HILLS – PABS OFFICIAL FT KWAME NKANSAH PARACHUTA – PTENZ AGO CHOOSE YOU – REAL LONGATION SHITO – SLY PEE SUPERMAN – STONE GEE CONTROL (RMX) – TIINI FT D. CRYME X RAYMOND OBIAA MAAME ADA – KOO NTAKRA FT KASAPA
GOSPEL SONG OF THE YEAR M’ASEDA – ABENA ANUONYAM TUMI WURA – ALVIN DAVID THE OMNIPOTENT (LIVE) – EME B I MADE IT – KOBBY BLESS DAGON B3HWE ASE – LADYMATT MEY3 NHYIRA – NHYIRABA PRINCE JESUS IS COMING – REV. JESUBA M’ASEDA – TRIXIE DOMENA
GOSPEL ACT OF THE YEAR ABENA ANUONYAM EME B ALVIN DAVID NHYIRABA PRINCE REV. JESUBA KOBBY BLESS LADYMATT TRIXIE DOMENA
REGGAE DANCEHALL SONG OF THE YEAR FLIGHT MODE – ADI PALMER YI WANI (CHERISH) – DREAD SHAZZAH JUNE JULY LOVE – RAEMIX GH SHE BAD – SILLLA SHITO – SLY PEE OBRA – TURF KILLA
REGGAE/ DANCEHALL ACT OF THE YEAR SLY PEE TUFF KILLA DREAD SHAZZAH SILLLA ADI PALMER BEST GROUP OF THE YEAR 2KHAY GYANESIS
BEST PUB/ NIGHT CLUB OF THE YEAR COUNTRY SIDE PUB PARK N PORK PUB
PROMOTER OF THE YEAR CARING DIGGY DJ IYKE KINGSNATIONGH KING RICHY KUMI KASA ODA CITIZEN
EASTERN INTERNATIONAL ACT OF THE YEAR ANNOR ATTA GHANABOY DREAMZ EMEB ENOCH BOATENG JAY BABA SILLLA BEKEY MILLS
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR EME B – THE OMNIPOTENT (LIVE) SILLLA – LONELY TRIXIE DOMENA – M’ASEDA MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR ALVIN DAVID – TUMI WURA KING MAAGA – THIS THAT PTENZ – PARACHUTA REV. JESUBA – JESUS IS COMING RHYIMS – NOBODY NHYIRABA PRINCE – MEY3 NHYIRA
BEST COLLABORATION OF THE YEAR YOUR BOSS – BOYTEE FT YAW MONIES HOLD AM TIGHT – C.CLARK FT CRYXTAL DE UNIQ BRA – DASSEBREBA KWAME FT EKOW MARVEL BROKEN HEART – KOO KYEI FT EKOW MARVEL X KWAME NKANSAH OBIAA MAAME ADA – KOO NTAKRA FT KASAPA EASTERN WE DEY – KWASI BOADI FT TEE RHYME, KOO NTAKRA, MRR NICE, SOULBECK HAPPY MAN – TEE RHYME FT AMERADO CONTROL (RMX) – TIINI FT D. CRYME X RAYMOND THIS THAT – KING MAAGA FT LASMID
RAP ACT OF THE YEAR 2HYPE KAYTEE – BITE 3 (THE ORACLE) BOYTEE – DABEN EL KOJO – DARE TEE RHYME – BOO (TOOLI EP. 1) KOO NTAKRA – OBIAA MAAME ADA TIINI – CONTROL (RMX) PHRINGS ICON – NIGHTMARE
CAMPUS ACT OF THE YEAR ADI PALMER – FLIGHT MODE KAY CENTURY – ANOKYEWAA YAW BEE – DABEN
ALBUM/ EP OF THE YEAR I HAVE ARRIVED (EP) – TIINI HIGHLIFE RESURREECT (ALBUM) – KONANA X OBOUR KO JUMAPO TO ACCRA (ALBUM) – KOO NTAKRA BOB MARLEY (EP) – RAEMIX GH SHE LIVES ON (EP) – REAL LONGATION MADE IN KWAHU (ALBUM) – PABS OFFICIAL
MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR ANNOR FT ASPY – SIKA ABENA ANUONYAM – M’ASEDA DASSEBREBA KWAME FT EKOW MARVEL – BRA EME B – MIRACLE GOD KO7 – NO FAKE KOFI FRIDAY – SING MY NAME KOO KYEI FT EKOW MARVEL X KWAME NKANSAH – BROKEN HEART KONANA X OBOUR KO – GYE WANI KOO NTAKRA FT KASAPA – OBIAA MAAME ADA
VIDEO DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR DEXTER BRAINS – MIRACLE GOD BY EME B DPM FILMS – BROKEN HEART BY KOO KYEI FT EKOW MARVEL X KWAME NKANSAH ENI BAID – NO FAKE BY KO7 DPM FILMS – OBIAA MAAME ADA BY KOO NTAKRA FT KASAPA RICHARD AMOAKO – GYE WANI BY KONANA X OBOUR KO KOJO MYLES – SING MY NAME BY KOFI FRIDAY KKB MULTIMEDIA CONCEPT – M’ASEDA BY ABENA ANUONYAM SOBA – BRA BY DASSEBREBA KWAME FT WKOW MARVEL SNIPER MIKXZ – SIKA BY ANNOR FT ASPY
SOUND ENGINEER OF THE YEAR ANGEL PEE – HOLD AM TIGHT BY C.CLARK CYBEE – AGO CHOOSEU BY REAL LONGATION K.JOE BEATZ – DATE RUSH BY K.JOE MENSBEATZ – NO FAKE BY KO7 EMMAKAY BEATZ – HAPPY MAN BY TEE RHYME LIGHTER WAN BEATZ – S3K3 BY SELLECTION GH
MUSIC PRODUCER OF THE YEAR MENSBEATZ – NO FAKE BY KO7 EMMAKAY – HAPPY MAN BY TEE RHYME K.JOE BEATZ – SUPERMAN BY STONE GEE DNA – BOYS NAFEELI BY SHARP GYAL QHOLABEATZ – OPONO HINI ME BY KATKIZ CYBEE – NOBODY BY RHYIMS
SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR ATTA GHANA BOY – DAASEBRE NANA KWAKU BOATENG III DASSEBREBA KWAME – BRA FT EKOW MARVEL EME B – THE OMNIPOTENT (LIVE) KATKIZ – OPONO HINI ME KO7 – NO FAKE KOJO KINN – BE KIND KOO NTAKRA – MOBROWA RANY DOPESONGZ – SAD PEOPLE REV. JESUBA – JESUS IS COMING STONE GEE – SUPERMAN
MOST PROMISING ACT OF THE YEAR 2KHAY ANDY MAX GYANESIS KOFI FRIDAY KHOFI TONDA KWEKU ALRHYTE PTENZ RHYIMS SELECTION GH SILLLA TRIXIE DOMENA
ARTIST OF THE YEAR TIINI STONE GEE TEE RHYME KOO NTAKRA NHYIRABA PRINCE SLY PEE KO7 KING MAAGA
GHANA MOST VIRAL SONG OF THE YEAR KING PROMISE – TERMINATOR NACEE – ASEDA STONEBOWY – INTO THE FUTURE BLACK SHERIF – SOJA KUAMI EUGENE – SINGLE EWURA ABENA – THIS FAR PIESIE ESTHER – WAYε ME YIE (ALL-STARS RENDITION) OLIVETHEBOY – GOOD SIN
INFLUENTIAL ACT OF THE YEAR STONEBOWY PIESIE ESTHER BLACK SHERIFF KING PROMISE CAMIDOH AMERADO
EASTERN PRIDE OF THE YEAR KUAMI EUGENE KiDi MEDIKAL WENDY SHAY
In Ghana, there’s this widely known phrase, “Ghanaman time” which is used to describe the habit of lateness from invited individuals to events.
The most widely known explanation is “the audience isn’t large enough” — the excuse that artistes would want to perform to the largest and most energetic audience. Hence, the need to come very late when the crowd is at its fullest.
However, one may cast questions about contractual obligations and why this issue still pertains even though the event is well organized.
For example, Tidal Rave 2023 had everything going well for it, except for the fact that almost all artistes booked to perform came on stage after 12 a.m. The time the event itself was supposed to have ended.
Why aren’t organizers strict on time? Why can’t artistes show up on time? Why do they respect timing in other countries but not in Ghana?
To answer these and more, GhanaWeb Entertainment Desk sat down with Martin Kwadwo Asare, an event consultant and a producer/ TV producer at Joy Prime. He gave some insightful reasons why this happens.
Organisers beg a lot
Rapper Edem, in an interview in October, had made a statement, “the industry moves with favours”
In Ghana’s entertainment industry, many agreements are based on “Do for me, I do for you”, mutual favors rather than formal contracts.
Martin explains, “In Ghana, a lot of begging happens. For example, before an event even goes through, you sign a contract with Shatta Wale to perform for GHC70,000.
Shatta says, “Okay.” Now you tell him, “Shatta, the event is between eight to ten, but you are likely to perform at nine, but I need you to be there at eight.” He says, “Okay.”
Now, because Shatta told you, “I will charge you 150” and you beg him down to 70, You are being forced to also make room for him. So instead of him being there at eight, he can tell you, “Charlie, you 8:45. I’ll be there. Don’t worry, I’ll be there.” 9 o’clock Shatta is not there, but you paid the money already.”
Most artistes end up doing the event organizers a favour by coming at reduced prices due to budget constraints. This compromises the artist’s commitment to punctuality, as they may arrive late, and organizers can’t sanction them because they aren’t receiving their full payment.
What about contracts? Why are they not being enforced?
Let’s say a deal has been struck. The contract has been signed and the artiste refuses to show up at the agreed-upon time. Why not sue for “breach of contract?” one may ask.
Martin provides another simple answer: “You can sign a contract, but the first person who goes against the contract is the event organizer.”
Even when contracts are in place, artists may breach them by arriving late. However, event organizers often fail to fulfil their obligations, such as providing changing rooms, preparation rooms, and other facilities for the artists.
“If you decide to take this person to court, trust me, in Ghana here, if you get a good lawyer, you are going to even pay twice his charges to him. Because the things you’re supposed to provide for him to come and perform, you have not done any of them. When you book an event, I mean an artist for an event, you’re supposed to provide a changing room, a resting room, and make sure the person is comfortable.” he explains.
As a result, attempting to take legal action against the artist for contract breach becomes complicated and costly, as the organizer is also at fault for not meeting their end of the agreement.
“So you have to beg, and because we keep on begging. There is no contract that can bind any of them,” Martin says.
Even the organizers are late
Event organizers themselves contribute to the problem by being late in setting up the event.
“An event is scheduled to start at 6 p.m., and they (the artistes) are supposed to be backstage at 06:00. At 06:00. The artists will get there, and they are still setting drums. They will do a sound check at 9 p.m.
The first artiste will be on stage at eleven. So, imagine you do that to Sarkodie this year. Next year, if he agrees to come, he will get there at 12:00 a.m. And you can’t say anything. So, we don’t respect our contracts,” Martin divulges.
So, to round up
The root of the problem lies in the lack of discipline in how events are organized and the failure to uphold contractual agreements.
Until there is a shift towards respecting contracts and enforcing them, artists will continue to arrive late, and the issue of punctuality in Ghana’s entertainment industry will persist.
As Martin Asare concludes, “We don’t respect our celebrities and artists. And so that is what we’ve gotten into. Till someone says, “My event is this, I’m going this way”, and somebody goes against it and it’s taken to court, nothing is going to happen.”
Ghanaian gospel musician, Evangelist Diana Asamoah, has revealed that she has recorded a campaign song for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in preparation for the 2024 general elections.
According to her, the song was fully composed before the NPP presidential primaries, awaiting only for the winner’s name to be added to it.
Diana Asamoah, known for her affiliation with the NPP and her past contributions to the party’s campaign songs during President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s term, confirmed that her campaign song is now ready for Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, who emerged victory in the NPP primaries, securing the party’s flagbearer position for the 2024 general elections.
In an interview with Okay FM on Monday, November 6, 2023, Diana refuted claims that Dr Bawumia’s name was included in the song before the NPP primaries. She expressed her unwavering support for the NPP and underscored the importance of divine guidance in their decisions.
She clarified that the song was originally composed without specifying any names, and she intended to incorporate the name of the victorious candidate, which, as it turned out, is Dr Bawumia.
Diana Asamoah explained, “If it were you who won, I would have used your name for the song,” addressing the show host, Abeiku Santana.
Dr Mahamudu Bawumia emerged as the winner in the NPP Primaries and was officially announced as the party’s flagbearer for the 2024 elections.
The Director of Elections at the Electoral Commission, Dr. Serebour Quaicoe, made the announcement.
According to the official results, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia secured 118,210 votes, representing 61.47% of the total votes cast.
Kennedy Agyapong, his closest competitor, came in second with 71,996 votes, accounting for 35.52% of the total valid votes.
Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto received 1,459 votes, while the fourth contender garnered 781 votes.
Party leaders and losing aspirants also made statements, emphasizing the need for unity and the pursuit of retaining political power in the 2024 elections.
The Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has served notice of his intention to resolve all matters around the selection of a new Offinsohene in one month.
Addressing chiefs and elders of Offinso at his court on Monday, November 8, 2023, Otumfuo while asserting his authority on the matter, emphasised his rejection of the nomination of the former Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana National Petroleum Commission (GNPC), Dr KK Sarpong.
The nomination was put forward by the Queen Mother of Offinso Nana Ama Serwaa Nyarko and her elders.
“There is no stool in Ashanti that is not under my power when I have been reincarnated in Osei Tutu (founder of Asanteman). What else? How did I end up with Osei Tutu as my stool name? How did Osei Tutu give me his name when I was ascending the throne?
“So be careful in your dealings, if it remains that we choose from the Ashiem Family we can still find a pure royal to install. If you line up all the prospectives here and they claim to be from the Ashiem Family but are not descendants of the women who have no curse placed on them, then you lie.
“If you are also a rightful descendent let me know and decide because I know everything and I have all the records,” Otumfuo stated.
While asserting his fidelity to truth and tradition, the Asantehene directed all prospective royals of Offinso to make their case following which 11 prospectives appeared to make their claim by telling him their lineage.
After listening to the prospectives, Otumfuo directed the chiefs and elders to compile and present a new list of royals for which a decision will be made.
According to the King, he will take the next month to deal with other matters before his Manhyia Palace following which he will resolve matters around the Offinso chieftaincy.
“Bring all of their family tree and present it before me. To all the perspectives, it is your family tree that will determine your claim,” he stated.
He further directed the elders to call the youth of Offinso who recently demonstrated against his decision to reject KK Sarpong to order.
“Tell the children it is not prudent to be engaging things that can jeopardise their life. Tell them the truth will prevail and Offinso will get a chief to serve the Golden Stool,” he stated.
Dr KK Sarpong who had been nominated as the candidate for the Offinso stool by the queen mother of the town, Nana Ama Serwaa Nyarko has had his nomination rejected by Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu.
The kingmakers of the Offinso Traditional Area chose the former GNPC boss to succeed the late Paramount Chief of Offinso, Nana Wiafe Akenten II.
However, his nomination has been rejected by the overlord of the Ashanti Kingdom, a situation which has led to a tussle between Manhyia Palace, elders of Offinso and his kinsmen.
Founder and leader of Anointed Palace Chapel International, Reverend Kwaku Obofour has joined the public debate on the appointment of a new chief of Offinso as kingmakers have proposed the former Ghana National Petroleum Commission (GNPC) boss, and Chancellor of the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) Dr. Kofi Koduah Sarpong as the next chief of Offinso.
Speaking on Nokre TV, the popular cleric who is said to be a native of Offinso in the Ashanti region has vowed that Dr KK Sarpong who has been named as the candidate for the stool will never become the chief of Offinso and he was happy that the Manhyia Palace and the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II have raised questions about Mr K.K. Sarpong’s nomination.
“There’s someone out there who believes he is mightier than all, he has been outdoored and he thinks he will be chief of Offinso but that’s a lie.
“His name will be mentioned alright and he can use all the power he has but he can never assume the Offinso stool. Because your claim to chieftaincy lies with where your mother was buried, you can go and make your claim there. As for the Offinso stool, you will never have it whether you are KK. Whoever or KK whatever.
“You will never be chief of Offinso as far as my life and my soul lives and the truth lies with Manhyia Palace,” he added.
Dr. KK Sarpong who has been nominated as the candidate for the Offinso stool by the queen mother of the town, Nana Ama Serwaa Nyarko has had his nomination rejected by Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu.
The kingmakers of the Offinso Traditional Area chose the former GNPC boss to succeed the late Paramount Chief of Offinso, Nana Wiafe Akenten II.
However, his nomination has been rejected by the overlord of the Ashanti Kingdom, a situation which has led to a tussle between Manhyia Palace, elders of Offinso and his kinsmen.
As we wrapped up the maiden edition of Dr. Abiola Salami International Leadership Bootcamp held in Nairobi, Kenya last weekend, I had tea with a senior leader in one of Kenya’s top tech firms and she shared with me the story of her colleague – Paul Korir – who accompanied her. He was recognized as Staff of the month for September 2023. He got a plaque, some perks and a cash prize of KSH75,000 (i.e. $500) for this. You needed to see Paul Korir’s priceless expression as the Senior Lady shared this story with me. The lady further stated that this one move boosted morale across the organisation.
This reminds us that a highly motivated workforce will always deliver excellence – the level of commitment, drive, and energy the team members give their tasks everyday becomes invaluable. While celebrating wins is a great way to motivate, I thought of sharing some additional strategies that will guide leaders to motivate their team.
Now whether you are in the private, public or in the development sector, the following strategies will enable you motivate your team for peak performance.
1. Create an engaging work-space An environment where ideas and innovation flourish is one that has been specifically designed to do so. The workspace that has the required tools and resources will go a long way to enable the team for peak performance.
Ranging from the ambience, the general outlook, and the grand feel of the workspace, these seemingly little and insignificant things have a psychological effect on the mind of the workers, and thus will help fan their productivity.
An understanding of how ambience influences workforce productivity is what made big brands like Google, Facebook, Amazon, and more to improve the look and feel of their workspace.
2. Leverage productive communication Productive communication ignites motivation in your team members. Your pattern of communication with your team could either accelerate or diminish their productivity.
A leader who only complains and constantly criticizes team members will find it challenging to record peak performance from such a team.
Instead, publicly applauding and pointing out the good areas on what an their efforts will boost the morale and enthusiasm of the team to even do more.
If on the other hand, a team member does not perform as expected in a particular area, the right thing is for the leader to give such team member a constructive guide that will help point out ways that things can be improved upon.
A counter-productive approach to leadership is scolding supervisors right in front of their subordinates.
It is therefore important for leaders to improve their emotional intelligence so that you can always put your best foot forward in unleashing peak performance from your team.
3. Lead by example Just like children pay more attention to what parents do and less attention to what parents say, our team members look at what we do, not what we say.
If you wish to motivate your team for peak performance, then be the leader who genuinely leads by example. Be transparent in your leadership. Try to put yourself in the situation of your employees by showing empathy, listen more, and speak less.
Leadership by example means that you will take tough decisions where you may need to get your ego out of the way. It means no pie crust promises. It also means you are intentional about raising other leaders within and across your workforce.
A Champion leads by example and strives to make things better for the team and all stakeholders. A Champion will effortlessly propel the performance level of team members by leading by example.
4. Celebrate small wins It is the accumulation of small things that turn into big things.
As a leader, only waiting for the mega wins and completely isolating the small wins will not motivate your employees to peak performance.
There is a reason many offices have things like the “Best Salesperson of the Month”, “Employee of the Month”, “Most Punctual Staff” and other categories. This is because these organisations have understood the power of celebrating little wins.
A client once mentioned that, “anytime we implement some of the strategies you share with us to acknowledge and celebrate the inputs of our team members, we see increased commitment from our workforce to put in more effort and achieve the big wins.”
Something as little as sending an appreciation email to a staff member on a good performance, a thumbs up or high five in an open space or an open admiration in words goes a long way to lift the spirit and enthusiasm of the employees.
5. Be open to suggestions Many team members want to give their best to the organisation, however, when they find out that leadership is not open and kind with taking suggestions on improvement, they retreat from sharing.
If you really want to drive transformational leadership, it is important for you to know that you have blindspots. When you are open to suggestions, it helps reduce your blindspots and enable your team to freely show you the areas of improvement that can birth massive growth for your enterprise.
Erroneously, some leaders think because team members are not as experienced, leaders pay little or no attention to taking suggestions and lending an ear to the opinions of their team members. However, what we find playing out across the world is that organizational performance continues to grow when team members bring fresh ideas and are guided by leadership.
Team members can share valuable information that will enable you deliver projects faster, cheaper, and better when they find out that the employer open to implementing recommendations.
6. Avoid favouritism Nothing kills peak performance faster than favoritism. It brews unhealthy rivalry within the team. It divides your team. It makes a potential great team degenerate to a toxic workspace with unhealthy competition and rivalry.
Give both your male and female team members equal opportunity. Be intentional with fairness. Avoid overcompensating even in the face of social pressure. The society continues to program and condition our minds for unfairness through repeated portrayal of unintentional skewed balance.
Ensure you provide a level playing field for everyone in your team regardless of age, gender, religion, race, ethnicity. Let everyone thrive and work together to achieve a common goal.
About Dr. Abiola Salami Dr. Abiola Salami is the Convener of The Dr. Abiola Salami International Leadership Boot Camp and The Peak PerformerTM. He is the Principal Performance Strategist at CHAMP – a full scale professional services firm trusted by high performing business leaders for providing Executive Coaching, Workforce Development & Advisory Services to improve performance. You can reach him on [email protected] and connect with him @abiolachamp on all social media platforms.
American model, entrepreneur, and socialite Lori Harvey and Bristish actor Damson Idris have confirmed their romance is over after the couple fueled breakup rumors over the past week when people realized they deleted photos of each other on their social media pages.
After a week of speculation, Lori Harvey, 26, and Damson Idris, 32, officially confirmed their breakup.
The couple put the rumors to rest in a joint statement shared to The Hollywood Reporter. “We are at a point in our lives where our individual paths require our full attention and dedication,” the statement said. “We part ways remaining friends with nothing but love and respect for each other and the time we shared together.”
The news comes shortly after the two were spotted arriving separately to Odell Beckham Jr.’s birthday party in New York. Before that, the last time the two were spotted together was in Paris in September.
Eagle-eyed fans speculated there was trouble in paradise after noticing the pair deleted each others’ photos from their Instagrams and unfollowed each other.
The Snowfall star was first linked to Harvey in December of last year, eventually making it official when he wished her a happy birthday on Instagram with a photo of him kissing her.
Popular Nollywood actress, Regina Daniels, has stated that, she would rather donate her kidney to her children’s father and billionair husband, Prince Chinedu Munir Nwoko popularly known as Ned Nwoko, than to her biological father.
Regina was confronted with a tough question regarding kidney donation during an interaction on a movie set.
She was asked to choose between donating her kidney to her father or her husband, Senator Ned Nwoko.
According to the beautiful actress, if her father and the father of her children were in a hospital at the same time due to kidney complications, she would consider saving her husband for the benefit of her children’s well-being.
She explained that as a mother, her priority is ensuring that her children have their father in their lives.
The actress expressed her willingness to donate her kidney to her husband, emphasizing the importance of her children growing up with both parents.
In her words; “As a mother, I will donate my kidney to my children’s father not because he is my husband but because I don’t want my children to grow without a father.”
Her thoughtful decision resonated with many, highlighting the significance of family bonds.
The wait is finally over: all 130 episodes of the first season of Ghanaian drama series Madam have just landed on Showmax.
The Akwaaba Magic series, which aired its finale on Friday, stars four-time Africa Movie Academy Award nominee and Ghana Movie Award winner Joselyn Dumas (Flawsome, Glamour Girls) as Lankai Morgan, a woman on top of the world who will stop at nothing to protect her status.
In Madam’s world of money, sex, power, drama and suspense, few people have managed to stir the pot quite like Lankai. With her captivating beauty and enigmatic personality, she has built up her True Woman Foundation, a noble initiative aiming to rescue disadvantaged women, that paints her as a saviour of the less fortunate. But beneath this virtuous exterior lies a web of intrigue and manipulation that has earned her a multitude of adversaries, including her husband James Morgan and a young, ambitious politician who’s looking to make a name by exposing Lankai’s true nature.
Dumas describes Lankai as a mother, a businesswoman (with both legitimate and illegitimate businesses), a friend and a mentor. “I think she’s able to wear all these caps so well. It’s quite admirable and exciting to play such a character because she’s everything in one,” she says.
Madam is written and directed by Shirley Frimpong-Manso, the brains behind other recent hits like the telenovela Dede and the Showmax Original drama series ENO. The award-winning Ghanaian filmmaker is known for telling stories about strong, complex and progressive female characters, and Lankai is no different. She’s fierce, even in her fashion choices, something Dumas enjoys about playing the character.
“One of the things I absolutely love about this character is her fashion sense. Lankai is bold and unapologetic; she wears whatever she wants to wear and that sets the mood and the pace for the rest of the day for her. There are so many similarities between myself and this character in terms of their fashion sense,” Dumas says.
Like Dumas, who she’s worked with before in her groundbreaking series Shampaign and Dede, Madam also stars other actors from Frimpong-Manso’s universe, like ENO’s Godwin Namboh and Michael Katahena and Dede’s Adomaa Adjeman, Jasmine Baroudi and Dean Amegashie, as well as Luckie Lawson (40 and Single), Salma Mumin (The Agency) and more Ghanaian favourites.
TikTok is shutting down its $2 billion Creator Fund, a 2020 initiative designed to help pay eligible users making content on the app, a spokesperson for the platform confirmed Monday.
The fund was intended to “help support ambitious creators who are seeking opportunities to foster a livelihood through their innovative content” by providing them with money distributed through the fund over three years, according to a July 2020 news release from TikTok. The pool of money was distributed based on creators’ shares of the platform’s overall views.
But after the fund launched, many creators were vocal about their concerns, saying it was making monetization on TikTok difficult. Hank Green, who was an early YouTube star and is considered an authority on the culture of the internet, was among those who publicly voiced his concerns last year, saying the fund was outdated. He argued that rather than working in its creators’ best interests, TikTok’s monetization tool worked in favour of the platform’s bottom line.
Other creators quickly echoed Green’s complaint, sharing the little income they generated from the platform despite having racked up large viewership numbers. At the time, Green —who has 8 million followers on TikTok — said that per 1,000 views, he was making about 2.5 cents.
The fund will be discontinued on Dec. 16 in the U.S., the U.K., France and Germany, according to The Verge and Fortune. A spokesperson for TikTok confirmed to NBC News that the fund is shuttering but did not share its end date or any further details.
“The Creativity Program was developed based on the learnings and feedback we’ve gained from the previous Creator Fund,” the spokesperson said in an email statement. “As we continue developing new ways to reward creators and enrich the TikTok experience, we value the feedback and direct insights from our community to help inform our decisions.”
The news comes just months after TikTok unveiled its Creativity Program, which sought to resolve some creators’ initial complaints about the fund.
In a blog post about the Creativity Program in February, TikTok said creators can “earn up to 20 times the amount previously offered by the Creator Fund.” Videos that are eligible for the program must be longer than a minute and earn at least 1,000 views, and they must abide by the platform’s community guidelines, among other criteria.
To apply for the Creativity Fund, which appears to still be in beta, creators must be based in the U.S. and over age 18, and they must have had more than 10,000 followers and at least 100,000 video views in the last 30 days. It was not immediately clear whether TikTok plans to include global creators in a different monetization program.
