Comedians Give Much But Get Very Little In Return - Lydia Forson

Outspoken Ghanaian actress, Lydia Forson has joined entertainment industry stakeholders and Ghanaians who are paying touching tributes to late Ghanaian comedian, Bishop Bob Okala. Okala, 59, was born Samuel Kwadwo Buabeng and died on Sunday dawn March 13, 2016 at the Koforidua Government Hospital after a performance in the town. He indeed died after doing what he loves best, COMEDY. But there are doubts to whether he was even paid for his performance, as reports claimed that he had to “BEG” organisers of the show to make his appearance. In her Facebook post, Lydia Forson did not just eulogize the comedian but also lamented the sad case of entertainers working for free. Below is what Lydia Forson said on Facebook: “Sad day… Comedians and artist give us so much and get very little in return. They make us laugh, cry and take us through tough periods of our lives with their art. It’s easy to assume we have it all, after all how will you know we don’t. To bring you the best we often have to suppress our own challenges and discomfort just to entertain and live up to the standards you’ve set for us. When’s the last time you bought a film, paid for a concert or for a song. It’s almost always a bootleg version or an excuse to get it for free. For those who do, we are ever grateful but for those who don’t, how do you think we survive? Where do you think the money comes from? How are we constantly trying to bring out the best amidst your criticisms without any money? How? You say you made us. But with what contribution? How many have invited us to parties and expected us to be there for free, forgetting it’s how you make a living. How many have requested we MC their events and weddings, as a “friend”? How many times have you berated a celebrity for not giving enough to “charity” , when in some cases they are walking charities themselves. As I read the news about Bob Okala’s death these are some of the thoughts that ran through my mind Why do we continue? Because it is a passion that you can’t run away from, a passion that needs to be fed, a passion that needs to continue to give no matter how unappreciated, underrated or disrespected it makes you feel. Bob Okala, once upon a time made us all laugh and for a lot of us entertainment industry paved a way. Thanks to people like him , a lot more attention was brought into the industry and we are in some ways enjoying the fruits of his labour and that of others before us. Are things much better for us now than it was for them? Yes. But we still have a long way to go. Sorry for the long rant, but his death has got me feeling some type of way. To all who support and genuinely appreciate us, thank you. #RIPBOBOKALA?”

Source: Ghanareporter.com

Why I Have Not Had Babies - Delay

TV and Radio personality, Deloris Frimpong-Manso, Delay has disclosed that what’s delaying her settling down and making babies has to do with her being an entrepreneur. Delay for sometime now has received public bashing for not being married, even her friend, Afia Schwarzenegger has accused her of waiting for white sperm before she would finally settled down but Delay shares different reason altogether for still being single. Delay posted, “I love being an entrepreneur. It's an incredible experience. But it isn't always easy. It has delayed other important things in my life.. Like settling down and making babies. Would I have it any other way? No... All other things in good and it's time,” she ended. Delay has her own Delay Mackerel and tomato sauce, her shoe collection store, has self-financed TV shows and more.

Source: www.bigtriceonline.blogspot.com

I'm Ready To Debate Nana Addo On All His "Contentious" Statements - Prez Mahama

President John Dramani Mahama is calling for a debate between himself and Presidential candidate of the opposition New Patriotic Party [NPP] Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. According to him, he needs to set records straight on some “contentious” issues raised by the NPP leader in his bid to win the election come November 7. He said this in an interview with Accra-based TV3 on the ‘NewDay’ programme when asked if he will again debate Nana Addo before this year’s schedule presidential polls. “I am willing to debate Nana Akufo-Addo any day, even if you call him today we will put it here . . . I don’t have problem with debating Nana [Nana Addo],” President Mahama responded.  Adding that – “Indeed he [Nana Addo] has made a lot of contemptuous statements I would have wished that you had him here [On the show] so we debate on those issues.” Nana Akufo Addo and his running mate, Dr. Mahmudu Bawumia have on several occasions raised issues with the governance style of the president accusing him of running down the country’s economy and bringing unbearable hardships on the citizenry. Nana Addo recently held what he termed was the real state of the nation address after the president had delivered his mandated State of the Nations address to the house of Parliament. This, the president has denied and said his achievements are evident for all to see. President Mahama has indicated that he would be available for a debate during the campaign season depending on whether his party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is willing to participate. Ahead of this year’s election, it is likely the Institute of Economy Affairs [IEA] will hold a presidential debate for all aspirants including the president – this according President John Mahama will be a ‘fine’ opportunity to react to Nana Addo’s claims. He prays his party [NDC] will accept such invitation from the IEA when served, but "It is not for me to say, I am sure that the NDC party at the appropriate time if they are invited to debate will have to take a decision on whether they feel comfortable with whoever is organizing the debate," he added.

Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/Peacefmonline.com/ Twitter: @Washman5/ Instagram: Washman007

STATEMENT: EC, Charlotte Osei Given 7 Day Ultimatum!

'LET MY VOTE COUNT' DELIVERS ONE-WEEK ULTIMATUM TO CHARLOTTE OSEI & THE EC, FOLLOWING LATEST DEVELOPMENTS' The Let My Vote Count Alliance (LMVCA) is outraged by the apparent determination of the Charlotte Osei-led Electoral Commission to impair our democratic system. The EC's reckless decisions are setting up the nation for chaos in the November 2016 general elections. The EC’s posture and timetable make clear that it does not intend to carry out records validation for registered voters, despite being encouraged to do so by its own Panel of Experts, and even by the Supreme Court. We wish, by this statement, to inform the public that LMVCA accepts the recommendation from the Panel Report that Validation is good enough, if done well, to clean up the register and give us a credible base document for the 2016 elections. The challenge now is that the EC appears determined to deny Ghanaians this important exercise recommended by its own panel of experts. We are, by this statement, demanding from the EC a clear timetable for validation to clean up the register and this must be made known to the public within a week from today, failing which we will mobilise the youth of this country to stage a massive demonstration against the Commission. In the 77-page report of the Panel of Experts, set up by the EC to provide guidance on the electoral register issue, Justice VCRAC  Crabbe and his team asserted that the voter register is bloated, and that Ghana cannot go into the 2016 general elections without addressing its widespread irregularities. Shockingly, the Panel discovered that the number of names on the voter register is “dangerously” and unacceptably more than the total number of eligible voters in Ghana. The Panel implored the EC to validate registered voters, but the EC, incredulously, is refusing to do so. In our current circumstances, a validation exercise becomes the only possible means to give the nation a clean register that will enable credible elections with an outcome that will be readily accepted by all. Enough is enough. Let it be reiterated, the Let My Vote Count Alliance is giving the EC a one-week ultimatum to tell the people of Ghana when and how it will conduct the validation exercise to deliver a credible register to the citizens. If the EC exceeds its one-week ultimatum, we will take action. And this time around, the demonstrations we stage will be bigger and stronger, and no amount of intimidation from the police or the anti-democracy thugs will deter us. We have both the outrage and the inflamed determination of the nation behind us. All across Ghana, the people no longer have faith in the authorities to conduct an honest election. Ms. Osei and the EC's ongoing refusal to clean the voter register is a refusal to conduct a free and fair election in Ghana. It should also be noted that it would be a waste of money and time to conduct limited registration and then to do the validation afterward. The EC must conduct the validation in tandem with the limited registration they plan to carry out. It would be neither effective nor efficient to waste the Ghanaian people's money and time by conducting these exercises separately. This issue requires urgent attention and clarity from the EC. The people of Ghana will not let Charlotte Osei and the EC rob us of an honest election. They must be held accountable.   ..................... Signed David Asante Convener LMVCA

Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana

Brochuregate...."Hypocrite NPP" Lacks Moral Right To Call For Probe - ADU ASARE

Hon Kojo Adu Asare, Former NDC MP Adenta Presidential Staffer Kojo Adu Asare has taken a swipe at the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) for making political meal out of Ghana’s 59th Independence Day brochure gaffe. Mr Adu Asare agrees it was embarrassing to the country, but says NPP’s track record as far as national gaffes are concerned, comes nowhere near the brochure scandal. He argues the largest opposition party lacks the moral authority to keep fanning the issue to damage government’s reputation in order to score cheap political points. His comments come in the wake of NPP’s call for an independent investigation into the printing of the over 3000 error-ridden brochures for Ghana’s 59th Independence celebration. The NPP believes the findings can inform future actions to prevent a recurrence. Ghana has been ridiculed for capturing Kenya’s President, Uhuru Kenyatta, who was the Guest of Honour at the parade, as the President of Ghana in the brochure among a litany of unpardonable errors. The gaffe has been generally condemned and some critical politicians say it is a manifestation of government’s incompetence. Acting Head of the Information Services Department has been sacked and the Communications Bureau at the Flagstaff House is now under direct control of the Communications Ministry. But a livid Adu Asare who spoke on Accra based OkayFM's "Adea Akye Abia" morning show said the NPP lacks the moral authority to attempt to feed on the current incident since they are worse culprits. “Listen to who’s talking? Does the NPP think Ghanaians have forgotten about the litany of embarrassment they took this country through? They should give us a break!” he told show host Kwame Nkrumah "Tikese". “Wasn’t it under this same NPP that Ghana suffered the biggest embarrassment ever in its life when a simple voter ID card had its colours turned upside down? Instead of the colours of the national flag, horizontal stripes of Red, Yellow and Green, didn’t the NPP government print the Voters’ ID cards with horizontal stripes of Green, Yellow Red? So our cards were in the colours of Senegal? What was the NPP’s response to such a serious embarrassment? Did they call for a probe into that scandal? "Isn’t it under the same NPP regime that its first Finance Minister signed a loan agreement in the German language, which he could neither read nor write? Isn’t it under this same NPP that the same Finance Minister brought a CNTCI loan to Parliament for consideration where it was later found out that the address of the company was actually a hair dressing saloon in London? "Wasn’t it under the same NPP regime that saw an Attorney General filing a case in court and titled it the President versus Tsatsu Tsikata, instead of the Republic versus Tsatsu Tsikata? "They should tell Ghanaians which of these issues compare with the unfortunate mistakes in the brochure. NPP should please leave Ghanaians alone," he fumed. The former NDC MP for Adenta advised the largest opposition party to focus on selling a message to Ghanaian electorate if they are really interested to win power and not resort to picking on issues they lack the morale authority to talk about.

Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana