2018 VGMA predictions: Who wins what tonight?

The biggest awards ceremony for musicians will be held finally on Saturday and deserving winners will be smiling, while others will be disappointed but need to gather courage and still hope for the best in future

By: Evans Gyamera-Antwi

It’s another successful year in the music industry and as usual, some hardworking musicians and other related people, will have their works finally rewarded for the efforts put in.

Without mincing words, the Ghana Music Awards is the biggest award scheme in the country amid the controversies surrounding it every time and this year’s program will be the 19th edition. The awards night is expected to be held today (April 14) at the Accra International Conference Center (AICC).

Interestingly, this will be the first time since 2014, that Shatta Wale will be making an appearance in the list of nominees following his banter with Charterhouse who happens to be the organisers of the program. In his comeback, he had six nominations and the biggest amongst them is the Artiste(s) of the Year.

However, there are other high-profile names in that category including the 90’s bad girl Ebony Reigns of blessed memories, Stonebwoy, Sarkodie and reigning champion Joe Mettle and winning won’t be that easy for the Ayoo hitmaker.

There were other musicians who had massive breakthroughs including King Promise, KiDi, Kuame Eugene, etc and many ‘underground’ artists would relish to one day obtain a portion of their luck amid their hard work.

Here, Editor-in-chief of AshesGyamera.com, presents his predictions after painstakingly going through the list and how each musician fared in the period under scrutiny, and believes the highlighted names below will be crowned winners.

Gospel of the Year

Boot for Boot – Joyce Blessing

Obi Nyanime – Patience Nyarko

Bo Noo Ni – Joe Mettle (Winner)

Efatawo – Nacee

Adom – Gifty Osei

Jehovah – Ceccy Twum

Highlife Song of the Year

Dream – Kumi Guitar

Bronya – Wutah

Odo – KiDi

Angela – Kuami Eugene

Ladder – Lil Win

Over – R2bees

Hustle – Ebony (Winner)

Hiplife Song of the Year

Total Cheat – Fancy Gadam Ft. Sarkodie

Boys Boys – Nancee Ft. Guru

Pain Killer – Sarkodie Ft. Runtown

Obi Agyi Obi Girl – Captain Planet

Ayoo – Shatta Wale (Winner)

One Corner – Patapaa Ft. Ras Cann

Hiphop  Song of the Year

State of the Art – Teephlow

Light it up – Sarkodie

Grind Day Remix – Kwesi Arthur (Winner)

Pen and Paper – Ko-jo Cue & Shaker

Dear God – B4bonah

Reggae/Dancehall Song of the Year

Until the Dawn – Efya

My Own – Samini

My Name – Stonebwoy (Winner)

Faya Burn Dem – Article Wan

Rewind – MzVee

Dem Confuse – Shatta Wale

Afro-pop Song of the Year

Makoma – Adina feat. Sarkodie

Oh Yeah – King Promise

Say You Love Me – Kidi

Sing My Name – Mzvee

Jennifer Lomotey – Kurl Songx

Sponsor – Ebony

My Baby – Magnon

Come From Afar – Stonebwoy (Winner)

Gospel Artiste of the Year

Patience Nyarko (Winner)

Joyce Blessing

Joe Mettle

Celestine Donkor

Gifty Osei

Nance

Highlife Artiste(s) of the Year

Wutah

KiDi

Kuami Eugene (Winner)

Becca

Reggae/Dancehall Artiste of the Year

Ebony

MzVee

Shatta Wale

Stonebwoy (Winner)

Songwriter of the Year

Kumi Guitar – Dream

Joe Mettle- Bo Noo Ni

Bullet – Maame Hwe (Winner)

Kofi Kinaata – Last Show

Samini – My own

Stonebwoy – My Name

Record of the Year

Kumi Guitar – Dream

Samini – My Own (Winner)

Sarkodie – Glory

Teephlow – State of the Art

Best Music Video of the Year

Kumi Guitar- Dream (Directed by Abass)

King Promise – Selfish (Directed by Vertex)

B4bonah – My Girl (Directed by Nicol-Sey)

Opanka – Wedding Car (Directed by Bra Shizzle)

Captain Planet – Obi Agyi Obi (Directed by Phamous Films)

Lil Shaker & Ko-Jo Cue – Pen & Paper (Directed by Ekumodzi) (Winner)

Hiplife/Hip-Hop Artiste of the Year

Yaa Pono

R2bees

Captain Planet

Kwesi Arthur

Sarkodie (Winner)

VVIP

Best Male Vocalist of the Year

Joe Mettle – Bo Noo Ni

King Promise – Selfish

KiDi – Odo

Kuami Eugene – Angela (Winner)

Mugeez – Over

Samini – My own

Best Female Vocalist of the Year

Adina – Makoma (Winner)

Nana Yaa – Don’t leave alone

Efya – Love

MzVee – Bright light

Becca – Summye (Pillow)

Best Group of the Year

VVIP

R2bees

Wutah (Winner)

Best Rapper of the Year

Eno Barony – Fear No Man

Teephlow – Phlowducation

Sarkodie – Light it up

Lil Shaker – Pen & Paper

Ko-Jo Cue – Pen & Paper

Strongman – Transformer (Winner)

Best collaboration of the Year

Joe Mettle Ft. Luigi Maclean – Bo noo ni

MzVee Ft. Patoranking – Sing My Name remix

Kurl Songx Ft. Sarkodie – Jennifer Lomotey

Sarkodie Ft. Runtown – Pain Killer

Shatta Wale Ft. SM Militants – Taking Over (Winner)

Captain Planet Ft. Kofi Kinaata – Obi Agyi Obi Girl

Becca Ft. Patoranking – Na Wash

Best African artiste of the Year

Davido (Winner)

Wizkid

Toofan

Cassper Nyovest

Nasty C

Tiwa Savage

Olamide

Best New Artiste of the Year

King Promise

Kurl Songx

KiDi

Kuami Eugene (Winner)

Magnom

Kwesi Arthur

B4bonah

Song of the Year

Sponsor – Ebony

Odo – Kidi

Angela – Kuami Eugene

Taking Over – Shatta Wale Ft. SM Militants (Winner)

Total Cheat – Fancy Gadam Ft. Sarkodie

One Corner – Patapaa Ft. Rad Cann

Bo Noo Nii – Joe Mettle Ft. Luigi Maclean

Obi Agyi Obi Girl – Captain Planet Ft. Kofi Kinaata.

My Baby – Magnom ft Joey B

Oh Yeah – King Promise

Pain Killer – Sarkodie feat. Runtown

Album of the Year

Epistles of Mama – Stonebwoy

Daavi – MzVee

Bonyfied – Ebony (Winner)

Highest – Sarkodie

Artiste of the Year

Joe Mettle

Ebony Reigns

Shatta Wale (WINNER)

Sarkodie

Stonebwoy

Moesha finally begs Ghanaian women after claiming they survive only by dating married men

The young lady, who made a damming statement about how Ghanaian women survive in an unfriendly economy, has now pleaded for forgiveness

Ghanaian social media celebrity Moesha Budong has sent a heartfelt apology to the rest of Ghanaian women following her interview on C.N.N this week.

According to the lady, who was born in the early 90’s, she and the rest of women in the West African country can only fend for themselves and the rest of their families when they date rich married men since the economy don’t favour women.

However, majority of women have kicked against this assertion and believe only lazy women live like Moesha.

“Dear gh this is Moesha. I have been humbled by all that is going on and I have also learnt a lot in the last few days since the CNN video came out. I have had a lot of time to think and reflect and I apologise,” Moesha posted on Instagram.

“TO ALL, ESPECIALLY MY AFRICAN SISTERS.

“I pray u all find it in your hearts to forgive me. It was definitely not my intention to offend any of you. I respect all the hard working women of our beloved country and accept that some of my utterances were not a reflection of what happens in most homes. GOD works in mysterious ways and everything happens because he says so.

“Thanks for the love, pieces of advice and criticisms. GOD bless us all! The full version of the interview drops this weekend and I hope you can appreciate what I said in its entirety. Thank you. God bless you all!” she added.

Meet David, the 10-year-old boy who quits school to become a mechanic

 

The youngster has decided to cut short classroom education and now follows his uncle’s instructions at a ‘fitting’ shop in a bid to become a mechanic

So today, I met one of my former students at the magazine and eventually, he was the one that worked on my car.

Here is David Amponsah, a 10-year-old boy who has opted to be a mechanic, since he says he does not like the idea of waking up early to rush and be seated at one place for almost eight hours with only Forty-five minutes break (30 minutes in the morning and 15 later in the afternoon).

Dave seriously at work

David stays just opposite my house and used to ran errands for me until recently, that he stopped checking up on me after school.

So last month, I asked about him in school and the younger brother told me he had gone to their mother in the village because he says he won’t attend school any longer since, no matter how we pamper him, he is not happy to be there.

A fortnight ago, he saw me coming from my house and took to his heels. Later in the evening, luck eluded him as I was going to buy some stuffs from a shop nearby. I advised him to come and promised to pay his examination fees, buy new school uniform and shoes for him and although, he initially budged, he didn’t come as promised, not knowing he was already an apprentice somewhere.

Dave is done with the job he was assigned

Today, I went to change my car’s engine oil and bumped into him. Interestingly, the shop is for his uncle and I had a little chat him about his nephew — “He is very good with the machines only few weeks that he had been here,” the Uncle said.

“I asked him to choose between this and education and he insisted he wants to be here, so we’ve all agreed to let him pursue his dreams since being here will in a way prevent him from several bad deeds because he is always under my career,” he added.

David, who was the right-back in our school’s football team, took his mat and went under the car and carefully drained the old oil from the engine before his uncle took over. He later started the engine and sat in for some time to check the sound the engine will make and latched ame to hand over the keys to me.

All this while, I was a bit sad since I at least, wanted him to attain a BECE certificate but, the joy and zeal he exhibited while working and the smiles all over his face, made me think that probably, he will be good here.

All the best Dave (as I affectionately used to call him)…..I will miss you.

Deputy youth and sports minister Hadzide slapped with SUSPENSION following 2018 Commonwealth games scandal

The deputy minister has been suspended until further notice for his role in the shambolic incident at the Commonwealth games

Ghana president Akufo-Addo has suspended youth and sports minister Pius Enam Hadzide on Thursday after he was fingered as a key factor in the scandal that hit Australia involving over sixty Ghanaians who wanted to enter Australia as journalists in their pursuit for greener pastures.

The ‘FAKE’ journalists were apprehended at the airport in Australia and many of the couldn’t even speak good English while some arrived without a recorders, laptops or even cameras to cover the game.

They were held hostage and later deported to Ghana with fully armed security attached to their planes.

AshesGyamera understands that there will be an emergency meeting at the Jubilee House on Friday and another set of people could face the wrath of the president when found guilty of any malpractices.

According to our sources, many of the deported Ghanaians paid close to $3,000 each excluding their plane tickets and other reservations which cost around $1,500.

Aduana Stars suspend Communication director Asamoah after ‘beating up’ CEO Commey

The young man who lost his temper and mercilessly manhandled his boss, has been told to step aside until further notice by the club’s top hierarchy

Aduana Stars have officially suspended the club’s communication director Dennis Asamoah indefinitely following his attack on chief executive officer Albert Commey on Sunday.

As revealed by AshesGyamera.com earlier this week, Asamoah retaliated an initial slap by Commey after he questioned him on a certain portion of the contract between the club and alcoholic beverage company Happy Man Bitters.

The incident took place few minutes after they defeated Fosa Juniors from Madagascar 6-1 in the first leg of the last qualifying round in the Caf Confederation Cup.

Commey in an interview with Sikka FM confirmed that he was attacked by Asamoah but revealed that the latter attacked him because he was drunk.

“It’s true there was a fracas between myself and Asamoah and I don’t regret slapping him. For what he did to me later, I realised he was drunk,” Commey said.

“I smelled alcohol all over him later and realised he wasn’t of himself,” he added.

AshesGyamera understands that Asamoah who previously had similar issues with the club’s former CEO Kofi Manu ‘Blue Boy’, has been advised to apologise to Commey before the club’s owner Nana Agyemang Badu pronounce the final decision after the second leg against Fosa on April 18.

 

Guardiola blames Spanish referee Lahoz for Manchester City defeat to Liverpool in Champions League

The Etihad Stadium was silenced by Jurgen Klopp’s charges on Tuesday night but Pep Guardiola is pointing accusing fingers on the referee

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has taken a swipe at Spanish referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz following his side’s 2-1 defeat to Liverpool in the Uefa Champions League on Tuesday. Goals from Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino ended City’s ambition of lifting the trophy.

The defeat meant that City are now kicked out of the competition with a 5-1 aggregate scoreline but Guardiola believes Liverpool were aided by some key decisions by the referee.

The former Barcelona boss was sent into the stands by the referee after his protest to Leroy Sane’s goal which was ruled offside.

“I said [to Lahoz] it was goal, I didn’t insult him,” Guardiola said after the game.

“I was polite, I was correct, but Mateu Lahoz is a special guy, he likes to be different, he likes to be special.

“I know what happened in Monaco last season so he is a referee whenever people see the things, he will see the opposite. It’s too much to send me off because I didn’t say any wrong words.

“I just said, ‘It’s a goal, the ball came off (James) Milner’. He said, ‘Oh the pass came from Milner?’ And I said, ‘Yes, it came from Milner. It is not offside’. If we go to 2-0 against that side it is a little bit different.

Guardiola complaining to the referee

“The first goal from Salah in the second half made us change the way we played and we were tired. But I know him (Lahoz) from Spain so I could imagine that.

“We spoke about that. We know him. The players felt it. But please, Liverpool deserved to go through,” he added.

Guardiola further insisted that Liverpool were even lucky with several decisions in the 3-0 defeat in the first leg
at Anfield.

“It’s different when [Mo] Salah’s goal at Anfield is offside,” Guardiola said. “It’s different when Gabriel Jesus’ goal at Anfield is offside. It’s a penalty for Raheem Sterling from Andy Robertson in front of the fourth official. Of course they have an influence.

“Big congratulations to Liverpool, hopefully they can represent England well in the semi-final. They are a top team and have a top manager (Jurgen Klopp). They deserve to be there.

“We made an outstanding 45 minutes but like last season against Monaco with Aguero, when it is a clear penalty and the same referee, in this competition the teams are so equal the impact (of decisions) is so big.”

Saddick succeeds Abatay as new head of sports of Atinka Media village

Enterprising Sports Journalist, Saddick Adams, popularly known as the Sports Obama, has been appointed the new Head of Sports for Atinka Media Village.

In his new role, Saddick will assume responsibility for all sports programmes on Atinka TV, Atinka FM 104.7FM in Accra, Agyenkwa 101.9 FM in Kumasi and Ahoto 102.3FM in Takoradi.

Saddick has been with Atinka Media Group for three years, serving as a broadcast journalist and integral part of the sports team since February 2015.

Announcing his appointment, outgoing Head of Sports, Kofi Asare Brako said: “Saddick has proven himself as one of the most talented and highly-promising sports journalist in the country who will add renewed energy to our sports department,”

He is renowned in Ghanaian sports circles for his investigate works on both local and international football.

With deep insight into the African game, he has had his works published on global platforms such as the BBC, Sky Sports, Daily Mail, Gazzetta Italy, Telegraph and CGTN China etc.

Saddick also does correspond for Globally acclaimed Media houses such as SuperSport TV, BBC, and Netherlands-based Zoomin TV.

Due to his credibility and well-established contacts, Saddick’s popularity stretches beyond the traditional media of radio and TV. The new Atinka Total Sports host has over 110,000 combined followers on social media platform, Facebook and over 20,000 followers on his verified Twitter handle.

The Ghana Institute of Journalism graduate takes on this new role with a strong track record of innovation and creative ways to entertain sports fans.

Source: Atinka Media

Kelvyn Boy named 2018 VGMA unsung hero winner

The BhimNation’s Afro Pop artist was adjudged as the upcoming artist who has enough talent and qualities to make it in the mainstream

By: Evans Gyamera-Antwi

Stonebwoy’s protegé Kelvyn Boy has been confirmed as the 2018 Ghana Music Awards’ unsung hero by organisers of the awards Charterhouse. He shrugged off competition from Dhat Gyal, Real MC, OBK and Gospel artist Christian and that category was sponsored by Close Up.

Per this awesome achievent by the young man, Kelvyn Boy is expected to become the first winner to mount the stage during the main event of the awards ceremony billed for April 14, and will have the opportunity to perform to the audience at International Conference Centre in Accra, as well as all those who will be watching the program behind their screens across the continent and beyond.

His mentor Stonebwoy has also been shortlisted for the topmost award of the night — Artist of the Year — but he will have to beat competition from his biggest rival Shatta Wale, who is making a comeback for the first time since 2014, following a temporal ban on him after publicly chastising the organisers. He was pardoned after several meetings and his numerous hits in the period under scrutiny give him a chance to win the award for the second time after his maiden achievement a couple of years back.

Others in this category include reigning champion Joe Mettle, Sarkodie and Ebony Reigns of blessed memories.

Source: AshesGyamera.com

#Uncovered: Aduana Stars CEO Commey ‘knocked down’ after dirty slap and kick from a management member

 

The two management members’ actions almost marred the emphatic victory that the Fire Club recorded in the Caf Confederation Cup

There were total chaos in Dormaa Ahenkro among Aduana Stars’ top hierarchy minutes after the entire township had started to jubilate the club’s 6-1 drubbing of Fosa Juniors from Madagascar in the first leg of the last qualifying round in the Caf Confederation Cup on Sunday.

According to AshesGyamera.com‘s sources, chief executive officer Albert Commey had a little confrontation with the club’s head of communication Dennis Asamoah, after the latter had asked for more clarification on a portion of the contract between Aduana and Happy Man Bitters and that almost resulted to a serious fight.

Per AshesGyamera’s sources, Commey after exchanging words with his subordinate, lost his cool and slapped him (Dennis). And although, onlookers quickly tried to separate them, the latter returned the slap and again heavily kicked his boss which forced him to fall down awkwardly.

It is widely rumoured in Dormaa Ahenkro that, aside the recent issue, Dennis previously suspected some foul dealings in player registration with an alleged 10 per cent kick back taken by some people around from players that were signed and raised an alarm.

AshesGyamera can also reveal that Commey and striker Yahaya Mohammed are at loggerheads since the former Kotoko star returned from Tanzania to re-join the club.

Our outfit understands that Commey vehemently kicked against the decision to re-sign Yahaya despite the club’s owner Nana Agyemang Badu agreeing to bring him back to help in their participation of the Caf Champions League and someone told the player about it.

It is also believed that he was the one who Commey threw shades at for leaking information to the media, after reports suggested that Aduana players had to feed on Gari while in Algeria

Also, Derrick Sasraku who slapped teammate Elvis Opoku last month, prior to their game against E.S Setif in Algeria, is currently out of the team after picking an injury but has revealed to his friends that the club cannot suspend him although, investigations in to what led to that unprovoked attack revealed that he was at fault.

He is, however, expected in Dormaa Ahenkro this week but may likely not travel with the team to Madagascar on April 16.

Dormaahene is expected to meet the entire team in the coming days to resolve all pending issues.

By: Evans Gyamera-Antwi/ AshesGyamera.com

Aduana Stars 6-1 Fosa Juniors: Fire Club edge closer to Caf Confederation Cup group stage

The Fire Club recovered from their exit from the Caf Champions League to hammer the Southern African club

By: Evans Gyamera-Antwi

Ghana Premier League champions Aduana Stars defeated Fosa Juniors from Madagascar 6-1 in the first leg of the last qualifying round in the Caf Confederation Cup at Nana Agyemang Badu Park in Dormaa Ahenkro on Sunday.

Following their exit from the Champions League, Aduana boss made few changes to his side with Justice Anane coming in for Tijani Ahmed while Sam Adams returned following his incredible performance in the Ghana Premier League.

The hosts had the first attempt on goal by the second minute after Elvis Opoku combined with Adams to test the visitors goalkeeper but the latter’s effort was blocked.

A minute later, Josee Randrianantenaina shot Fosa Juniors ahead against a run of play to silence the vociferous home fans. The hosts defenders failed to clear their lines and the forward shot his effort past goalkeeper Joseph Addo.

However, Aduana pulled even by the 10th minute through Elvis Opoku. The midfielder latched onto a pass from a teammate and kept his composure before slotting in the effort.

Adams then scored twice after the half hour mark through the spot. The midfielder made it 2-1 by the 30th minute after Zakaria Mumuni was brought down in the box before adding another nine minutes later when defender Anane was tripped in the box after going past his marker.

After the break, Mumuni turned from a provider to make it 4-1 by the 62nd minute also from the spot. The former Wafa winger, who has been linked with several European clubs, was once again fouled in the box but he took the penalty this time around and sent the goalkeeper to the wrong direction.

By 80th minute, Opoku found a breach in the visitors’ defence and capitalised on it to score his second on the the day. Bright Adjei completed the riot very late in the game with a simple finish to make it 6-1 and sent the teeming home supporters into a wild jubilation.

Aduana will travel to Madagascar for the fixture on April 18 at the Stade Alexandre Rabemananjara in the city of Mahajanga.