Entertainment
‘Call me Kofi Sarpong in showbiz’
Ghanaian gospel music dynamo, Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Kofi Sarpong, has urged the public not to struggle over his rank as a police officer, but simply call him by his name.
Recently, he was promoted to the rank of Superintendent of Police, (SuPol) and has received another promotion to the position of Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP).
Speaking to The Spectator over the continuous change of ranks as a result of promotion, Kofi Sarpong said, “the position keeps changing, and its likely to change again in future, but my name remains the same.”
The gospel music gem added that “so for the civilians who do not know much about the Police ranks, it would be better for them to stick to my name, and call me Kofi Sarpong, I don’t have any problem with that.”
This, he, said would reduce the confusion it causes for some people, who struggle over title and try not to get it wrong.
“The change of title and ranks affects my brand name, but thank God people know me as Kofi Sarpong, I wouldn’t mind if you call me by my name,” he said.
According to him, though he expects other officers to know better, he has no qualms with civilians mentioning his name without his rank.
“The Officer Call in the Police Service starts from Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) then you move to Deputy Superintendent of Police, (DSP) then to Chief Superintendent of Police, (CSP) and it goes on and on,” he said.
CSP Kofi Sarpong further added that when he attained the status of DSP, he released his album which shot him to the limelight leading to everyone referring to him by that name and rank.
Talking about the challenges in this year, he said, as a musician 2020 has been a difficult one, this notwithstanding, he would release a new album early 2021.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
Entertainment
TGMA unveils nominees this Saturday
The air is electric in Ghana’s music scene as the long-anticipated nominee announcement for the 26th Telecel Ghana Music Awards (TGMA) is nearly here.
Music lovers should mark their calendars for Saturday, March 15, when the nominees will be revealed live on TV3 and across the Ghana Music Awards official social media channels.
This year’s nominations promise to be some of the most competitive yet. After weeks of submissions and meticulous deliberations, music fans across the country will finally learn which artists and groups will be contending for the highly coveted awards.
The Road to the Nominees Announcement
It all began on January 21, 2025, when nominations officially opened for the TGMA. Artists and groups had until 16th February to submit their works released between January 1, and December 31, 2024.
The response was nothing short of phenomenal, with over 1,500 entries pouring in from more than 130 talented artists and groups—a true testament to the dynamic and ever-growing nature of Ghana’s music industry.
The Deliberation Process
Once the deadline passed, an expert panel of industry insiders and stakeholders rolled up their sleeves for the daunting task of sifting through the entries.
The review process was thorough, with each submission evaluated based on a set of specific criteria to ensure only the most deserving artists and groups made it onto the shortlist.
The final selections were validated by the TGMA board and key industry players, ensuring transparency and fairness every step of the way.
The Big 5 Categories: The Showstoppers
While every category brings its own set of thrills, the Big 5 awards are the ultimate crown jewels. These prestigious categories will be revealed live on TV3 on Saturday, 15th March, it includes; Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Telecel Most Popular Song, New Artiste and Artiste of the Year.
The Telecel Ghana Music Awards: Celebrating Excellence
The Telecel Ghana Music Awards play an essential role in showcasing and celebrating the best of Ghana’s musical talent. By recognizing excellence, the awards inspire artists to reach new creative heights while fueling the growth of the industry.
They also serve as a unifying force, bringing together artists, industry leaders, and music lovers in a shared celebration of Ghanaian music.
With Ghana’s top artists and groups battling it out for the prestigious honors, the anticipation is at an all-time high. As the music industry continues to evolve, the TGMA remains a true benchmark of excellence.
Entertainment
Ghana need industry bank to fund talents — Rocky Jigga
Ghanaian UK-based afrobeat singer, Emmanuel Rocky Gyeniaw Jnr known in entertainment circles as Rocky Jigga has expressed the need for an industry bank to fund talents.
According to him, this will help Ghanaian musicians to compete effectively with their foreign counterparts.
Rocky Jigga believes that many talented musicians have coiled back into their shells due to funding challenges.
“There’s more room for improvement. The industry needs more investors from both the government and private sector at large. We need an industry bank that funds talents, events and everything entertaining,” he said.
Rocky Jigga recently released ‘Slow Down,’ featuring Ball J.
The song which came with its video was produced by B Boat and it emphasised a man’s preference for an ideal woman irrespective of the size.
