Entertainment
Shatta Wale ‘apologises’ to disabled society…Stonebwoy
The battle between two of Ghana’s top dancehall artistes, Shatta Wale and Stonebwoy seem not to be ending anytime soon following recent comments from the camp of the two musicians.
Shatta Wale descended heavily on Stonebwoy during his performance at the recently held ‘Sallahfest’ event at Nima and Abeka in Accra as part of the Eid ul Fitr celebrations.
Shatta who claimed to be disappointed with Stonebwoy for his absence did not mince words as he called his fellow artiste a cripple.
He went further to say that, Stonebwoy was an ‘Apakye Celebrity’ who deserved no mercy from the public as he disappointed his fans by not showing up for the event.
The disabled community (The Ghana society of the Physically Disabled) did not take kindly to the comment and demanded an apology for the derogatory statement.
But Shatta Wale’s camp in a statement issued under the auspices of the Shatta Movement Record and signed by Manager of the artiste, Samuel Atuobi Baah (Sammy Flex), said the comments were misrepresented.
“The intention of the statement was not to mock or belittle individuals with disabilities, but rather to emphasise the importance of Stonebwoy acting and treating others with respect at all times,” it said.
“We understand that the wording of the statement may have been insensitive and we acknowledge the concerns raised. It is not our intention to cause any harm. We value and respect the contributions and rights of individuals with disabilities in our society,” it added.
It says they were committed to inclusiveness and would be mindful of their words and actions in future.
However, Stonebwoy in a counter statement said, they found it not just irresponsible but misleading and mendacious.
According to the statement, Mr Sammy Flex’s comment that Stonebwoy should act right and treat others with respect at all times, was an absent-minded one.
“A predominant factor in the career of Stonebwoy is his humility and respect shown to all manner of persons,” it stated.
“You have an artiste like Shatta Wale whose career lives and breathes on the tradition of insults, disdain, discredit and disrespect for his colleagues with the little opportunity he chances upon makes the entire statement appear ironic and sarcastic,” it added.
The Ghana Society of the Physically Disabled are however yet to respond to any of the statements but it appears the rivalry between the two artistes is taking another twist.
Entertainment
Ghanaian screenwriter Osarfo Anthony appointed as a judge for US Presidential Service Center Film Festival
Renowned Ghanaian screenwriter and entertainment journalist, Osarfo Anthony, has been appointed as a judge for the 2024 US Presidential Service Center (USPSC) Film Festival.
Osarfo expressed his excitement at the appointment, emphasizing the rigorous process he went through to secure the position.
He stated that he applied a year ago. “I underwent a thorough background check, which included a review of my criminal records and an assessment of my professional image on social media, interactions, and my writings on art, media, and filmmaking. They monitored me for almost a year before giving me this appointment.”
Osarfo will be working alongside other judges from around the world, all of whom have extensive experience in screenwriting, filmmaking, and diverse cultures. Their responsibility is to assess and select the winners, finalists, and runners-up for the film festival, which will take place in the United States (Glover, North Carolina).
The USPSC International Film Festival is an all-inclusive festival that celebrates films and series about the first families and White House stories, with a focus on supporting aspiring filmmakers in securing funding and production opportunities.
In addition to his judging role, Osarfo’s recent supernatural horror screenplay has garnered recognition, including selection for the prestigious Nostos Screenwriters Retreats hosted in Italy (Arezzo, Tuscany). He was among 8 screenwriters selected across the globe for a two-week intensive training in an environment structured to foster collaboration and high-quality script development.
He has also achieved success in various genre-friendly competitions, placing and winning awards for:
WINNER, Best Original Screenplay – Hollywood Blood Horror Festival.
WINNER – Best Supernatural Horror Script – Hollywood Horrorfest.
WINNER – Best Horror Screenplay – Hollywood Just4shorts Film and Screenplay Contest.
FINALIST (twice) – 13Horror.com Film & Screenplay Contest.
FINALIST Horror/Thriller category – Creative World Awards (CWA).
SEMI-FINALIST – Los Angeles Crime and Horror Film Festival.
SEMI-FINALIST – Filmmatic Short Script Contest.
SEMI-FINALIST – Screenwriters Network (SWN) Script Competition.
Entertainment
I received confirmation from God before I divorced my husband – Ohemaa Mercy
Ghanaian gospel music diva, Ohemaa Mercy has surprisingly revealed that she received a confirmation from God before she divorced her husband.
Ohemaa Mercy and her husband Mr. Isaac Twum-Ampofo are currently divorced.
Over the years, Ohemaa Mercy, had been tight-lipped about her marriage challenges and subsequent divorce.
During an interview on TV3’s Today’s Woman with Cookie Tee, she revealed that the Holy Spirit guided her to seek for divorce.
This, according to her, was to aid her focus on her ministry and avoid any destruction.
In the interview she shared that during COVID-19, she spent time praying and seeking God’s direction, which led her to take the “bold step” of divorce.
“I remember when I was going through divorce. During COVID-19, I depended solely on God for direction, I had a strong covenant with him. I will go to the mountains to pray for three months and I really wanted to hear what the Lord will tell me about what is going on around me. So, when I heard it clearly, I took that bold step. I had the confirmation from God, If I didn’t, I wouldn’t have done it,” she revealed.
Ohemaa Mercy stated that her ex-husband agreed to the decision and they remain on good terms, prioritizing their children and supporting each other.
The gospel musician emphasised that her divorce has allowed her to experience God’s presence and guidance more strongly in her life than before.
“I give God the glory because I am divorced but this is the time I have seen the hand of God so strong on my life, even more than when I was married,” she said.
“When I spoke to my partner too, he understood that we needed to take a break and pray and see what the Lord will do. I told him, ‘I really want us to take a break and move the Ministry, which I know is your passion for me. Let me run with it, let’s take care of the kids and support each other. If I’m going through something, we talk about it. I don’t want to fail God because I feel I’m failing God”, she stated.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
