GREAT WOOD WORK BY KOFI

There are no professional script writers in Ghana – David Dontoh

Ace Ghanaian actor, David Dontoh says there are no professional script writers in Ghana.

“I don’t know of any Ghanaian who practices as a professional writer, who writes script for films, television and teleplays and makes all his living from that,” David Dontoh stated in an interview with Ibrahim Ben-Barko on the Red Carpet Show on Multi-TV.

He further said “a film starts from a script but we don’t have very good writers who really know the element of drama that makes it exciting and interesting for people to enjoy.”

Known for the roles he played in very popular movies including; The Dead (2010), Deadly Voyage (1996) and Heritage Africa (1989), David Dontoh on his part, said elsewhere you find people taking script writing as a professional job and it works for them.

He blamed theatre institutions in the country for not giving students detailed knowledge on script writing.

“The people we train at our school of performing arts and other theatre institutions in the country are only trained in stage plays.”

The popular Obra TV series actor, expressed worry about the attitude of some movie producers in the country.

“Some of the producers who are in film production now are not prepared to spend their money to buy scripts where the entire movie starts from,” he added.

He continued that “but if you really want a good script the person has to spend all the time to do solid research, write and rewrite.”

He concluded that “if the script is not good, bring Denzel Washington, the story is [still] not good.”

David Dontoh is also known for movies like Rain movie from the stables of Silver Line Film Production and Announcement directed by Evelyn Robinson.

I will marry at 72 – Shatta Wale

Dancehall artiste Charles Nii Armah Mensah Jnr aka Shatta Wale says he will only marry when he turns 72 years.

“I will get married when I am 72 because at that time my wife won’t tell me she is going to market when actually she is going to the night club to have fun; at that age my wife won’t tell me she is attending funeral when she is really going on a trek with another man…at 72 you will always come home to see us in our lazy chair”, he said.

The 30-year-old music sensation revealed his parents, other family members, as well as friends, have been mounting pressure on him to get married and settle down, that is the least on his priority list.

The dancehall artistes said he really wants to establish himself well and make more investment before he even thinks about marriage.

“Last time I went to put some money in my account and I was telling my banker that this money is plenty and he told the money is small. He [banker] said ‘you think Ghc150,000 is money, do you know the amount of money I have been counting’. Then I realized I need to get more and need to work harder” Shatta Wale said.

He insists the pressure from his parents will not influence his marital decisions.

“I have one daughter, Nhyera, who I cherished so much because she brought a lot of luck into my life, so I really want to acquire certain things. I really want to get to a level where I will see that my kid’s future is secured before I plan on settling down with a woman”, he said.

The dancehall artistes said he won’t get married just because he has to make his parents and those around him happy, instead he will do that to please him.

Kwaw Kese told Police he was a wee smoker — Witness

A witness in the case involving hiplife artiste Kwaw Kese has told the Kumasi Circuit Court that the accused confessed to police officers who arrested him that he was a known ‘wee’ smoker.

The Divisional Crime Officer of the Manhyia Divisional Command of the Ghana Police, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Otu Acheampong, said last Thursday in court that when the accused was confronted, “he boldly told us that everyone knows he is a wee smoker.”

Mr Acheampong told the court, presided over by Mr William Boampon, that on the said night, he was sitting in front of his wife’s shop, some few metres away from where Kwaw Kese and six others were sitting smoking the substance.

He said the men were passing around the substance, which he suspected to be Indian hemp.

Kwaw Kese has pleaded not guilty to the charge of publicly smoking a substance suspected to be Indian hemp without lawful authority and is currently on bail.

Led in evidence by Superintendent of Police Emmanuel Akonnor, the witness further told the court that he sought the assistance of two police officers who were on duty at a nearby checkpoint to arrest the accused.

However, he said, the accused resisted arrest and he had to call in reinforcement from Asokwa police before they were able to arrest him.

Asked by counsel for the accused, Nana Kwasi Boaitey, how he knew that the substance was narcotics, Mr Acheampong told the court that it was from experience and the thickness of the smoke that emanated.

He said he could also differentiate between the scent of ‘wee’ from that of cigarette. Besides, he said how they were passing the substance among themselves clearly indicated that it was “wee”.

Counsel further inquired from the witness why they did not arrest the others who were with Kwaw Kese.

In answer, Mr Acheampong said before the police would make any arrest, “you have to think of prosecution and conviction and in the instant case, the accused was the one holding the substance during the arrest”.

He denied the claim by counsel that the accused was targeted for arrest by the police, thus their decision to allow the other accomplices go scot free.

The case was adjourned to April 9, 2015 for continuation of the cross-examination.

Prince returns to Bundesliga action

Kevin-Prince Boateng made his first appearance for Schalke since Februrary with a brief cameo away against his former club Hertha Berlin.

The visitors stole a point with a 90th-minute equaliser to secure a 2-2 draw and move one point clear of Augsburg in the Bundesliga table.

While Miners coach Roberto Di Matteo will be disappointed with his side’s defensive play in the capital, he will be encouraged by Schalke’s character. Despite twice falling behind, the seven-time Bundesliga champions never lost their desire and ended up nicking a point.

Hertha initially took the lead through Tunisia international Anis Ben-Hatira, before Senegalese debutant Leroy Sane equalised with a fine effort.

The Old Lady thought they had won it through Genki Haraguchi’s late effort, but they were unable to see out the last 10 minutes of the match, allowing Joel Matip to make it 2-2 at the death.

Boateng entered the contest just before Haraguchi made it 2-1, but he could only watch on helplessly as Timon Wellenreuther’s error led to Hertha taking the ascendency.

The Ghana international has become something of a peripheral figure for Schalke in recent weeks. After Di Matteo took over in October 2014, he enjoyed some good form, contributing assists against Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League and Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga.

His form has dipped in 2015. Talk of a return to the Ghana squad under Avram Grant led to nothing, but Boateng did deliver a superb display in victory over Borussia Monchengladbach in February.

Since then, however, he has struggled to make an impact, being an unused substitute against Hoffenheim and being suspended for Schalke’s remarkable second-leg tie against Real Madrid.

The result sees the Royal Blues up to fifth in the Bundesliga table. They are two points off fourth-place Gladbach and one ahead of sixth-place Augsburg.

Muslim-Christian group lauds TB Joshua & SCOAN youth

Nigeria’s popular Nation newspaper has published a touching tribute by an interfaith organisation, the ‘Oodua Muslim-Christian Youth Dialogue Group’ (OMC-YDG).The tribute lauded the world-acclaimed Nigerian televangelist, T.B. Joshua for his selfless service to mankind.

The group, which promotes interfaith harmony, stated that Joshua’s rise to international recognition from a poverty-stricken background is an inspiration. The group implored the youth to continue to learn from Joshua’s life.

The Muslim-Christian Youth interfaith group particularly praised the action of a young Nigerian member of TB Joshua’s church named Smith Jadesimi, who donated his kidney to a young Israeli lady he had never met before.

“This single act has improved tenfold the image of Nigeria in Israel,” the group stated while applauding how the Man of God’s selfless life has impacted on most Nigerian youth.

The citation to the Man of God read thus: “Prophet T.B Joshua, Gold and diamonds we have not; this is the best we can do to show that we are part of your unending success story and that thousands of our members across Nigeria appreciate the humble manner in which you have touched the lives of many,” the statement began.

“Looking at your background, we hope many young people of today will learn to desist from evil, abscond from violence and brigandage and realise that poverty is not a justification for the wanton violence that many young people of today perpetrate, making our society a thorny place to live”.

“Pastor T.B. Joshua was very poor, meaning that poverty cannot impede a person’s glorious future,” the statement proceeded.

“Let us the younger ones learn. In his younger days, he dropped out of secondary school, due to poverty, the way many people drop out today without hope. His parents could not finance his education, yet he is today giving out scholarships to millions of people spread across the world, without discrimination as to race, religion or creed”.

Referring again to Joshua’s remarkable life-journey, the group continued, “He went to the extent of washing dirty, muddy feet of haggling market people, in the quest for survival. He even worked in a poultry farm, carrying chicken on his head. He woke up without food to eat, without a shelter over his head, yet his dignity was and is as white as snow”.

The group, based in Osun State and especially active in the South-West, went on, “We thank you for the amazing ways you have transformed the communities dominated by Muslims and the towns and villages where Christians eke out a difficult living. We commend you for giving religion a kind heart and for the reality you offer a famished generation”.

Specifically hailing Joshua’s nomination among the world’s most famous people last month, the statement continued:

“Over the years, we have been watching you lift up the poor and the needy, bring back life into the hopeless, telling people of the backwaters, some of whom have taken to crime and drugs, that there is hope in them, that there is a potential inbuilt that could be developed in them, making you to set up schools where those that our society has condemned are re-energized and made whole”.

Further lauding the positive impact of the large numbers of foreigners trooping to Nigeria to attend Joshua’s services, the statement continued: “For young Christians and Muslims, here is a story that touches the heart that is worthy emulating. Today, millions of people visit Nigeria for a spiritual encounter the way they visit Saudi Arabia, Jerusalem or Egypt, courtesy of Pastor T.B. Joshua.

This represents a source of strength for a weak and maligned country”. Despite the controversies surrounding his ministry, T.B. Joshua recently received the accolade of ‘Yoruba man of the decade’, alongside commendation from another prominent Yoruba group, the Oodua Nationalist Coalition (ONAC).

2 Police officers given 10 days to find 7 jail breakers

The Police Administration has given a 10-day ultimatum to two Police officers to find the seven suspected criminals who escaped from the Denu Police Station last Friday.

The two officers, whose names are being withheld, were on duty when the suspected criminals escaped from the cell and made away with two AK47 rifles.

The situation has created fear and panic among residents in the Denu township.

Speaking to Citi News, the Volta Regional Police Commander, DCOP Peter King Gyinae disclosed that his outfit has gotten hold of the photographs of the suspects and are currently being published for onward circulation.

He also stated that copies of the photographs have been sent across to “our colleagues across the border and they have also promised that they will circulate them and assist us.”

DCOP Gyinae indicated that despite efforts being made by the Police administration, the two officers must ensure the seven criminals are apprehended within the 10-day period given.

Failure to do so, the two will be made to face the full wrath of the Police Administration.

“We have processes when these things come and one of the processes is that we allow them some days to look for them and if they don’t get them and then the other processes will follow, so we are following the processes,” he explained.

Meanwhile, the Interior Minister, Mark Woyongo has issued a warning that any Police personnel found to have aided the suspects to escape will be severely punished.

“Let me assure you that, these things are bound to happen from time to time. It is an indication that we need to alert, vigilant, we need to caution our people to be vigilant and duty conscious. In fact, the Police High Command will investigate this, and people who are found culpable will definitely not be spared,” he said.

GH¢1m Woyome paid me was debt he owed my client – AG

The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Marietta Brew Appiah-Oppong, has insisted that the GH¢1.4 million businessman, Alfred Agbesi Woyome claims to have paid to her was debt owed her client, Ray Smith.

“If he intends to dent my credibility with regards to handling the appeal or the Supreme Court case, of course that won’t work. I never even handled any of these cases, the money was paid to Ray Smith and it was in respect of a debt that Alfred Woyome owed Ray Smith which he had refused to pay, it’s as simple as that,” she explained.

Mr Woyome who was charged for causing financial loss to the state and defrauding by false pretense in the controversial GH¢ 51 million judgment debt was acquitted and discharged after three years of litigation.

Meanwhile, a letter written to the AG by Alfred Woyome accused the AG (Marietta Brew Appiah-Oppong) of receiving GH¢1.4 million from the GH¢51 million and asked her to resign and allow another person pursue the case.

But Speaking to Citi News, Mrs Marietta Brew insisted that receiving such amount on behalf of her client is “not in conflict of interest. I went to court several times on this particular matter, so why didn’t he raise it when the prosecution was going on?”

“The only thing I can say is that, now there are three law lords in the court of appeal who are going to look at this case and the judgment and decide whether the judge was right or wrong. If he had anything to say, he should save his breath and say those things in the court of appeal. He has an opportunity to respond when we file our written submissions,” she said.

The AG has said her outfit will pursue the case at the Appeals Court. On suggestions that the state should not appeal the case, Mrs Marietta Brew Appiah Oppong advised Ghanaians to desist from making such statements.

“They were not in court, they have not read the records, they were not there when the judgment was being read, [so] I’m not sure how they came by those conclusions…That’s unfortunate and I think that some people will know better than to draw such conclusions,” she added.

Jim Iyke opens up on Nadia Buari, TB Joshua, bloggers and more

Nollywood actor, Jim Iyke opens up on a number of things in his interview with Glam Africa magazine – from his relationship with Nadia Buari, his deliverance at TB Joshua’s church, to how he feels about bloggers and more. Looking at the fact that it’s a print magazine, I am tempted his comments about Nadia were made before the actress gave birth and all the jazz that has followed. Nonetheless his response is very interesting…

We know Mahama is a dead goat but… – Sir John

Former General Secretary of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie says President Mahama’s comment of becoming impervious to threats of strikes in the country is an insult to Ghanaians.

He said he expected the president to encourage Ghanaians on how he [Mahama] intends to solve the hardship his incompetence have plunged the country into rather than “telling the people of this country that he has a dead-goat syndrome”.

The former General Secretary of the NPP was reacting to the president’s recent comment of adopting what he calls a “dead-goat syndrome”. President John Mahama during a three-day official state visit to Botswana told a Ghanaian population there that he has become impervious to threats of strikes and demonstrations in Ghana and will not yield to any of such threats in the upcoming election year.

He said he would not be hoodwinked by such strategies by workers.

“I have seen more demonstrations and strikes in my first two years. I don’t think it can get worse. It is said that when you kill a goat and you frighten it with a knife, it doesn’t fear the knife because it is dead already. “I have a dead goat syndrome,” he said.

But Owusu Afriyie popularly known as Sir John in an interview on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem Thursday said President Mahama is taking Ghanaians for granted in the wake of the intense energy crisis that has hit the country.

“People are suffering, industries are collapsing and all the president can say is that he has a “dead goat syndrome”. What an insult to Ghanaians. Mahama should know that Ghanaians didn’t vote for him to come and sleep, wake up and tell us what he wants. He should come again and tell us something better” he noted.

On his part, Deputy Communications Director of the National Democratic Congress, Fred Agbenyo on the same show warned the NPP to stop giving false interpretation on the President’ comment, adding that NPP’s interest in the president’s comment shows how desperate they are for power.

“Why must you misinterpret what the president said when clearly you know that was not the case. It is clear state of desperation. This kind of tricky politics will not help at all. Ghanaians have voted for NDC and NPP and they know who they will vote for in 2016 elections.

“President is aware of the plight of Ghanaians and is very determined to put his words into actions. I can assure you that the people of Ghana will definitely vote for him in the 2016 general elections,” he said.