Entertainment pundit Arnold Asamoah-Baidoo has publicly backed Ghanaian actor John Peasah, known as Drogba from the TV series YOLO, in urging Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia to follow through on a previously made promise.
Arnold emphasized that since Dr. Bawumia had committed to assisting Drogba with his healthcare, it is appropriate for Drogba to remind him of the promise, especially given the ongoing pain Drogba is experiencing due to his health issues.
He highlighted the importance of addressing Drogba’s suffering promptly, noting that public reminders are reasonable when promises remain unfulfilled over time.
“I understand the vice president’s busy schedule, especially with campaign activities, but Drogba’s pain and ongoing health issues justify a reminder. If the promised support hasn’t been forthcoming after several months, it’s understandable for him to reach out again,” Arnold stated on UTV’s United Showbiz with MzGee on August 3, 2024.
This follows Drogba’s social media appeal to Dr. Bawumia to honor his commitment to assist with his treatment abroad. John Peasah has been struggling with a severe demyelination condition, which impacts the nervous system, since the last season of ‘YOLO’.
Dr. Bawumia has previously shown support through a visit and financial aid, alongside contributions from Drogba’s friends, but the full promise of treatment abroad has yet to be fulfilled.
Entertainment pundit, Arnold Asamoah-Baidoo has weighed in on the potential for Dancehall star Shatta Wale to fill the O2 Arena with a concert.
He dismissed any doubts about Wale’s capability but emphasized the importance of collaborating with the right promoters in the UK.
Asamoah-Baidoo acknowledged Wale’s extensive experience and fan base, particularly in the UK and globally, but stressed that selling out the O2 Arena requires more than just popularity.
He highlighted the need for strategic partnerships with promoters like Live Nation, Akwaaba, and Allonia to maximize the event’s success.
“Wale has been in the business for over 20 years, he is also popular in UK, Dubai and other places but you see it goes beyond the praises and popularity we see. He has the catalog and sword.
“What he has to do is now is to ensure he does not use one promoter. There is one promoter in UK who can make that possible and that’s is Live Nation, he can walk up to Live Nation and discuss his pedigree with them and for his managers to prove to Live Nation that this is what he can do,” he said on Onua FM on May 4.
During an interview on Onua FM on May 4, Asamoah-Baidoo emphasized that Shatta Wale’s management must demonstrate his value and readiness to collaborate with promoters effectively.
He pointed to rapper Medikal’s recent sold-out concert at the O2 Arena as a testament to what can be achieved with the right approach.
Medikal’s successful event, featuring stellar performances from Shatta Wale, Sarkodie, Jay Bhad, Sister Derby, and Malcom Nuna, serves as inspiration for artists aiming to make a mark on international stages like the O2 Arena.
Prominent entertainment commentator, Arnold Asamoah-Baidoo has expressed admiration for Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II‘s initiative in constructing the state-of-the-art Jubilee Hall in Kumasi, Ashanti Region.
Asamoah-Baidoo commended the monarch for independently financing such a grand project, highlighting a stark contrast to the state’s shortcomings in providing essential infrastructure for its citizens.
He questioned the government’s failure to undertake similar ventures that would both showcase the nation’s cultural heritage and boost economic growth.
During an interview on the United Showbiz program aired on UTV and monitored by GhanaWeb, Asamoah-Baidoo emphasised, “If an individual can solely fund such a magnificent building project [Jubilee Hall] that everyone is impressed with, while the state has been struggling to put up something similar in the last 8 years, then there is a big problem. If we have moved from large theatres to renovating the centre for national culture to amphitheatres without making a meaningful impact, then we have something to address.
“If one person can put up a structure that the nation has been unable to do in the last 20 years, then it is problematic,” Arnold told MzGee during the United Showbiz programme aired on UTV and monitored by GhanaWeb.
He continued by praising the Asantehene’s foresight, noting that the cultural exhibits and artefacts housed within the Jubilee Hall hold significant economic potential for the community.
In conclusion, Asamoah-Baidoo urged recognition for Otumfuo Osei Tutu II’s contributions, underlining the importance of such initiatives in promoting national heritage and prosperity. About the Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Jubilee Hall
The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, on Monday, April 15, 2024, commissioned a majestic hall for the Ashanti Kingdom named after him – the Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Jubilee Hall.
According to manhyiapalace.org, the magnificent traditional yet ultramodern edifice has a 400-capacity cocktail lounge, offices, a 2000-capacity fully air-conditioned and acoustically designed hall, about 60 washrooms, a parking lot, and a state-of-the-art kitchen.
The Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Jubilee Hall also has a 150-capacity car park and a compound. The interior of the hall has elaborate detailing of traditional designs.
For instance, the walls show a three-dimensional replica of the Golden Stool, a man playing the talking drum, and several Adinkra symbols.
Speaking at the hall’s commissioning, Juabenhene, Nana Otu Siriboe II, said it would host private Asanteman meetings, get-togethers, symposiums, cultural performances, and other events.
He also disclosed that the hall was named after the Asantehene to immortalize the king’s legacy for future generations.
On the project’s funding, the Juabenhene said that the Asantehene, even though he could have relied on his sub-chiefs to fund the project, decided to fully fund it himself.
Renowned Ghanaian broadcaster Kwasi Aboagye has revealed an unexpected incident where Fadda Dickson, Managing Director of Despite Media, urged him to apologize for his critical remarks about Afua Asantewaa during a sing-a-thon contest.
During a conversation with entertainment pundit Arnold Asamoah-Baidoo, Aboagye shared his astonishment at his boss’s request, emphasizing the unprecedented nature of the situation and its lasting impact on him.
The incident stems from Aboagye’s previous comments about Asantewaa, which had sparked disapproval from the Ghanaian public who deemed them inappropriate.
Having faced backlash for his initial remarks, Aboagye had previously issued a formal apology to Asantewaa, acknowledging the potential discomfort caused by his comments.
However, with Asantewaa’s subsequent disqualification by Guinness World Records (GWR), Aboagye revisited the challenges he encountered when expressing his opinion.
Recalling the moment Fadda Dickson intervened, Aboagye revealed, “My disappointment was when Fadda Dickson sent me a voice note that I should apologize. If you ask me how far this went, that was it for me. He hasn’t done anything of that sort before. So, out of respect, I had to heed. I was in the U.S. at that time, I checked my phone at dawn and I saw several missed calls from him and the voice note as well.”
Aboagye also alluded to the public insults he endured, asserting, “As for the insults [from the public], I don’t want to go there. Because I am used to it.”
The broadcaster’s revelation adds a new layer to the unfolding saga surrounding Afua Asantewaa’s journey and the controversies it has generated.
What Kwasi Aboagye said about Afua Asantewaa
A few hours before the start of Afua Asantewaa’s singing marathon contest in December 2023, Kwasi Aboagye made headlines with his critical remarks.
Expressing what seemed like frustration, he urged Afua to cease speaking and focus solely on her attempt to break the record.
He also commented on her vocal abilities, suggesting that she should avoid interviews and concentrate on improving her voice.
“You are about to sing for four days, yet, this is how your voice sounds like. Even though your voice isn’t nice, let’s put that aside… You need to stay indoors and rehearse properly for this because Hilda Baci did not do ‘try and error’ with her cooking contest. Stay indoors and rehearse and shut up! Keep quiet, you are talking too much,” he earlier stated.
The controversial comments sparked a backlash with many questioning the appropriateness of such statements.
On December 24, 2023, Asantewaa embarked on a mission to break the Guinness World Record for the longest singing marathon. She was the toast of December in GH as she sang for 126 hours and 52 minutes. She initially planned to end on 27th December; however, after consultation with her team, she decided to sing continuously for five days.
Disqualification
Officials at the Guinness World Records (GWR) have disclosed reasons Afua Asantewaa could not achieve the ‘longest singing marathon by an individual’ mark.
In a response to an email by JoyFM’s Kwame Dadzie probing into the disqualification, the entity stated that Afua Asantewaa’s sing-a-thon attempt was unsuccessful because the guidelines around rest break timings were not met.
In the statement by the PR Executive for the Guinness World Records, Alina Polianskaya, sighted it was established that these are standard rules that couldn’t have been overlooked.
“Afua Asantewaa’s sing-a-thon attempt was not successful due to guidelines around rest break timings not being met. These rules are standard across all of our ‘longest marathon’ records. We’ve seen how inspirational it has been for her fans…We wish Afua the best of luck with any future record attempts,” the statement contained.
Ghanaian media personality Gloria Akpene Nyarku-Acquah popularly known as MzGee in a heartfelt celebration on the special edition of United Showbiz aired on 25/02/2024 expressed deep gratitude to viewers and the public for embracing her during her first year as the show’s host.
Overcoming initial public criticisms following the departure of Nana Ama McBrown, MzGee couldn’t hold back tears of joy as she reflected on her journey.
“I thank God for bringing me this far; it has not been easy, the criticisms, the ups and downs. But you, Lord, are the ultimate giver, and I am most grateful to you for bringing me this far,” MzGee stated emotionally during the milestone celebration.
The special episode featured regular panelist Arnold Asamoah-Baidoo, guest actress Kafui Danku, and other notable dignitaries, making it a memorable occasion marking McGee’s one-year anniversary as the host of United Showbiz.
The Executive Council has announced the appointment of entertainment analyst Arnold Asamoah-Baidoo as the Chairman of the Board for the upcoming fifth edition of the Ghana Music Awards – USA.
In a statement, the Council also unveiled the names of other Board Members for the event slated for August 17, 2024. Among them are David Kyei (Kaywa), Kwame Micky, Halifax Ansah-Addo, Frank Kwabena Owusu (Franky 5), Whitney Boakye Mensah, Mike Tamakloe, Emmanuel Kusi Mensah, Nathan Pryce, Joshua Tigo, and Dennis K. Boafo. Jeeje Hagan will serve as the Secretary to the Board.
Additional appointments to the GMA-USA team include Nana Poku Ashis as the Communications Director, Papa Bills as the Country Representative, and Eugene Osafo Nkansah as the official blogger for the 5th edition.
The board’s responsibilities entail the categorization and nomination process for the awards, with the official announcement of nominees scheduled for April 20, 2024. Nominees for this edition will also receive a ‘Certificate of Nomination’ at a later date to be disclosed.
Below is the full list of the members of the Board:
Arnold Asamoah-Baidoo (Board Chairman)
Mike Tamakloe (CEO of MustBeFiveRadio USA)
Mr Joshua Tigo (Programmes Director Adom FM Ghana)
Mr David Kyei (Kaywa – Renowned Music Producer)
Frank Kwabena Owusu (Franky5 – Astute Media Personality and Broadcaster Ghana)
The discourse surrounding LGBTQ+ will only subside when individuals cease engaging in it; until then, it will remain a prevalent topic of conversation.
Arnold Asamoah-Baidoo, an entertainment journalist, recently joined the discussion on the December 23 episode of United Showbiz, a UTV entertainment program.
Expressing his views on LGBTQ+, he emphasized that while it is a personal choice, individuals should be mindful of the potential consequences associated with such practices.
In support of his stance, Arnold Asamoah-Baidoo referenced biblical teachings during the discussion.
“If LGBTQ+ is the path you have chosen to follow and would be practicing it in your closet, that is up to you. You face your repercussions alone. The point is, because I am a Bible-believing person, they should know the repercussions that come out of this practice are devastating.”
“…In Genesis, when the angels visited Lot, the Bible says all the men in the town rushed to Lot’s house to sleep with the angels. Lot begged to trade the angels with his daughters but they refused. In the end, God made the men blind. That is how critical the repercussions will be for these people”, he explained.
The entertainment analyst discussed how these groups are attempting to force their beliefs on unbelievers by incorporating gay themes into cartoons, TV shows, and motion pictures.
“The most disturbing thing going on is the level of cohesion and how they are trying to infiltrate it in our systems. If you have observed this, in the last couple of years, the movie series that has been released has a gay scene in it.
Even with the cartoons our kids watch, they are trying to inculcate the scene in it. It is very disturbing. Like I said, it’s a personal choice but the children should be considered in terms of the content. They should know the repercussions that come out of this practice is devastating”, he said.
Entertainment pundit Arnold Asamoah-Baidoo has expressed disappointment with individuals who dismissed Sonnie Badu’s accident as a publicity stunt.
Badu shared images on social media revealing injuries sustained a few days before his Rhythms of Africa concert in Accra.
Some netizens suggested the accident was a publicity stunt, but Arnold, part of Sonnie Badu’s team, understands the scepticism, acknowledging that such incidents are often perceived as hype. Speaking on UTV’s United Showbiz, Arnold emphasised that Ghanaians are accustomed to treating such situations with scepticism.
“Before Sonnie was about to start his show, people said he had faked his injury and that before the event, he had crutches and at the event, he put away the crutches and then after, went back for it. He is fake, his injury is fake and he only wants hype. I don’t begrudge all those who said that.
“Maybe if I were on the other side, I would say that it’s true because a couple of days before your event, like a week, you claim you have an injury, you’ve had surgery and you are using crutches.”
“Probably it’s a stunt. And I will say that because in Ghana, more often than not, a lot of things are perceived to be stunts. Do you remember Wendy Shay having a similar experience when she came here? So our mindset is such that anything that happens, the first thing we think or say is that it’s a stunt and hype. It’s fine because hype is part of the industry. But all those who said that are ignorant and that’s not an insult,” he said.
Arnold added that Sonnie Badu had initially assured the public of his readiness for the show despite the accident. The musician had mentioned that doctors informed him they would provide medications to alleviate the pain on the event day.
Arnold drew parallels with sports, where athletes receive medical treatment for injuries during crucial games.
He emphasised that if such measures are acceptable in sports, Sonnie Badu’s incident and his ability to perform seamlessly on the concert night should not raise eyebrows or prompt doubts.
Entertainment critic Arnold Asamoah-Baidoo has expressed his opinion that the Dancehall artiste, Shatta Wale, is worth more than the £80,000 performance fee that has stirred up controversy in the media.
According to Asamoah-Baidoo, Shatta Wale commands a higher fee for his performances, and the £80,000 amount that some individuals in the creative arts industry have questioned is not an excessive sum considering the fees he typically receives for event appearances. He mentioned that his investigations have revealed that Shatta Wale was previously paid $120,000 for a performance at an event organized by Wilderland, which indicates that the £80,000 is well within the financial scope of Shatta Wale’s brand as a musician in Ghana.
Arnold Asamoah-Baidoo, speaking as a panelist during the United Showbiz program on United Television (UTV), emphasized that Shatta Wale’s prominent position in the music industry far surpasses any doubts about his ability to command a fee of £80,000.
“Shatta Wale is worth more than 80,000 pounds. We were in Ghana and Shatta Wale came to tell us that for Back-to-back-to-back shows; Afro Nation, and Cardi B concert, he charged $100,000 and charged $120,000 for Wilderland. In fact, initially, I was doubting just like anybody else would but after consulting some of the organizers, especially for Wilderland, it came out that he indeed took $120,000,” he said..
He further stated “So with Shatta Wale as a brand and with all the longevity, relevance, and dominance over the years, he is worth more than 80,000 pounds. Considering somebody who has charged more than $100,000 for three shows, he is worth more than the amount he quoted, so let’s establish that fact.”
Arnold Asamoah-Baidoo’s statement came in response to Kwasi Aboagye, who had expressed skepticism regarding Shatta Wale’s claim that he was paid £80,000 for his performance at the Ghana Music Awards UK 2023. Shatta Wale had initially made this assertion in a Twitter post where he thanked the event organizers and fans for their support and boasted about being compensated with such a substantial amount for his performance.
The controversy surrounding the fee led to discussions on television, where Asamoah-Baidoo shared his perspective on Shatta Wale’s worth as a performer.
In what seemed like a jab at event organizers in Ghana, Shatta said: “Thank you, London, #GMAUK You did what Ghana music in Ghana couldn’t do 80k pounds for performance Artiste of the year 2023 (Icing on the cake) Shatta Wale is a London boy now !!!”
But Kwasi Aboagye insisted that Shatta’s statements were mere lies.
The popular broadcaster said on his Peace FM Entertainment Review that it is impossible for the organizers to pay him such an amount after incurring other huge costs for his trip.
He said the organizers would not be able to afford such an amount after incurring visa expenses, first flight tickets, accommodation, and others for him and his team.
“Shatta Wale said he was paid 80,000 pounds as a performance fee and the ultimate ‘Artiste of the Year’ award. He was never paid 80,000 pounds for his performance. It is a huge lie! Do the organizers even have that 80,000 pounds to give Shatta Wale? He is lying.
“It is never true. 80,000 pounds. You were given a heroic welcome at the airport, given a royalty treat. You, your girlfriend, and your entire team were given visas. You guys flew first class. I am not sure you were even given 10,000 pounds.
“The organizers cannot speak on it but listeners, I want you to know that it is not true. They cannot give him that kind of money. Which Ghanaian living in the UK, Which promoter can give that amount?” he retorted.
In response to Kwasi Aboagye’s skepticism and comments, Shatta Wale launched a strong and critical attack on both Kwasi Aboagye and the owners of Despite Media, the company employing the radio presenter. Despite the attack, Kwasi Aboagye remained undeterred in his position, asserting that Shatta Wale’s claim of being paid such a substantial amount for his performance was indeed false. This exchange of words and differing opinions added to the ongoing controversy surrounding Shatta Wale’s performance fee.
Entertainment pundit Arnold Asamoah-Baidoo has debunked Blakk Rasta’s narrative suggesting that the celebration of MOGmusic’s admission to the Grammy Academy is mediocre. Asamoah-Baidoo argued that the occasion calls for celebration since it represents a significant accomplishment.
MOGmusic became the first Ghanaian gospel musician to become a member of the Recording Academy of the Grammy Awards following an announcement on June 27, 2023.
Reacting to the news, many netizens took to their social media platforms to celebrate the musician on achieving this great feat.
But media personality Blakk Rasta on United Showbiz described the achievement by MOG as mediocre. According to him, joining the Grammy Academy does not call for a celebration.
You’ve joined the academy so what? We want the industry to grow and I know they are encouraging Jamaicans to join the academy. It’s no achievement that you now have voting rights. It could be an achievement in some sense.”
“Ghana celebrates a lot of mediocrity and it hurts me very much,” Blakk Rasta said.
However, battling this assertion, Arnold said on United Showbiz said: “It is a big achievement for MOG as an artiste and our industry. How do we grow? Don’t we sow before it germinates?”
“In the Grammy conversation, to be close to the Grammys, one of the things is to get closer to the academy. I have done proper PR for Blakk Rasta when he was lecturing in the US but nobody said it was mediocre because you’re not the only person to have lectured abroad.
“Do not negate PR. I sharply disagree when you say it’s mediocrity. What MOG is going to do apart from voting, the most important thing he’s going to be doing is considering our music to the board. How do you call this mediocrity?” Arnold added.
In a strong statement, showbiz personality Arnold Asamoah-Baidoo vehemently criticized the perception that entertainment pundits have nothing valuable to do with their lives, labeling it as both stupid and absurd.
This comes at the back of netizens claiming that entertainment pundits have nothing to do with their lives.
Reacting to such comments, the showbiz critic contends that, like representatives of any other reputable profession, entertainment pundits are resource people who are invited to appear on radio and television based on their knowledge and qualifications.
“Those saying that entertainment pundits have nothing better doing with their lives so they just go sit and express their opinion have low IQ. It’s like saying that the seasoned sports pundits who sit on radio or TV to discuss issues relating to sports have nothing better doing with their lives.
“It’s just like when resource persons and political pundits sit on radio and TV to discuss political issues then you say they have nothing better doing. If entertainment pundits are invited for a show based on their experience and the kind of work they do and you say they have nothing better doing what kind of stupidity is that,” he fumed in an interview with Amansan Krakye.
Additionally, Arnold Asamoah-Baidoo emphasized that every profession, including entertainment pundits, has a significant role to play in contributing to important matters within the country. He highlighted the importance of recognizing and respecting the contributions made by individuals in various professions towards the betterment of society.
“What they fail to realize is that in the ecosystem that we find ourselves, everyone has got their part that they play and we don’t sit there as empty heads,” he added.
Arnold Asamoah-Baidoo, a Ghanaian showbiz critic, has openly expressed his opinion following the announcement of the Grammy Awards’ introduction of a new category called ‘Best African Music Performance.’
The entertainment pundit told Amansan Krakye in an interview that Ghana seems to be the only African country mostly excited after the announcement.
He said on Property FM in Cape Coast that it appears Nigerians were enthused about the development because they were already winning big in the international market.
“When you research a bit after Grammys announced their new African category it seems out of all the African countries, Ghana is the only country so happy about it.
“The Nigerians don’t really care because without this category they were winning the Grammys and were getting nominations same applies to other African countries,” he added seen by MyNewsGh.com
Arnold further explained, “Benin wouldn’t care about this category because over the years Angelique Kidjo has been winning and also in South Africa they won’t be too excited about the category because their artistes have been winning a lot of Grammys.
“Ghana seems to be the only African country overexcited about this new Grammys category and it’s understandable because we’ve not been able to win the Grammys after 65 years of its existence,” he justified on the show.
An entertainment analyst, Arnold Asamoah-Baidoo, as well as other professionals in the field have criticized the Ghanaian gospel musician, Broda Sammy for a recent promotional video he released ahead of his album.
The musician implored heavily endowed women to twerk in a video aimed at inviting people to his upcoming gospel event, which has led to widespread condemnation.
In response to the backlash,Broda Sammy defended his actions, stating that it was a way of winning souls to Christ rather than leading them to temptation.
However, Arnold Asamoah Baidoo has criticized the stunt, stating that it is not in line with the teachings of Christ and should not be entertained.
“I’ve never seen anything like this before in all my years growing up in the church. This is a gentleman inviting multitudes to the church through evangelism and this is how he goes about it??,” he quizzed
Asamaoh-Baidoo during a discussion on UTV’s showbiz night held no prisoners as he descended on the Gospel singer for his debased actions.
“This is madness, this is silly and he has the effrontery to defend this. If we were in the old days when God wasn’t so forgiven, he’d be cleared off easily because you cannot do this in the house of the Lord. It is abominable,” said Baidoo
Arnold was of the view that Broda Sammy’s notoriety over the years has been allowed to continue because he’s not faced any consequences for his actions by religious leaders and musical bodies.
“I’ve been waiting for people in the Lord to condemn his actions after seeing the video because we’ve remained quiet and he thinks it’s okay to misbehave,” he pointed out
He was also full of praise for industry colleagues, Piesie Esther and Tagoes sisters who also expressed their disappointment with Broda Sammy’s actions, and described it as a blight to the body of Christ.
The incident has sparked a conversation around appropriate promotional tactics for gospel events and the need for musicians to stay true to their message, with many critics calling for greater responsibility and accountability from artists.
Ghanaian broadcaster, Nana Aba Anamoah was among the few personalities who rose to the defense of Nigerian singer Wizkid when he failed to show up at his concert at the Accra Sports Stadium on December 10.
Nana Aba in a series of tweets blamed Live Hub, organizers of ‘Wizkid Live in Ghana’ which has now been described as a flopped event.
In a tweet dated December 11, she wrote: “Wizkid is a huge star. He has standards for his concerts. If you can’t meet those standards, forget. I feel bad for all the fans that turned up. The organisers failed you.”
Entertainment journalist, Arnold Asamoah-Baidoo in an article titled ‘The ‘WizkidEvent’ Fiasco: Who Is To Blame?’ condemned Nana Aba Anamoah’s unbiased defense of the Nigerian Afrobeat musician.
According to Arnold, the broadcaster’s statement was disappointing considering her expertise as a media executive who has equally organized events in Ghana.
Terming persons who rose to the defense of Wizkid as cheerleaders, Arnold added that the narrative could have been different should it have been a Ghanaian artiste who stood up fans at the Accra Sports Stadium on that faithful Saturday.
Read parts of Arnold’s article below:
Here Comes the Cheerleaders
Led by Media Executive and broadcast journalist, Nana Aba Anamoah, there were a few personalities who refused to blame Wizkid for such an eventuality and were quick to lay all blame on the organizers. Incredulously, the likes of Ms. Anamoah are also event planners and command that knowledge and comprehension in what goes into putting events together.
The blatant disregard for patrons and the speed to lay all blame on Live Hub, especially from a personality like Ms. Anamoah was disappointing. With such influence and respect, she could have done better.
If it were a Ghanaian artiste who was involved in such a debacle, these cheerleaders would not have even remembered the names of the event planners, but for Wizkid, they are quick to yelp and point out who the event planners are and offer unwanted explanations on exactly what ought should have been.
The likes of Ms. Anamoah, who are Media Executives, need to give more respect to these planners and when something goes awry, it is only germane for such people to exercise restraint in offering analysis and judgment. It is these same events people that offer businesses to the likes of Nana Aba and other media houses.
Ghanaian entertainment critic, Arnold Asamoah-Baidoo, has asserted that it is about time artistes and event organizers accord mutual respect to one another to avert disagreements during events.
His comments come at the back of a viral video which captured Shatta Wale apologizing to the main sponsor of the Hogbetsotso show where he failed to perform over contractual breaches.
Speaking on the United Showbiz Show on UTV, Arnold explained that the reason for the consistent cases of Shatta Wale failing to perform at billed events is because there is a seeming lack of mutual respect between creatives and organizers in Ghana.
“We need to appreciate Shatta Wale for apologizing. However, the most important thing we need to consider is respect. I think moving forward, there must be some level of mutual respect between artistes and event organizers”, he said.
According to Arnold, artistes need to recognize the fact that through performances, they accrue some percentage of their revenues. Thus, it is important to build a good relationship with their partners who are the event organizers. He also encouraged event organizers to return same level of respect.
“The artists must realize that event organizers are bringing them business. Because sometimes the artist feel take event organizers for granted. One of the revenue generation point for every entertainer is gigs/performances. And the person who brings the gigs are the event organizers, thus there is a need to respect them,” he added.
“Event organizers must also respect artists because with no artists, there is no show. Therefore during contract signings, there is a need to respect the brand of the artiste,” he ended
Controversial Ghanaian entertainment critic, Arnold Asamoah-Baidoo, believes Shatta Wale has no authority to pass comments about the international appeal of his colleague musicians.
Speaking on Peace FM’s entertainment news review show, Arnold said that barring the Beyonce feature, Shatta Wale had no internal presence.
“If not for Beyonce, Shatta Wale virtually had no international presence. Shatta Wale himself alluded to the fact that he was a local champion and that he did not care about international appeal” he said.
“So who is Shatta Wale in terms of international presence and appeal to actually question a Sarkodie?” he asked.
He said Shatta Wale appears to carry himself as the gatekeeper of the industry though he has not reached that level yet.
“Sometimes, he (Shatta) makes it seem as if he is Lord. Like he sits on top of that place and then he’s seen it and done it all. So he has the opportunity to say that I can easily advise Sarkodie, I can easily advise Kelvyn Boy”, he explained.
Arnold’s comments come on the back of an interview where Shatta Wale said that rapper Sarkodie failed to take advantage of his relationship with record producer Akon to boost his career.
In the said interview, Shatta Wale explained that despite the amount of investment Sarkodie has made in his music and brand, the rapper’s career is still nothing to write home about.
Entertainment journalist Arnold Asamoah-Baidoo has expressed disappointment in the way musician Shatta Waleconducted himself in his recent interview on Metro TV’s Good Evening Ghana programme.
“My general assessment of the interview will be brief on your show because I’d like to save some points for another show,” Arnold told Ola Michael on Accra-based Peace FM before he stated this: “I believe Wale should sit up.”
“I say this from a good place,” he clarified.
Bringing up Thursday’s ‘Good Evening Ghana’ interview, Arnold made the observation that the host of the television programme, Paul Adom Otchere, had “told [Shatta Wale] he’s an industry leader, frontrunner” and he protested it “but the fact is, he is.”
“He is one of our leading figures who when he speaks people stand still to listen. Maybe he is in denial or he’s not being truthful to himself but he’s one of our leading figures, one of our leading artistes, one of our leading entertainers,” the creative arts pundit stressed.
“This is why when he gets an opportunity on such platforms, for me, I’d like to tell him to take it seriously,” he advised.
Mr Asamoah-Baidoo is of the opinion the reggae/dancehall star “tends to engage in too much comedy” and as a result, it has been difficult to outline his views on issues regarding “Ghana Music Rights Organization (GHAMRO) and other stuff” from his Ghana Evening Ghana interview.
A media consultant, Arnold bemoaned that the ‘On God’ hitmaker missed an opportunity to “sell himself and the [creative] industry in a very good way” on a flagship political programme which seldom invites entertainers as guests.
“If we have issues, critical issues, address them in a way that if the President watches and hears, he will sit up,” he challenged.
Arnold highlighted Shatta Wale’s following and influence and emphasised, “because of this, when he gets such a platform, his communication and how he addresses issues is very critical.”
“But if you go and sit there and by the end of the show, it is GHS40, Okraku-Mantey and so on and so forth generating the trends, you have failed. It means you actually went to do comedy,” the entertainment journalist admonished.
“This is an advice to him, when you get platforms such as this, go with your A game so that by the end of the show, you feel that you’ve made an impact and inspired change,” Arnold encouraged.
Arnold, an award-winning entertainment pundit, also made an observation that conversations that have followed the ‘Good Evening Ghana’ interview have mostly been about the comic posture and prowess of the Shatta Movement (SM) boss.
For instance, “Shatta Wale is a comedian. Shatta Wale is funny. And aside everything else, the guy is a comedian. Shatta has to do standup comedy,” he cited.
“Come on. Come on, man!” Arnold concluded with a show of frustration.
In the midst of a rigorous fight with the media, particularly entertainment pundits and radio presenters, Shatta Wale is to set up his own online radio platform.
Named ‘SM Radio’ with the slogan ‘Music 4 life’, the platform, which is yet to be launched, intends to serve as a medium for pushing his craft.
On Thursday September 22, 2022, the dancehall artiste shared the station’s artwork and transmission link via his social media platforms.
He made the announcement while urging his fans to visit the platform and enjoy his songs.
Although Shatta Wale made his intention of opening a radio station known to the public sometime in 2015 during an interview with Hitz FM’s Dr. Pounds, this is the closest he has gone towards achieving that dream.
It also appears the right timing because of his constant feuds with the Ghanaian media which have heightened in recent times.
Shatta Wale and the Ghanaian media
Shatta Wale has had a strong and lasting conviction that the Ghanaian media does not support artistes like him, who are representatives of the country on the global front, through music.
He has consistently accused the Ghanaian media of only purporting a negative agenda and projecting the wrong image of artistes in the country.
However, the dancehall artiste has also come under scrutiny several times for not pulling his weight as he should.
A couple of journalists and pundits, including Arnold Asamoah Baidoo, Blakk Rasta, and Sally Mann, have labeled him a ‘local champion’, an inconsistent and confused artiste, among others.
In an effort to critique certain celebrities, certain radio hosts and entertainment experts have recently come under fire from the public for “verbally abusing” those individuals.
They were accused of being overly sentimental due to their word choice and the apparent sarcasm with which these experts presented their thoughts.
A portion of the public also thinks that they haven’t done their homework when it comes to investigating and presenting facts about subjects.
Recently, some of these radio hosts and entertainment commentators have not been kind to artists like Shatta Wale and Sarkodie.
In the case of Shatta Wale, he has faced constant criticisms by a popular outspoken pundit, Sally Mann, who labeled him a local champion, an inconsistent, and a confused artiste.
Sarkodie wasn’t also spared by the likes of DJ slim, Socrate Safo, and others for stating that radio presenters who haven’t attained the trajectory of working with the BBC have no moral right to criticize his works or question his growth.
However, analyzing all these, Andy Dosty thinks that his colleagues need to remain absolutely professional when carrying out their duties.
While admitting that some pundits or journalists overreact in delivering their judgments, the ‘Daybreak Hitz’ host in an interview with Graphic Showbiz said;
“Radio presenters have always had their opinions on topics just as Graphic Showbiz has columnists who share their opinions on issues but I admit that sometimes, we overdo it. The question I want to ask is concerning those criticizing, are they doing it wrongly or are they being objective?
“As long as we are objective in our criticisms, I don’t have any problem with that but if not, then we are obviously not doing the right thing and we are not being professional. We must strive to be objective at all times. Radio presenters have their say, they have an opinion just like editorials but if they have to say something they must say it well and also be objective.
Otherwise it is like saying that Kwaku Sakyi-Addo or Francis Doku or Arnold Asamoah-Baidoo shouldn’t have an opinion, there must be such people who come out to share their opinions.”
Veteran Ghanaian actress and television personality, Nana Ama McBrown, has refuted claims that she has gone under the knife for Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) surgery.
According to the actress, although she has gone in for liposuction, she did not opt for a butt lift.
Answering a question posed to her by popular entertainment pundit, Arnold Asamoah-Baidoo, on if she has gone for a butt lift, the celebrated actress explained that although a lot of people have been dragging her name for going in for a butt enhancement, she has never done that before and does not intend to do that at the moment.
“I have not done my bums, and at the moment I do not intend to do so,†Nana
Ama McBrown made this known on Saturday, August 6 edition of the United Showbiz Show.
The actress, however, confirmed that she has gone in for liposuction, a technique in cosmetic surgery for removing excess fat from under the skin by suction.
She went ahead to advise and caution women, especially against going in for body-enhancing procedures such as liposuction.
She said, “It is true, I have done liposuction. However, I would never advise any woman to go in for liposuction surgery.â€
Touching on why she went in for liposuction, Nana Ama McBrown revealed that after childbirth, she exercised to trim her tummy but all her efforts proved futile.
It was as a result that she went in for the tummy procedure.
Entertainment Analyst, Arnold Asamoah Baidoo is calling on songstress Mzbel to spill the beans over her encounter with Prophet Nigel Gaisie, founder and leader of True Word Prophetic Fire Ministries; no matter how bitter the truth may sound.
Speaking on Peace FM’s ‘Entertainment Review’, Arnold Asamoah expressed disappointment in the loud and maverick singer for keeping mute over the issue; stressing her silence will embolden the Prophet to victimize other innocent people.
Prophet Nigel Gaisie has recently ended up in the bad records of Assin Central Member of Parliament, Kennedy Agyapong who accuses the Prophet of using dubious means to exploit his church members and other people who believe in his ministry.
Hon. Kennedy Agyapong, speaking on NET 2 in Accra last week, recounted some evil dealings which are clandestinely done by Prophet Nigel Gaisie to gain clout over his victims.
He also revealed that the Prophet has engaged in sexcapades with some prominent ladies in the country and added he raped Mzbel.
“She tried to come out but they prevented her. I’ve spoken to her. He raped her. Yes, he raped her!” he exclaimed.
Responding to the issues in an interview on Peace FM, Mzbel refused to set the records straight on the rape case.
But Arnold Asamoah, unhappy with Mzbel’s low tone on exposing the Prophet, stressed she is building a defense wall for the Prophet and aiding him to continue his alleged diabolic activities.
”Assuming without admitting that the Prophet indeed did that to her and she claims some elderly people have advised her and so she has to let go, it equally doesn’t help. What it means is that it will embolden the Prophet if indeed, again I am saying assuming without admitting, that’s the real case. If she cannot talk now because of the elders who counseled her or if she was given money to keep mute, you’re only emboldening the Prophet. He will continue to do that because he knows how to shut people up,” he said.
Arnold Asamoah-Baidoo has pounced on Dela Edem after making some comments against Sarkodie.
Dela Edem, a member of the Communication team of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) said Sarkodie had no right to ask Sammy Gyamfi to remove a cartoon mimicking how George Floyd was killed by a United States security officer.
He is also reported to have threatened to burn all CDs from Sarkodie because he only records song to favour the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
The entertainment pundit who was seething with anger did not understand why a party communicator would be so ‘intolerant’ to think of burning someone’s CDs.
“Dela Edem did not say anything sensible…he’s confused; he needs to upgrade his level of thinking. the most annoying thing is; he said he will burn his CDs; where is the tolerance in this? These are people who were voted for to lead; foolish and unwise to say he will throw away his CDs” Arnold said on Entertainment Review programme on Peace FM.
Entertainment Pundit, Arnold Asamoah Baidoo says Captan, a member of the Shatta Movement (SM) militants, is a ”big sellout” and has cautioned Shatta Wale to watch his back.
Arnold Baidoo slammed the militant who appears to be the last soldier standing in the camp of Shatta Wale following a revealing report by the dancehall artiste regarding why he sacked the militants but retained Captan.
Shatta Wale recently took to his online platforms to announce that the militants are no more a part of the family because of their insubordinate attitude towards him.
He further revealed in an exclusive interview on Peace FM’s Saturday edition of ”Entertainment Review” that the militants were plotting evil against him, but for Captan who gave him a tipoff, they might have succeeded in whatever bad thing they wanted to do.
According to him, Addi Self, Joint 77 and Captan including Natty Lee had all met behind him and made a decision to badmouth him in order to spoil his reputation and music career.
Shatta Wale further detailed that although Captan was part of the militants’ plot, he (Captan) suddenly had a repentant heart and divulged their plot to him (Shatta Wale) who later set up a meeting with all the militants and sacked them but allowed Captan alone to remain with him.
In the eyes of Shatta Wale, Captan’s confession meant he is a loyal militant but Arnold Asamoah Baidoo thinks otherwise.
Arnold Baidoo, who was a panel member on the programme, stated that for Captan to have joined the militants’ secret meeting and not said it to their faces that he won’t be part of the revolt but to nicodemously snitch on his fellow militants means he won’t hesitate to stab Shatta Wale in the back.
He therefore admonished Shatta Wale to be very careful of Captan insisting ”he’s a big snitch. He’s a big sellout. He no force; he no try…Shatta should watch Captan very well. He is not a true soldier”.
Entertainment Analyst, Arnold Asamoah Baidoo has expressed deep resentments over the conduct of Ghanaian music sensation, Eshun, who has recently set social media into a frenzy over revelations regarding her ex-manager, Stephen Mensah.
Singer Eshun’s Instagram and other social media accounts have been seized by her ex-manager following their bitter separation and after estranging her manager, she granted an interview with Zionfelix disclosing how her ex-manager abused her.
According to the budding artiste, she never signed a contract with Stephen Mensah who managed and projected her music career in the past.
Explaining why there was no contractual agreement, she revealed her ex-manager who later became her boyfriend came with a promise to marry her and supported her career because they were in a romantic relationship.
The singer also happilly disclosed she cheated twice on her ex-manager in their love affair but didn’t provide reasons why she decided to have sexual relations outside her relationship.
She further added that her ex-manager cum boyfriend was brutally abusive towards her.
These revelations by Eshun are however contrary to her previous interviews with the media where she had denied any amorous relationship with Stephen Mensah and also stated she had signed a five-year contract with him.
Juxtaposing the inconsistent statements made by Eshun, Arnold Asamoah Baidoo concludes the singer is an absolute liar and very deceitful.
To him, for Eshun to have earlier told Ghanaians and her fans that she had a contract and a professional relationship with her ex-manager and today make a U-turn to retract all her claims shows she’s not trustworthy.
Arnold, speaking on ‘Entertainment Review’ on Peace FM, was extremely disppointed in the character and brand of Eshun, and demanded an apology from her.
“She lied to all of us a year ago that nothing of that sort was going on. You sat on a public radio, a public domain and medium and lied to us, that makes you a liar. What proves that all those revelations about the abuse were not also lies because you have a track record? A year ago, you denied being in a relationship but even if that’s the case now, why didn’t she apologize to Ghanaians?
“it could be what she is saying is true although I have my doubts because of her track record of lying to us…However, these are my takeaways from the interview she granted; 1. Her credibility has been heavily hit because of how she’s lied over the period. 2. I find it weird with how she was gutsy enough to come out and declare that she cheated twice on her boyfriend. I was like this girl is bold. I’m saying this because of our culture and terrain, and how people look at you. Because she is young; she’s a budding artiste…Again, I find it quite weird that was this done because of a certain song you want to promote? If you check the chronology of what is happening, for me, I don’t think it sits right with me seriously,†he stated.
Entertainment critic, Arnold Asamoah-Baidoo has berated songstress Sista Afia after she took to Twitter to blast Ghanaians.
The singer, who felt her new single featuring budding Afro Dancehall musician, Akyiana deserves the same attention her diss songs (“WMT, U Got Nerveâ€) received in a tweet described Ghanaians as hypocrites.
The tweet caused entertainment critic Arnold Asamoah-Baidoo to also take to his Facebook wall and enumerate a few points as to why Ghanaians are not hyping her new single “Streetâ€, which are actually far from her thinking.
In the post sighted, Arnold mentioned the four things below
“We no dey make noise cos you should have channeled that frustration into making another diss song instead of wanting to make it physical
!We no dey make noise cos clearly, you show say you no dey understand the music business.Your mind querrr!
We no dey make noise, cos you lost some neutrals and some core fans too!
We no make noise cos you lost some street credibility!
Sista Afia’s tweet:
As I drop correct song wey no be diss, nobody dey make noise about am. Make I drop some hardcore rap riiiight now, u ppl go dey my time line top dey talk plenty. U do like u no dey like the way I dey beef but deep down u dey enjoy am pass 2pac and Biggie own #Street
— #STREET OUT NOW 💕QUEENSOLOMON (@sista_afia) May 19, 2020
Entertainment Analyst, Arnold Asamoah-Baidoo has cautioned controversial artiste manager and pundit, Lawrence Nana Asiamah Hanson known in showbiz circles as Bulldog, to tone down his character and stop acting being rowdy.
According to Arnold, Bulldog portrays himself as a troublemaker but character-wise, is a person with a soft heart and nothing close to having a violent persona.
Arnold Baidoo was reacting to some recent comments by Bulldog that he would have destroyed the studios of Accra FM if he had suffered a similar fate as Kidi.
Kidi was ‘sacked’ by Accra FM’s Presenter, Nana Romeo, for turning up on his show late. The Presenter, who was unenthused about the musician’s attitude, scolded him on the programme and refused to grant him an interview aimed at promoting his ‘Blue’ EP.
Bulldog, addressing the issue, castigated the Presenter for subjecting Kidi to such embarrassment since it undermines the musician’s brand.
He added that he would have vandalized the Accra FM studios if he were in the shoes of Kidi.
But Arnold Baidoo, in calling the bluff of Bulldog, wondering why he wants Ghanaians to think he has the ‘balls’ to engage in any such savage act.
“I don’t know why Bull sometimes wants to project a violent persona. I don’t know why he does that because knowing Bull, he’s very soft. I mean he’s a lovable person . . . When you’re interacting with Bulldog, he’s loud and so may perceive him to be violent and then his commentary is always trying to project a violent nature. I am worried because that’s not who he is,” he told host Kwesi Aboagye on Peace FM’s ‘Entertainment Review’ programme.
He also condemned Bulldog over his vandalism comments saying the laws of Ghana frowns on it and “Bulldog is not above the laws”.
