The Dome`s Come Back Undecided

A close source to the management of the Dome located at the Accra International Conference Center, has told Flex newspaper that the Dome is gone forever.

According to our source, management of the Dome shall not bring back the Dome because it does not generate profit; contrary to the general believe that it does. Also, they shall not bring the Dome back because maintaining it comes with a huge cost compared to the revenue it generates; thereby making it more of a liability than a viable asset.

Our source stated “expect the Dome no more!” Though our source sounded very sure of his information, Flex newspaper contacted the Project Manager of the Dome, Mr. Fennec Otchere for clarity. “Well, please don't give such rumours attention. Whether the Dome will come back or not, let's wait and see”.
   

“If it will come back, time will tell, if not, time will tell. I cannot give you any exact clarity on this story.  Remember I work in a corporate body so I can't just give you my opinion. At the right time, we shall release a press statement concerning the Dome.”
  

After some months of closing down the Dome, the crew of GH One TV's 'The Pundit' went to the Dome with their cameras to film the supposed new state of the Dome. Unfortunately, absolutely no repair works had been done to the building.
   

They did not find workers on site. Their footage revealed the old Dome we've all visited all these years. They did not have the privilege of speaking with any management member as at the time they went and left the place.
  

Flex newspaper went to the Dome in December 2013 to also inspect the place. After our inspection of the entire place, it was obvious no repair works had been done to the Dome. We could not find any management member to speak to as well.
 

“The Dome was closed down for renovation for improved sitting style, sound system and security detail. The venue should be ready by December 2013” said Mr. Fennec Otchere on Peace FM's Entertainment Review show one Saturday last year.
  

The closure of the Dome was announced some few days after The Weekend Globe newspaper reported of a looming disaster of the Dome if its conditions weren't appraised for onward renovation. Mr. Otchere however repudiated remarks that sought to create the impression that their closure of the Dome was precipitated by the said newspaper's report.
  

The Dome was built temporarily for the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD XII) in 2008. It was supposed to have been demolished after the conference but some private individuals showed interest in its management. We should all wait and see if it will come back or not, as advised by Mr. Fennec Otchere.                                                                                                                                                                          By Elvis Rancey Baidoo

"Stop Accusing Arts-Politicians" – Hon Fritz Baffour

Honourable Fritz Baffour has cautioned people in showbiz to stop accusing him and others – arts politicians for not supporting the creative arts industry.

Some people in Ghana's creative arts industry sometimes get the privilege of entering into politics for what we often term as public service. These art-politicians are often lambasted by players in the showbiz industry for not lobbying, advocating or supporting their first love – creative arts, when they get into political leadership. One person whose name always comes under such criticisms is Honorable Fritz Baffour. 

  

To get the side of our arts turned politicians or art-politicians, Flex newspaper had an exclusive interview with Honorable Fritz Baffour. 'Honorable I'm not recording you so please feel free and share; there will be no 'Fritz-leaks.' Honorable Baffour burst into laughter slap happily!
   

Flex newspaper asked Honorable Baffour if he has heard such criticisms against him and other art-politicians before. “Of course I have! I once remember listening to radio and hearing Kwabena Kwabena accusing me of not doing anything for the creative arts industry after entering into politics.”
   

What has honorable Fritz Baffour done for the creative industry ever since you got into active politics? Flex newspaper asked. “Well, for your information I've always been in active politics since my youthful days. Fact is, I've done a lot for the creative arts industry all my life because I am an artiste and will forever be.
   

“Most of the things I do are behind the scenes so maybe you don't get to see. Some too I do through committees in parliament. I can't just wake up in open parliament and start talking for the creative arts industry! There are mechanisms, committees and other avenues for pushing the agendas of the arts industry in parliament!”
 

What have you done for the creative art industry? Flex newspaper emphasized. “A lot! I am the chairman of the Museums and Monuments Board; I am a member of GAG – Ghana Actors Guild; I've supported the National Theatre in many ways; I supported the organization of the late Omar Hunter's funeral; I've been lobbying the World Bank to give funds for the creative arts industry.
 

“I've been advising some artistes, for instance, I've given people like KSM, Funny Face and others advice on comedy; I write and coach young writers on how to write; I just finished shooting a movie without charging a dime; I once hosted the Fritz and Friends, a lot!”
   

Your final words, “I will advise those who criticize art-politicians to stop doing so. We go there (politics) to push the interest of the arts but they are behind the scene works.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          By Elvis R Baidoo

Collaboration Of Movie Stars Is For Business

Venus Films boss Abdul Salam Mumuni has set the records straight when he told Flexy on ETV`s Talkshowbiz that the collaboration between English movie makers aka glamour and Akan film makers aka Kumawood is purely to boost sales of movies on the market.

Though Abdul Salam Mumuni himself has denied it on several occasions that the glamour movies in the country were not selling, he could not hide the facts anymore when he was stretched beyond limits for his decision of putting together Kojo Nkansah Lilwyn and Jackie Appiah in one movie which seems to be the trend in the country as much as movie making is concerned. Read his response on the show.

    

“Now we have realized that the movie market does not support most of the glamour movies but the Akan people are still selling like hot cake. Because of that as a business person, I want to cut losses, so I thought it wise to combine Kojo Nkansah Lilwyn and Jackie Appiah to increase my sales. There is no other reason why we have decided to do that, but it is purely on business grounds” Abdul Salam said hurriedly whilst rushing to continue shooting on set.
    

If readers would recall, the subject of Akan movie makers feeling ostracized has come under strong criticism as there have been reports that the English film makers always feel superior than their Akan counterparts in the movie industry. It was in the wake of this that some Akan movie people decided to boycott the Ghana Movie Awards when they realized that their independent categories had been merged to their disadvantage at the just ended Ghana Movie Awards.
  

Based on this assertion, a non-harmful statement made by colleague actor Ecow- Smith Asante nearly sparked fire among actors in this country. Despite everything, it is an undeniable fact that our people in the Akan movie industry are still making more profits therefore their ability to shoot and produce more movies for the market. Out of this market flooding, the Film Producers Association of Ghana -FIPAG issued a directive to limit the number of movies released unto the market to forestall the decline of movie sales.
    

Whether it will work out or not is another story as Flex newspaper is gathering that a series of meetings to make this directive work does not seem to be ending anytime soon. A call to the Public Relations Officer of the Association Ola Michael confirmed this marathon meeting which does not seem to be ending soon.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    By  Elvis R Baidoo

Any Challenger For Blakk Rasta This Year?

The time for awards in this country is near, therefore there is the need to make mention of some individuals whose name are synonymous to awards in the country.

Blakk RastaHitz 103.9fm reggae presenter and musician Blakk Rasta is among such names which are synonymous to awards in Ghana. As much as Flex newspaper is concerned, most awards with anything to do with reggae categories in it has Blakk Rasta on it and mostly he wins hands down almost all the times.  

    

Currently, two awards are very close to us in the months of February (Ghana DJ Awards) and May (Ghana Music Awards) and Blakk Rasta will surely be nominated in if not all, the reggae DJ awards to be specific. Our checks have proven that Blakk Rasta has been nominated again in the Dj Awards and in the Reggae category so there was the need to ask him his strength against his contenders and he gave Flex newspaper the following words.
    

“What I am about to tell you, I have never said it anywhere before. I am always possessed when I am on radio. Because sometimes I play back and listen to myself with surprise on my face that wow, did I really say that?  It is about the energy and the passion at which I use to work. Reggae on radio is all about creativity and the passion to change society. Anytime I am selecting  music on my show, I pay attention to the down trodden and I make sure I listen to the songs first before airing them. I therefore know the impact of the songs I play on the society as well as my strength of being a good story teller” Blakk Rasta told Flex newspaper.
   

He continued “do you know that when I am on radio I don't answer my calls, I don't do Facebook and any other thing? My boss, my friends or staff members can come to the studio and yet I will not recognize them. My eyes are always closed in the studio and I hardly even sit during my presentation. The long and short of it is that I am always possessed when on radio. Despite everything, I liked Prime I and Culture B sometime ago but now they are all not active again. Currently, I think Fiifi Sellah of Pluzz fm and one Black Binghi in the Volta region are doing so great” he told Flex newspaper.
    

“The difference is that I make commentary on most of the songs I play but my other colleagues do not do that. Yeah I have been nominated and we hoping the awards will go well this year too” he added. Now we are waiting for that bold reggae presenter who will be able to beat Blakk Rasta to it this year in the reggae awards: Any challenger?

Elvis R Baidoo