“Aiteo Group contacted me to do the bookings for the Ghanaian Artistes which they brought their list of Artistes they preferred” Gregory Ankrah, CEO of BookMeWorld Agency told www.233times.net.
The energy company (Aiteo) according to BookMeWorld Agency was specific on the songs they wanted from each Ghanaian Artiste at the awards ceremony. “Efya was contracted to only sing the Ghanaian anthem and Kidi to perform only ‘Odo,’ Shatta Wale to perform three (3) songs; ‘Ayoo,’ ‘Kakai’ and ‘Chop Kiss.’
“They came with their list. So I signed an agreement between myself and Aiteo which was for payment on behalf of every Artiste and I spoke with every Artiste before I negotiated” Mr. Ankrah told www.233times.net.
Shatta Wale’s absence
Mr. Ankrah revealed that “Shatta initially wanted to take $40,000 for the show but I spoke with the management again and I told them the organizers had a budget of $30,000. Now reason why we didn’t sign contract was that there was a verbal agreement which is an agreement as well because the sponsors told me they were going to give me contract to sign with the people but I waited for the organizers’ contract but it didn’t come. They told me to go ahead and do the book so then I went ahead and did the verbal agreement with management of Shatta Wale and they agreed and they took the money.”
“So now the reason why Shatta didn’t perform, to me as an Agent, the line-up was bad and it was supposed to be after every award, one performance but it got to a point I think people wanted to leave and they introduced Wizkid and Tiwa Savage on stage and as soon as they were done with the performance they gave the best player of the year award and when they give the best player of the year that crowns the whole show so everyone started walking away” Mr. Ankrah added.
“The organizers weren’t too professional about things. I paid Shatta. The point is, Shatta was at the venue because let me tel you something an Artiste is being represented by the Manager, now for me to see Shatta’s Manager at the venue at the time that I gave him it means Shatta is around. I don’t need to see Shatta Wale before I say he is there or not. As an Agent, I dealt with the management so to see them there, I can say Shatta was there” BookMeWorld CEO told www.233times.net.
Asking him if he saw Shatta Wale himself there, Mr. Ankrah said “an Artiste is being represented by his Manager so I don’t need to see him there before I say he is there. As far as his Manager is there, I can say he was there”
Author: Nana Kwesi Coomson (www.233times.net) @nkcoomson on Twitter