Derrick Kobina Bonney, known in showbiz as DKB has revealed that the comment almost killed his comedy career.

In April 2017, it was reported by Graphic Showbiz that the former first lady had described the comedian as ‘boring’ when she attended the Easter Comedy Show at the Accra International Conference Centre.

“…an avid patron of concerts and comedy shows, the former First Lady made her way to the exit as soon as the famous Ghanaian comedian mounted the stage, saying to the hearing of other patrons seated close by including this writer [Jayne Buckman-Owoo], ‘don’t mind him; his jokes are not funny.’”

In an exclusive interview with Mikki Osei Berko, host of ‘After Hours’ on TV3, DKB stated that the former first lady’s comments nearly collapsed his comedy career.

According to him, Nana Konadu opened him up to his enemies: “I mean what she said was the most detrimental thing anyone could say to me. She opened me up to my enemies, to mockery and it was this close to my career crashing. I mean it is not encouraging for a high profile person of that sort to pass such a comment. She said she didn’t say it.”

The ‘King of Comedy’ later apologised to Nana Konadu when they met.

“I met her and I apologised for the night. I didn’t really care whether she has to apologise to me or not. My bit was that I am the young man so of course I had to come clean. I apologised to her that if that night she was truly offended by the kind of content I was doing, then I am sorry. It was the lowest of my career. I lost a lot of shows because of the comment,” he said.

That notwithstanding, ace satirist Kwaku Sintim-Misa took to social media few days after the said incident to intimate that DKB was still the ‘King of Comedy’ in Ghana.

Broadcaster and communications officer of Charter House had also vented his displeasure at the vitriol that came with the supposed statement by the former first lady, saying every comedian has their bad days.

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By: Kwame Dadzie/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The former first lady who has been an ardent fan of the highlife musician invited him to her office yesterday in Accra and had interaction with him on a wide range of issues.

Mrs. Rawlings for the first time applauded Ofori Amponsah for recording good songs that have stood the test of time.

She encouraged Ofori Amponsah to work harder at his music career after he got back from his foray into preaching the gospel. The former first lady who graced the just ended April Easter Comedy show, also said she was impressed by Ofori Amponsah’s performance at the show.

“I enjoyed your performance very well. Keep it up.” She also disclosed her fondness for songs of Daddy Lumba, Amakye Dede and Ofori Amponsah adding that she listened to them when she was stressed.

The former First Lady, however, advised Ofori Amponsah, not to follow the style of music in vogue which enjoy massive airplay but rather stick to his style.

“Continue with the good works. You’re one of the best highlife musicians we have in Ghana,” she said.

The ‘Alewa’ hit maker gave Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, copies of his award-winning selling albums.

Ofori Amponsah shot into the limelight in 2000 when he was featured on Daddy Lumba’s ‘Wo Ho Kyere.’ He followed up with his maiden album ‘Asew’ in 2001. He later released the albums ‘Meprawo’ and ‘Rakia’ in 2002 and 2004 respectively.

He followed with other great albums that won him spurs but drifted to gospel music when he claimed God had sent him to preach the gospel in 2012.

He returned to secular music in 2015 with Alewa which made quite a good showing on the music market. At present, his ’17’ track is gaining currency among highlife patrons.

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By: Kwame Dadzie/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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In an interview with Peace FM’s Kwasi Aboagye on Entertainment Review, he said the story hit him hard when he saw it.

[contextly_sidebar id=”K4uwb0SR4V9YSSA6l7H11kvI6Rn2w0AP”]“It is depressing. I really felt depressed when I saw the story. When you wake up early in the morning and you hear such news, you definitely won’t feel good,” he said.

The ‘King of GH Comedy’ who accepted that his performance at the Easter Comedy Show was unimpressive, attributed the flop to the use of wrong jokes for the wrong target audience.

“I think I made a mistake by using the wrong jokes for the wrong people. I had done these jokes before but for a much younger audience and they went well,” he said.

When the host was asked if his success in the comedy scene made him arrogant as it has been posited by some people, he answered in the affirmative.

“Oh yes. I became too arrogant as for that I have accepted it,” he quipped.

DKB however said that he would take all criticisms in good faith and work hard on his subsequent shows.

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By: Kwame Dadzie/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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At an event headlined by DKB, Nana Konadu stormed out of the Accra International Conference Centre unexcited and unconvinced that DKB would shake the audience into a frenzy.

[contextly_sidebar id=”fal43BMQ0b14tohHBvF9FKg9WFqnKwnO”]An avid patron of concerts and comedy shows, the former First Lady made her way to the exit as soon as the famous Ghanaian comedian mounted the stage, saying to the hearing of other patrons seated close by, including this writer, “don’t mind him; his jokes are boring”.

The snub may have been a dent on DKB’s ego but the comedian did little on the night to disprove the former First Lady’s dim view of his stagecraft.

In truth, he failed to deliver the rib-cracking jokes many patrons expected of him, as the self-acclaimed King of Comedy was vulgar in his jokes which did not elicit a favourable response from the audience.

It was little surprise, too, that during his performance, DKB kept coaxing the crowd that he could not feel the vibe from them.

However, it was a night of real laughter up until the appearance of DKB. Comedians such as Lekzy Da Comic, Jacinta, Acapella from Nigeria and Salvodor from Uganda gave good accounts of themselves and the audience showed their appreciation with resounding applauses.

Lekzy Da Comic set the mood with his opening act, making jokes about short people, such as himself, which went down well with the audience until he resorted to vulgar-laced jokes.

Bubbly Jacinta followed and maintained the excitement, including a point when she invited three couples on stage and asked the guys to apply make-up on their women, moments which exposed the ignorance of the gentlemen regarding application of makeup as they made a mess of themselves on stage.

The voluptuous Jacinta could have scored higher points if she had not repeated some of her jokes from previous events.

Acapella gave a good account of himself as his jokes about the Nigerian Police and African leaders went down well with the audience.  He had a piece of paper on which he had written the points for his jokes because he said he didn’t want to repeat previous jokes.

The last comedian of the night was Salvador from Uganda who rounded everything up so well. His experience with his wife in the labour room was very well-received.

It was not all about comedy.  There was also some good music in the house thanks to the likes of Kofi Bentil, B Ryt, Ofori Amponsah and Becca. It was good to see Ofori Amponsah back on stage doing what he does best and he did not disappoint though he was not extraordinary.

The show was interlaced with a tribute to comedians who have passed on like Santo, Nkomode, Bob Okalla, Araba Stamp and Bob Cole. There was also dancing and singing competitions and winners were given products from sponsors including mobile phones and coupons for dinner and lunch.

Khemikal was spot-on as MC as he interacted well with the audience and also shared some jokes with them.

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Source: Graphic Online

The post DKB is a boring comedian – Nana Konadu appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

She believes the effective sensitization of the youth will help “grow up the society to appreciate the capabilities of women in the society.”

Speaking at the International Women’s day celebration under the theme “Be bold for change” in Accra, she said : “it is important that as individuals who believe in the empowerment of women and making the sexes equal, to see how we can get the young people to appreciate who women are. All these are part of growing up the society so that they can appreciate what a woman is made up of and how capable they are.”

She stated that, for Ghana to get to the point where the rights of women are equally recognized and enforced, “we need to look at things differently.”

“A change of mentality, it is not one day, it is not twenty years, it may even be a 100 years, we don’t know because we may even have a leader who will come into a country and will help to propagate the Gender issue, women’s issues and so women’s issues start moving forward, then you will have another one who doesn’t really care, thinks a few people dotted around as Ministers is enough, and you will have some who will live by example and some who don’t really mind and so you can move forward and backward in a number of ways that can create its own problems,”she added.

She believes the men must also rally behind the women to ensure women across the country are empowered.

“For a long time, we started talking about affirmative action. Affirmative action is important because it corrects the imbalances of a society or a group, so to be able to do that, we must accept that there are some discrepancies and injustices going on. We are 52.8 percent of the population. The loudest group are the 48 percent. They should be brought along with us. We cannot deal with empowerment of women alone, we must let the men talk about empowerment of women.”

“We must let them understand that when your daughter becomes empowered, it’s a plus for you the father, it’s a plus for you the husband as well. It is a mythical fear that needs to be dealt with. Nobody should fear women. Encourage us to be what we can be because if women being 52 percent of the population, rise up to the level where men are, we will see the changes that will happen in this country.”

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By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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This follows a long legal tussle that eventually saw the party’s flagbearer, Nana Konadu Rawlings reinstated in the race after an initial disqualification by the Electoral Commission.

With barely three weeks to the country’s presidential and parliamentary elections, the party is yet to make any significant impression on the political landscape with very few posters and low media publicity.

But according to the party, its strategy, few weeks to the election, is to outdoor its parliamentary candidates in the various constituencies across the country.

The party’s General Secretary, Mohammed Frimpong, told Citi News even though the party has visited some regions including the Volta Region, it is hopeful of visiting other regions it left out in its earlier campaign.

‘We are focusing on grassroots’

The founder and flagbearer of the National Democratic Party (NDP), Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, has said her main agenda is to promote what she describes as grass-roots democracy emphasizing inclusive governance.

While in Kasoa earlier this week, she said men have for a long time led the country and it was time a woman also became a President.

She held campaigns in Oboom Domeabra and Bortianor-Ngleshie Amanfro constituencies, as part of efforts to amass more votes in the area.

The NDP, which was formed in 2012 as a split from the governing National Democratic Congress, joins four other political parties and an independent candidate to challenge the NDC’s John Mahama for the presidential seat.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post NDP begins nationwide campaign tour appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

“Are we not using the legal system anymore? I think the conduct of the National Security is truly irresponsible and unbecoming in a national democratic system that we have,” Mr. Osei Owusu said.

The University’s security post was demolished on Monday night by the personnel from the National Security office.

The Office said it had notified the University of its planned demolition but Authorities of the University  denied reports that  the Coucil officially informed them of its planned demolition

A letter from the National Security office to the University further argued that the structure when completed would create a nuisance to motorists.

The Director of Public Affairs at the University, Madam Stella Amoah however dispelled the notion that the post will create a nuisance.

Speaking on Eyewitness News,  Mr.  Osei Owusu further criticized the demolition, describing it as a breach of law and order.

In his opinion, the Council is using crude means and methods to have their concerns addressed.

“Let’s assume that there’s a genuine disagreement as to the location, is the National Security actually the agency that will resolve that dispute? And if they are, is the crude use of force the appropriate means by which we can resolve this matter? Is it not a breakdown of law and order?

“We cannot have a country where if I’m stronger than you and I control National Security resources I use force if we disagree,” Mr. Osei Owusu said.

Offering a solution to the problem, he suggested that the Council should have channeled its concerns to a legal body rather than taking the law into its own hands.

By: Marian Efe Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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According to the University, the main entrance (Okponglo entrance) of the school remains open 24 hours a day, to members of the general public, including parents of the University’s Basic School.

A group calling itself Concerned Parent of ‘Non-Staff Pupils’ of the University of Ghana Basic School allegedly said the University had blocked all access routes to the campus.

The group further petitioned government to reverse the policy implemented by the school, which prevents parents from entering and exiting the University’s campus through its restricted routes.

But a press statement signed by the Director of Public Affairs, Stella. A. Amoah said: “The University of Ghana reiterates that it is not mandatory to acquire a UG sticker before entering the Legon Campus.”

It further noted that the use of stickers applies only to persons who wish to use other entry/exit points which are restricted.

“The concerned parents who have no desire to pay the fee are free to use the main entrance.” it said.

“It is regrettable that a small group of parents have decided to stand in the way of reforms at the University. This group is bent on having its way as part of the self-granted entitlements package of its members,” it added.

Below is the full statement issued by University of Ghana

In the wake of various media reports in respect of a Press Conference held by a group of people calling themselves, “Concerned Parents of non-staff of the University of Ghana Basic Schools”, the University of Ghana would like to restate its position concerning entry to the Legon Campus.

The media reports suggest that the University of Ghana (UG) has restricted all access points to motorists, including to parents of the University Basic Schools. This is entirely false.

The University of Ghana reiterates that it is not mandatory to acquire a UG sticker before entering the Legon Campus. Contrary to the false reports, the main entrance (Okponglo entrance) remains open 24 hours a day to members of the general public, including to parents of the Basic School. No one needs a UG sticker to access the Legon Campus through its main entrance. The Concerned Parents statement which suggests that school children have to pay road user fees to enter their school premises is therefore totally false and designed to create disaffection towards the University Management.

The use of stickers applies only to persons who wish to use other entry/exit points which are restricted. All motorists who wish to enter or exit the University from these points require permission from the University. In granting permission to applicants, they are required to pay a fee. The concerned parents who have no desire to pay the fee are therefore free to use the main entrance.

Following a petition from parents of the pupils of the University Basic Schools, the University offered them a concessionary staggered payment arrangement of the annual rate for unlimited entry/exit through all access points. This implied a rebate of an average of 26% for the 3-month and 6-month category of stickers. It is important to underscore the fact that majority of the non-staff parents of the school, who have a need to use the restricted entry points, have subsequently acquired stickers.
It is regrettable that a small group of parents have decided to stand in the way of reforms at the University. This group is bent on having its way as part of the self-granted entitlements package of its members. The members do not believe they should ever make any contribution to the University beyond the heavily subsidized fees they pay. They would like to dictate the terms and conditions under which they conduct their private business at the University.

For the avoidance of doubt, the University of Ghana has done everything possible to make the lives of the children that attend its schools as comfortable as possible. It will continue to do so in the future. The University subsidizes the participation of all children, including non-staff children, in its school programmes. Non-staff parents pay only 25% of the fees that parents of pupils in comparator schools pay.

In the press reports that have been manipulated by the aggrieved parents the world was shown pictures of children walking to the University of Ghana Basic School. The idea was to show how uncaring the University Management was. What the reports did not indicate was that the children were directed by their aggrieved parents to walk instead of boarding the shuttle buses provided free of charge by the University. In any case, staff children living on the campus walk the same distance every morning to school, an average of 300 metres. Children coming to school from the Staff Village walk more than one mile to school each morning. It is extremely unfortunate that this small number of aggrieved parents have decided to subject their own children to the agony of watching their parents misbehave each morning as part of a new morning ritual.

The University of Ghana does not intend to change its policy on access any time soon. It will do all it can to discourage the so-called concerned parents from obstructing others seeking to engage in their legitimate business on campus. The University is committed to ensuring that the University Basic School continues to provide quality education to all pupils in an atmosphere of respect, and that the campus remains safe and secure for the academic business of the University.

Stella A. Amoa (Mrs.)
Director of Public Affairs

By: Marian Efe Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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