Veteran broadcaster and entertainment pioneer, Albert Johnson, popularly known as Odefour DiAsa Paapa, has disclosed that he was sidelined by the Telecel Ghana Music Awards (TGMA) after speaking the hard truth about flaws in the scheme’s categorization and decisions.
Speaking on Atinka TV’s Entertainment Lounge, the man credited with pioneering Twi-language broadcasting in Ghana revealed that he served on the TGMA board in 1998, but was never invited again after raising concerns about the integrity of award categorizations.
“I was part of the board in 1998. I commented on something and since then, they’ve never called me again — because I spoke the truth,” he stated.
Odefour explained that he challenged the classification of songs during the awards, particularly the confusion between traditional highlife and contemporary highlife. He cited the case of the late Dasebre Gyamenah, noting that his music was misclassified, just as Shatta Wale’s recent win in a highlife category stirred public confusion.
“Dasebre Gyamenah wasn’t singing highlife; it was contemporary highlife. Just like Shatta Wale being awarded for highlife — it’s misleading. It makes real highlife musicians feel sidelined and pushes them to switch genres, which isn’t healthy for the industry,” – he said.
The veteran broadcaster warned that such missteps discourage genuine talent and stifle creativity, ultimately damaging the music and movie industries alike.
“When board members sit to push their own agendas, it frustrates artists. Some give up because of that. If they don’t get the right counseling, they quit — and it’s happening in the film industry too,” – he added.
Odefour’s remarks echo growing concerns about fairness and credibility in award schemes and the broader entertainment ecosystem.
His call is a reminder for industry stakeholders to prioritize transparency, accuracy, and respect for tradition in order to nurture and retain authentic talent.
Ghana|Atinkaonline.com| Ebenezer Madugu