Amandzeba LOC Argue Over Fees

Popular musician, Amandzeba has urged the Local Organising Committee (LOC) of Ghana 2008 to have a well-laid plan to ensure good entertainment programmes during the 2008 MTN-Africa Cup of Nations scheduled for Ghana next January. He said it behooved the LOC to plan ahead of time for such high profile official programmes and not to leave the necessary arrangements till the last minute as they did with the Jamboree that was part of last month's draw in Accra. Reacting to allegations that his performance charges were too high and beyond the budget of the LOC, Amandzeda said it was unfortunate that the LOC could turn around to blame him for their own shortcomings. When the LOC was criticised for presenting rather low-key artistes to perform at the draw, unlike what happened during the global launch last year when Amandzeba delivered an exquisite performance, the LOC is alleged to have attributed Amandzeba's absence to his high charges. However, a rather worried Amandzeba who had just returned from an international show in Cote d'Ivoire, could not let the issue rest as he felt that a wrong impression was being created that he was an expensive artiste. "As a seasoned musician and performer, I don't see anything wrong with taking fees which is worth my performance but on this particular score, the issues were misrepresented," he said. "After the global launch, I was verbally told by officials at the LOC that I was going to be an integral part of their shows, but never heard anything else until the Monday before the draw held on Friday when I had a call from a gentleman by name Edward. " He said they wanted me to per¬form during the draw and asked for my charge. Initially, I indicated I would take $5,000 but Edward said their budget would only allow for ¢15million. I therefore backed down and asked for $2,500 because of the significance of the programme to both Ghana and my personal self as an artiste. Edward promised to get back to me and that was the last I heard from him". Amandzeba stressed the need for people to show Ghanaian artistes some respect and not treat them in such a shabby manner. "It's only in Ghana that people don't appreciate our music. Elsewhere, people clamour for our shows and appreciate what we do but it looks like in Ghana, we are taken for granted. Organisers are ready to dole out huge sums of money to pay foreign artistes yet they want to give local artistes just anything as if they were doing us a favour. It's about time that changed," he stressed. According to Amandzeba, the LOC seemed to have missed the point as their entertainment programmes so far have proved that Ghana is not ready for the competition where entertainment was concerned. "The next big thing in football after the 2006 World Cup is Ghana 2008. We have no excuse to be low key about it. We should not reduce such important events to laughable levels." And as to how the LOC can improve upon its entertainment package for the competition, Amandzeba said it was important the LOC knew the kind of guests they would be hosting. "There are programmes where guests are not the types who have to be asked to be on their feet or raise their hands or asked to clap and sing along as has unfortunately happened at some of such high profile programmes. "So far, the LOC has missed the point and they must review and plan ahead so that the remaining official programmes for Ghana 2008 do not suffer the same fate.