Contestants of ‘Appietus Idolz’ cry foul

Some contestants who qualified from the Ashanti region to compete in the next round of ‘Appietus Idolz,’ a television reality show, have expressed resentment over the organisation of the competition.

According to them, they have waited for almost nine months, after they were given the green light for the next stage of the competition, but were yet to hear from organisers or their representatives.

The dejected participants told The Chronicle Entertainment Train that they were made to believe that after the second round of audition, the show would commence immediately after the Ghana 2008 Africa Cup of Nations tournament, but it is seven months after the tournament, and yet nothing had been heard from the organisers.

They also mentioned that they were initially told that 10 contestants would be selected from the Ashanti, Western and Greater Accra regions, but to their surprise, one of the organisers told them that 10 contestants were selected from the Ashanti, nine from the Western, and unbelievably, 100 were picked from the Greater Accra Region, for the next stage of the competition, for reasons best known to the organisers.

Meanwhile, in an interview with the renowned recording engineer Kwame Appiah Danquah, affectionately known as Appietus, he revealed that the show had been suspended due to lack of sponsorship and funds.

He further stated that he was in contact with Charterhouse, and they were planning to stage the final competition in two to three weeks, and thus gave the assurance that show would come on very soon.

Adding that those involved have been given a telephone number to call, concerning the progress of the competition.

The show, which was launched in July last year, saw over 2,000 contestants purchasing forms at GH¢15 plus per form, and sending their names and regions to MTN short code 1419, which cost Gp30. One year on, the quarter, semi and grand finale of the contest are yet to be staged.

When your exciting Chronicle’s Entertainment paper contacted Charterhouse, to verify the fact that Appietus Idolz would be taking place very soon, as Appietus indicated, it was clarified that both parties were at the negotiating table, but no contract had been signed yet.

In other words, should Charterhouse not sign a contract with Appietus, how then will the dreams of over 100 contestants come through, after having paid GH¢15 cedis as their gate pass to stardom?