Payola allegation: Okyeame Kwame, Efya, others defend Dr. Pounds

Ghanaian musicians, Okyeame Kwame, Efya, T-Phlow, Gallaxy and other industry players have defended Hitz FM presenter, Dr. Pound over allegation that he takes payola.

Artiste manager and music promoter, Papa Loggy was reported to have named the radio presenter known in real life as Maximous Addae Mensah as a radio DJ who takes the most payola in the country.

According to the report, Loggy alleged that “the one who stands tall when it comes to collecting payola is Hitz FM presenter, Dr. Pounds and that Dr. Pounds indeed takes the most payola in Ghana and that he’s daring him to come out to deny it.

Following this accusation, Zionfelix.com has contacted some musicians, artiste managers, and bloggers who have worked with Dr. Pounds to know their working relationship with him.

Okyeame Kwame‘s manager and wife, Annica speaking on behalf of him and as an artiste manager said “I worked with him during he days of “Woso” but he did not take payola.

He even organized a concert at UCC when he was a student but nothing like that happened. I have not dealt with Dr. Pounds on that level. I’ve not also heard anybody accusing him of taking payola.”

Rapper T-Phlow on Tuesday morning also told Zionfelix.com “he is like a brother to me. He has not taken even a pesewa from me before and I see the love he has for young artistes especially the artistes so I know he helps these guys out of love from the time he was at Pluzz FM. If someone is saying anything like that, I honestly do not have any idea of what the person is talking about. What I can say now is Dr. is far from that”

Kwasi Dave, half of music duo Gallaxy whose recent single “Papa Bi” has gained massive airplay also disclosed that Dr. Pounds started playing their song without their knowledge.

“The first time we heard of Dr. Pounds he was at Pluzz FM. He was playing our songs but we had not met him before. The way our record label works, anytime they hear anybody playing our song and they have not met him or her, they try to get in touch to show appreciation so that the person will continue to support us. Showing appreciation is not always about money but we making sure the person knows that we acknowledge the support.

We met him in Accra but he did not talk about money issue. He just said he likes good music and that is what he supports.”

Speaking to Efya’s manager, Jimmy on same issue, he made it clear that his artiste, Efya has never mentioned a payola issue she has encountered with Dr. Pounds.

“We have never come across any payola issue with Dr. Pounds that I can say I know. The work that we are doing is based on relationship so there is no payola case. If he does that then personally, we have not come across that anywhere.”

Blogger and music promoter, Fiifi Adinkra of Ghanandwom.com disclosed that none of the artistes he has introduced to the radio presenter has complained about payola issue. According to him, most underground rappers speak well of him.