Efiya Otiwaa demands public apology from GMB's Ampomaa over song

US-based Afro-spiritual Ghanaian musician Efiya Otiwaa has demanded a formal public apology from Ampomaa, a contestant representing the Ashanti Region in the ongoing Ghana’s Most Beautiful (GMB) pageant. The dispute centers on the use of Otiwaa’s song, "Nananom," which Ampomaa allegedly performed on the TV3 stage without the artist's permission. The singer expressed significant disappointment after the contestant misidentified the contemporary track as a traditional folk song, failing to acknowledge its original creator during the televised broadcast.

Efiya Otiwaa emphasized that the misrepresentation of her work is a serious concern regarding intellectual property rights. She argued that because the performance took place on a high-profile national platform, the correction and apology must be issued on that same stage to rectify the misinformation provided to the audience. The musician pointed out that performers and production teams have a responsibility to research the origins of the creative works they utilize, rather than assuming modern African compositions are public-domain folklore.

This incident highlights broader challenges within the Ghanaian creative industry regarding the frequent misattribution of original works. Otiwaa urged all performers to seek explicit permission before using copyrighted material and to prioritize accurate attribution in their presentations. She maintains that a public apology from Ampomaa would demonstrate necessary respect for Ghanaian creatives and underscore the importance of protecting intellectual property in national competitions.