Ohemaa Mercy Denies Stealing Song

Gospel songstress, Ohemaa Mercy has denied accusations that she stole the hit song on her latest album, �Wobeye Kese� from another musician Elder Mireku. There have been speculations that Elder Mireku, another popular Ghanaian gospel musician was the original composer of the song. It was reported initially, that Elder Mireku ministered the song at a church in the USA from where either Ohemaa Mercy might have heard the song or someone might have sold it to her. Reacting to the allegation in an interview with myjoyonline, Mr. Isaac Twum-Ampofo, husband and manager of Ohemaa Mercy denied the allegation and said there is no iota of truth in the story. He explained that the said song was originally composed by Elder Israel Tettey, an elder of the Pentecost Church at Cape Coast who is known to Elder Mireku. He said during a song ministration by Ohemaa Mercy at the Church of Pentecost in Brooklyn, USA, during a visit to the US in May, 2009, the �Man of God� at the church was so touched that, the �Man� prayed for her and declared onto her that she will be big (Wobeye Kese). This they used to tease each other on their return home. True to that declaration, the original composer of the song, Elder Israel Tettey was also looking for means to propagate the song to the world, which he couldn�t achieve with the release of his 11-track album �Obotantim� in 2008, which had the song �Meye wo kese� now �Wobeye kese� (8th track on the album). After consultations, Elder Tettey gave the rights of the song to Ohemaa Mercy, who in turn did �major� works on the song and consequently released it. Isaac Twum said most of the songs released by some gospel musicians in the country are already composed songs especially songs from the Pentecost Church. He said the song might have enjoyed a lot of play in some Pentecost churches due to the fact that it was composed by a church member but said he does not remember or have no evidence of Elder Mireku performing the song anywhere. Elder Israel Tettey also confirmed to myjoyonline that he is the original composer of the said song and the song enjoyed a lot of rotations in most of the Pentecostal churches across the country. He said the song did not make the impact that it was hoped to make therefore prompting him to give it to someone who will get the song to a larger audience. �I got a vision to give the song to somebody who will let the song go further,� he said. Elder Mireku came into the scene when he wanted to record and release the song in 2008. He, Elder Israel was asked to see Elder Mireku but he could not obtain the necessary support from him after seeing him. Elder Israel said it came to his notice that Elder Mireku had put the said song on his yet to be released �Praise and Worship� album after he, Elder Israel had given the rights of the song to Ohemaa Mercy. He added that he later got a call from Elder Mireku requesting the rights of the song to allow him ownership and to release it onto the market. Elder Israel said he personally gave two songs which had no tittles to Elder Mireku in 2008, stating categorically that �Meye wo kese� was not part of the songs. He said he got several requests and heard rumours of people who wanted the rights to that particular song. Ohemaa Mercy dedicated her third album which contains �Wobeye kese� at the Tesano Baptist Church on Sunday, January 31. It was also followed by the launch of her foundation �Ohemaa Mercy Foundation� which will seek to help the needy. Elder Israel Tettey was a guest at the dedication and he openly declared that he has given the rights of the now controversial song to Ohemaa Mercy.