Winner of the Gospel Album of the Year, Cwesi Oteng, has expressed shock and disappointment at news reports quoting him to have said that colleague gospel musician, Herty Bongreat, stole some awards meant for him at the recently held Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMAs).
�It is a big lie. I have said no such thing so I do not know why some journalists would have the courage to put such negative words in my mouth and put it in quotes as though I have said them.
Aside having a good academic education, I was brought up in a good home so I don�t talk without thinking.
But it is understandable that some people may have their own motives and hidden agenda,� Cwesi told NEWS-ONE.
According to Flex newspaper, Cwesi Oteng made these damning remarks against Herty while speaking to Kofi De-Aqua, host of Agoo Entertainment Centre on Agoo 103.5 FM when the host asked his views on the Gospel Artiste of the year category.
Kofi De-Aqua has however denied that Cwesi said such a thing on his programme.
Sounding rather disappointed, Cwesi told NEWS-ONE: �When Herty won the award, I was one of the very first persons to congratulate her.
I publicly tweeted to congratulate her just as I did for Nicholas Omani Acheampong although we were all nominated for same category.
But no one saw this to write about it. Rather people have decided to twist my words and put them out and go ahead for weeks to spread the false report that makes me sound rude or as someone who does not practice what he preaches.
�But hey, humans may have their agenda and machinations, but it is the God of heaven I really look up to.
It is He who has brought me this far and He is my motivation and inspiration, not someone seated somewhere tarnishing my image.�
Significantly, Herty Bongreat last Friday had a rather cordial meeting with managers of Cwesi Oteng and had talks on how best to move Ghanaian gospel music to a higher level.
Though Cwesi and Herty competed for the same awards, Cwesi�s managers showed no animosity whatsoever during the meeting and even assured her that their artiste was more mature than someone who would stoop to such low levels.
Herty also spoke to NEWS-ONE about the development: �I disregarded the story when I saw it but how many people would know it is not true especially when the writers still insist it is true.
We should be seen as members of the body of Christ with a common goal of propagating the message of Christ through music.
I have never heard Cwesi talk negative about anyone and I want the public to know that there is no bad blood between us so we should not let such negative reports create a division or some enmity among our respective fans.
We are one people working for one master and that is Jesus Christ, the author and finisher of our faith.�
Herty�s manager and publicist DJ Sapee, a gospel show presenter at Montie FM speaking over the development said the false reports were from a section of the media that has in recent times become unconstructively critical of Herty.
�There are some people who have an interest in other gospel musicians so they would go all out to run others down.
What they forget is that bringing someone down does not automatically put you on top.
It is hard work and God�s blessings that put you on top. Not evil plots to create confusion.
�I myself, Herty and her husband have all become subjects of negative reports filled with insults and malice by these same persons.
We can only leave them to God and keep working even harder to justify the trust people have in us,� Sapee added and expressed gratitude to Herty�s supporters and fans for standing by her.
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