Manager of Ghanaian Highlife icon Ofori Amponsah, Nana Poku Ashis, has waded into the ongoing ownership controversy surrounding the classic song “Odo Nwom,” insisting that his artiste has documents to prove he is the rightful owner of the hit track.

According to Ashis, Ofori Amponsah has maintained that he owns the rights to the song and is the person who receives royalties from it. However, he admitted that he was not part of the process when the song was originally recorded in 2004 by Ofori Amponsah and fellow Highlife musician Kofi Nti, making him unable to provide firsthand details about the agreement surrounding its release.

Ashis explained that Ofori Amponsah is avoiding a public confrontation over the matter and would rather settle the issue through the appropriate legal processes if challenged.

“I wasn’t there when the two of them recorded the song. They were friends or brothers at that time, so I can’t give full details. But from what Ofori Amponsah has told me, he has documents that he will present at the right time to prove that the song belongs to him because he is the one who receives royalties from it. If Kofi Nti says the song belongs to him, then he should take legal action. Ofori doesn’t want any public brouhaha; he is ready for court. If he says the song is his, he should show documents to prove it,” Ashis said.

The comments follow claims by Kofi Nti’s former manager, King Pee, also known as the Chief Executive Officer of Central Multimedia, that “Odo Nwom” was originally Kofi Nti’s song and that Ofori Amponsah only featured on the record.

King Pee argued that Ofori Amponsah had no right to proceed with a remix of the 2004 classic without Kofi Nti’s involvement or approval, warning that legal action could be taken against those involved in the new version, including dancehall star Stonebwoy and highlife singer KiDi.

The controversy erupted after Ofori Amponsah announced a new rendition of “Odo Nwom” featuring Stonebwoy and KiDi, sparking renewed debate over who owns the rights to one of Ghana’s most celebrated Highlife songs.

As both sides maintain their positions, the dispute could eventually move from public arguments to the courtroom, where ownership claims and supporting documents may determine the rightful owner of the classic record.

Source: Yvonne Nyarko Agyemang