Musicians Boycott Ghana Music Awards Presentation

Out of about twenty winners for this year’s award, there were only four winners present to receive their cash prize. The four included; Kesse, who won the award for “Best Male Vocal Artiste”, Blakk Rasta, the “Reggae Song of the Year” winner, Guy One winner of “Traditional Artiste of the Year” and Stay Jay, the “Best New Artiste of the Year”.

Peacefmonline.com checks with most of the award winners who were absent at the ceremony, has revealed that they were either too busy to be present, they are out of the country or they simply refused to go for reasons best to them because according to a source at Charter House, Organizers of the event, they contact all the award winners but only a few showed up however there were representatives for almost all the winners.

Speaking to Kwabena Kwabena winner of “Hi-Life Artiste of the Year”, he said he had other commitments elsewhere but a member of his record label was there to receive on his behalf.

Singer Efya winner of “Best Female Vocal Artiste”, Gospel musicians Gifty Osei “Gospel Album of the Year” and “Gospel Artistes of the Year” winner, “Highlife Song of the Year” winner Kwabena Maphia are among a few who are out of the countries for a number of performances in Europe and America.

Peacefmonline.com investigations have also revealed that Sarkodie who won the ultimate award “Artiste of the Year” and two other awards “Best Rapper of the Year” and “Most Popular Song of the Year”, was in the country but was not able to make it purely on health grounds.

“He really wanted be present but unfortunately he wasn’t fit enough to be there”, a member of Sarkodie’s management told Peacefmonline.com adding that the organizers were aware of his inability to be present.

“Hiplife/Hiphop Artiste of the Year” and “Hiphop Song of the Year” awards winner Kwaw Kesse is also the country but he was not seen at the presentation. A source from Kwaw Kesse’s MadTime Entertainment told Peacefmonline.com that they were not informed on time and Kwaw had other engagements in the studio around the same time.

According to sources 4X4 who won “Best Group of the Year” and “Album of the Year”, went to the venue very early but they had to leave before the presentation started because it started about an hour or more late, and they had to go for an interview.

Other winners including; Okyeame Kwame, D-Cryme, Kwame Adinkra, Steve Bedi, Becca , Zigi , Bertha, Pat Thomas and Kaywa were all not present and no reason has given for their absence.

The 13th edition of the awards was held on April 13 at a star-studded event at the Dome of the Accra International Conference Centre saw Ghana’s fastest rapper Sarkodie crowned “Artiste of the Year” prize for the second time.

Apart from that award, Sarkodie also won “Best Rapper of the Year” and “Most Popular Song of the Year”, all for his smash hit U Go Kill Me.
Other artistes such as the King of the Street Kwaw Kese, 4x4, Okyeame Kwame, Gifty Osei and Selina Boateng picked up awards each on the night.

Aside the winners and representatives, there were other industry personalities who were present at Wednesday’s event. Each winning artiste received GHS3, 000 while the “Artiste of the Year” walked home with GHS10, 000.