The National Youth Authority has taken notice of the unfortunate incident during the 2019 Vodafone Ghana Music Awards and strongly condemns and in no uncertain terms the disruption of the awards ceremony through the reckless display by Charles Nii Armah Mensah (Shatta Wale) and Livingstone Etse Satekla (Stonebwoy). Many expected the two musicians to have exhibited good conduct worthy of emulation by young people in view of the large and strong following they command in the Ghanaian entertainment front.
The Chief Executive Officer of National Youth Authority, Emmanuel Sin-Nyet Asigri shares the view that the organizers of the event, Charter House should have guaranteed the welfare of patrons for the night by putting in place the appropriate preventive security measures in anticipation of such occurrences, especially when they are fully aware of the rivalry existing between these two artistes. We count ourselves lucky that this incident did not degenerate into a stampede where lives of patrons would have been put in jeopardy.
In the midst of the prevailing security situation in the West Africa Sub-region relative to suspicious terror activities, we call on the youth of Ghana to stand up and defend the integrity of the country by conducting themselves in a disciplined, patriotic and nationalistic manner as well as resisting any negative influence from these two musicians or any other person or group. The youth must send one very clear, strong, unmistakable message that; acts or threats of violence of any kind have no place in the entertainment front of the country.
According to him the Authority also takes note of efforts put in by the Ghana Police Service to contain the situation to avert further deterioration. However, the police must at all material times in situations such as what happened on Saturday, be moderate and professional in how people are handled during crisis of this nature where people are in an enclosed environment such as the Dome.
Mr. Sin-nyet Asigrie further call on the Police to deal ruthlessly with perpetrators of the incident to serve as deterrents to other players in the entertainment front who might want to take the peace of this country for granted. No one is above the law.
He added that, the Authority is closely monitoring events as they unfold and calls on all Ghanaians, especially the youth to remain calm and united against all acts that seek to disturb the prevailing peace in the country.
Story Anita Frimpong