How artistes failed beyond the pale to make statements at VGMA 2021 [Pulse Editor’s Opinion]

This is not the time to make comparisons and pass judgements, but elsewhere, things are different. This is not because Ghanaian artistes are oblivious of how powerful big platforms like the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards is. Most of them are just sluggish and a bunch of cowards who are afraid to take the first step and make a difference.

When Sarkodie won the “Best International Flow” at the 2019 BET Hip-hop Awards, he used the platform to make a statement that would boost Ghana’s tourism sector and the ‘Year of Return, Ghana’ celebration. “This year is the 'Year of Return' and I will urge each and every one of you here to take a trip back home. When you’re coming to Africa, choose Ghana,” Sarkodie said upon receiving his award. He was lauded for using such a huge platform to help boost Ghana’s tourism sector.

However, when it comes to local awards, things are seen differently.

Sarkodie didn’t even move an inch when he was announced as the winner of the “Best Collaboration of the Year” award for his song “Happy Day” which features Kuami Eugene. He sent his ‘boys’ to receive it on his behalf while relaxing like a ‘King’ in his seat. I do not know the circumstances surrounding his absence on the stage, however, it would have been a smart move to capture the opportunity and use it for good.

Kwaw Kese – who is one of the vocal artistes and activists in Ghana – had the chance to present the "Afrobeats/Afro-pop Song of the Year" award on the night. I was expecting him to make a statement but to my astonishment, he came bashing the organisers for not treating artistes with respect at the gate. He has constantly used his social media platforms to attack the government over the COVID-19 testing fee at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) and hardships in the country but he let that opportunity to further echo his voice slided in seconds.

For all the award winners on the night, including the “Artiste of the Year” winner Diana Hamilton, it was all about ‘Thanks to God, my fans, family and the media,’ and ‘I dedicate this award to my mother, father, or friend.’ No one could man up to make statements that could bring change to this country and the industry. Their cowardice was on full display.

There have been some series of issues in the country and the show business industry in the past few months and as big as the VGMA is, I anticipated a big bang on the stage. Never underrate the power of the VGMAs. The 2019 VGMA ceremony received extensive international media coverage when Stonebwoy brandished a gun on stage during his clash with Shatta Wale over the ‘Dancehall Artiste of the Year’ award. There were talks on radio, TV and online in the international media. This alone means people outside the country are watching. So, it was a big occasion to sell Ghana and expose the wrongs in our industry as well.

Recently, musicians went crazy after showbiz enthusiast Seven Xavier dragged Rex Omar and other executive members of the Ghana Music Rights Organisation (GHAMRO) for not performing their duties and further accused Rex of blocking people with the technical know-how from helping the organisation to achieve its goal.

“It saddens me that they are invited everywhere only to lie and defend themselves. I'm tired of that,” Seven Xavier boldly stated at a seminar organised by Charterhouse Ghana Limited. “They are not doing anything at GHAMRO.” For GHAMRO to work, Seven Xavier suggested: “The first step of resolving the GHAMRO issue is to let Rex Omar, Agya Abraham and Diana Hopeson step aside.”

Stonebwoy, Ded Buddy, Reggie 'n' Bollie, Stonebwoy and other artistes backed Seven Xavier with different posts on social media. But during the VGMA, nothing was said.

There have been issues with the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community and human rights in Ghana. Police brutality is a bane in this country. ‘Dumsor’ (power outage) cannot be taken out of the equation. Don't forget the Achimota School-Rastafarian student brouhaha. The platform was right to address these issues but no show.

The biggest of all the issues in this country is the “Fix The Country” protest. Just a day before the VGMA 2021, socialite Efia Odo was arrested by the police for demonstrating with a group of protestors in front of the Law Court Complex in Accra as part of the “Fix The Country” protest. She was later released on bail, but no musician condemned the act on the VGMA stage.

It’s a bummer that people with so much influence and are regarded as role models are given big platforms they could use for change but will only use such platforms to show off their wardrobes and enounce cliché acceptance speeches.

Pulse Editor's Opinion is the opinion of an editor of Pulse. It does not represent the opinion of the organisation Pulse.