The National Youth Authority has condemned the commotion that rocked the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards between Charles Nii Armah Mensah (Shatta Wale) and Livingstone Etse Satekla (Stonebwoy) last Saturday night.
A statement issued by the Authority and signed by its Chief Executive Officer, the Hon. Emmanuel Sin-nyet Asigri urged the youth to be more responsible and disciplined, particularly in the face of security threats and activities of terrorism in the West African sub-region.
‘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’’.
Apart from blaming event organisers Charter House for leaving gaps in its security arrangements, the NYA also urged the police to be moderate and professional in the handling of people during such occurrences.
Read the full statement below.
For Immediate Release
Violence has no place in Ghana’s Entertainment Space
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 Authority 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.
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. We 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.
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.
…SIGNED…
Emmanuel Sin-nyet Asigri
Chief Executive Officer
National Youth Authority
Source: BestNewsGH.com
