Stonebwoy Reacts To VGMA Ban Lift: “It Takes Nothing From You To Meet With Us”

Ghanaian Afropop dancehall and reggae artiste Livingstone Etse Satekla, better known by his stage name Stonebwoy seems to be expressing agreement with his music rival Shatta Wale on Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMA) ban lift looking at his resent tweet.

The CEO of Burniton Music Group in a tweet on Wednesday asserted that since the purpose of the VGMA is to celebrate and project Ghanaian musicians and music, it will take nothing from the board to meet with them before reaching decisions that affect them.

“Dear VGMA Board & Scheme organizers, I hear the purpose of the VGMA is to celebrate and project Ghanaian musicians and music. If that is so, it takes nothing from you to meet with us the artistes/ our reps b4 reaching decisions that affect us and communicating them to the public” he tweeted.

He added: “The right to be heard is a principle that applies in every noble society. Even the all seeing God, who had already seen and knew all that Adam and Eve did in the Garden of Eden, still made sure he heard them before he took action against them. #IfTheySoDesire really???”.

The ban was imposed following a brawl that ensued between the two artistes at the 20th edition of VGMA held at the National Theatre in Accra. The two were barred from filing nominations in the following year’s edition.

The board in a press statement last Friday, said it had decided to reinstate the two artistes to file for nominations at the 22nd VGMA Awards celebration.

“The Board of the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMA) has lifted the ban imposed on Ghanaian artistes, Shatta Wale and Stonebwoy. This decision was taken at the inaugural meeting of the 22nd VGMA Board on January 28, 2021.

“The indefinite ban was imposed in 2019 as a result of a brawl caused by the two artistes during the Awards Ceremony of the 20th Anniversary edition of the VGMA, which disrupted the ceremony and threatened the safety of patrons. The two were thus excluded from participating in the 21st VGMA held in 2020,” parts of the statement said.

Meanwhile nominations for the 22nd edition of the award has started with a call for nominations from artistes of music works released between January 1 and December 31, 2020. The call for nominations closed on Monday, February 15, 2021.

Story by: Reagan O.O.Osarfo (Nana Reagan)