Shatta Wale and Stonebwoy have been banned Indefinitely from
the annual Ghana Music Awards.
The ban was announced at a press conference the organizers
of the awards held on Thursday in Accra to brief the press about the outcome
organizers have taken.
Announcing the sanctions for the two dancehall artistes,
chairman of the VGMA board 2019, Nat Brew Amandzeba said the two artistes are
also to return the award plagues they won on the night of the event.
He said that Stonebwoy and Shatta Wale have lost their
legibility for VGMAs nominations, selections and performances. He noted that
the decision was taken after “careful deliberations” and “extensive
consultation” with stakeholders in the music industry.
Stonebwoy and Shatta Wale clashed on stage when Stonebwoy
was announced the winner of Reggae/Dancehall Artiste of the Year. In the
ensuing confusion, Stonebwoy pulled a gun; an action he explained later in a
press statement as self-defence. The two were subsequently arrested and
detained.
Recall that Shatta Wale was banned in 2013 from the VGMA
because he maligned the board of the awards scheme. The ban was only lifted
last year, 2018.
