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Animation of Thursday, February 4, 2021
Source: Abdul-Hanan Adam, Contributor
02/04/2021
VGMA’s board of directors during a meeting
Five journalists in Ghana have petitioned Charterhouse Productions Ghana, organizer of the annual Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMA), to work towards ensuring diversity and fairness in awards.
According to the petitioners, VGMA has over the years largely honored artists who live and work in the country’s capital, Accra, while those in other regions have been cast aside.
He said that VGMA’s board of directors does not have regional representation and asked Charterhouse to expand the board to include other stakeholders from the regions of Ahafo, Bono, North, Oti, Savannah, Upper East and West of Ghana.
“We are through this petition, call on Charterhouse and Vodafone Ghana to grow and include citizens of other ethnicities on the board and musicians in the awards.
“Once again, we support this petition, urging that there be one representative each, from the 16 regions of Ghana who are familiar with Ghanaian music but are not artist directors,” the petitioners argued.
He added: “We also ask that the current status quo where some artist directors are members of the VGMA board of directors and other committees be abolished as we firmly believe that it does not promote fairness.
“We hope you will consider the merits of this petition to promote diversity and national cohesion through the prestigious VGMA.
Here is the full petition:
PETITION FOR DIVERSITY AND BALANCE ON THE VGMA BOARD AND APPOINTMENTS
introduction
The Vodafone Ghana Music Awards were created in 2000 by Mascot to celebrate Ghanaian musicians. The awards are presented annually and are broadcast live on national television.
It is arguably the biggest, most anticipated, most frequented and most important entertainment event on the Ghanaian social calendar.
Organized in partnership with the Union of Musicians of Ghana (MUSIGA) and under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards program, now in its 22nd year, has grown into a festival music and entertainment. which engages the whole country and beyond.
However, the current VGMA board under the leadership of Mrs. Theresa Ayoade, Managing Director of Charterhouse Productions, lacks diversity and regional balance.
Regions generally without representation include Ahafo, Bono, Bono East, North, Northeast and Savannah.
The others are Oti, Upper East, Upper West and Volta respectively.
It is important to note that the majority (around 90%) of the nominees for the annual awards ceremony over the years are artists or musicians based in Accra, the country’s capital with no representation from other regions that make up music in their ethnic languages.
This petition is based on the fact that Charterhouse herself admitted, as stated in the introduction, that the Ghana Music Awards were created to celebrate ‘Ghanaian musicians’ and that as such the organizers should extend and include qualified people / citizens from other regions at the highest decision making body for diversity and representation.
Again, it is an established fact that the main sponsor (Vodafone Ghana) has a large subscriber base in some of the aforementioned regions without representation on the board or with the award winners.
We are through this petition, calling on Charterhouse and Vodafone Ghana to grow and include citizens of other ethnicities on the board and musicians in the awards.
Again, we stand by this petition, urging that there should be one representative each, from the 16 regions of Ghana who are familiar with Ghanaian music but are not artist directors.
We also urge that the current status quo where some artist directors such as members of the VGMA board and other committees be abolished, as we firmly believe that it does not promote fairness.
We hope you will consider the merits of this petition to promote diversity and national cohesion through the prestigious VGMA.
Thank you.
Sign,
Abdul-Hanan Adam
Melvin Tarlue
Juliette Six Obiri
King Zico Ishaq Newton
Mohammed Abdul-Fatawu
PO BOX, 1977, Madina-Accra.
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