Friday, 13 September

Scramble for stadium: Agreement reached | Stonebwoy, Shatta Wale will have their respective concerts with fair access to the Accra Sports Stadium– NSA boss calls for peace

Entertainment
Director General of the National Sports Authority, Prof Peter Twumasi

According to the Director General of the National Sports Authority (NSA), Prof Peter Twumasi, Reggae/Dancehall stars Shatta Wale and Stonebwoy are yet to receive and sign contracts from his outfit covering their December events at the Accra Sports Stadium.

The international sports facility has been at the centre of a raging controversy since Shatta Wale alleged NSA authorities and Stonebwoy's team appear to have connived to sabotage his Freedom Wave Concert, scheduled for December 25, 2023.

Wale spoke in a video on Facebook, Tuesday, September 19, 2023, expressing his profound displeasure.

His issue, per the video, was the NSA authorities, "told my team that to do a show at the stadium, we need a three-day setup. So if we’ll do the show on 25th, we need three days ahead of that date to set up. So, 22nd to 24th, would be for preparation, because we know 25th is when the show comes off, that’s what you told my team".

Contrary to this, however, Wale said, he was shocked to learn that Stonebwoy had been given the greenlight to bring his annual Bhim Concert to the venue on December 22 – the first day earmarked for the preparation towards his Freedom Wave Concert, which returns to the stadium after its 2022 debut.

He said he complained to Lord Commey that the stadium officials “did not give us a contract as they should have and they are telling us that Stonebwoy will also have a show at the venue so we have to hold on”.

He said he quizzed “why Stonebwoy would want to do his show on dates we have put out already?”

He suggested that Stonebwoy “could have had his show on December 10, or any other day in December. Why into our dates for preparation, why?”

He alleged “Prof [Peter Twumasi],” the Director General of the National Sports Authority, said the matter would be settled but that was not done.

“At the time, we had money in hand to pay, but all we kept hearing was they will have a contract ready not knowing this was your decision all along,” Wale bemoaned.

In reacting to the allegations, Prof Peter Twumasi, in an interview with thespectatoronline.com, has revealed that when the artistes applied for the venue in question, he had a mutual meeting with members of their respective teams present. He said they reached an agreement to host their events on different dates at the Accra Sports Stadium in December. 

“We have agreed with each of them, Stonebwoy will have his show on Friday, December 22, Shatta Wale will have his concert on Monday, December 25, 2023. We met with both teams and they were all satisfied and agreed,” Prof.Twumasi disclosed.

He added that the NSA's legal team is preparing documents for the artistes' perusal and signing for their respective dates. 

He also called for peace in the camps of Shatta Wale and Stonebwoy, assuring also that a fair opportunity will be given both artistes to utilise the 40,000 capacity stadium. 

It is reported Ashaiman to the World and Bhim Nation, events organised and hosted by the Into the Future hitmaker Stonebwoy, and the climax of his 5th Dimension World Tour will all be combined for a grand music explosion at the Accra Sports Stadium on December 22. 

On the other hand, Johnny Just Come (JJC) hitmaker Shatta Wale and La Hustle hitmaker Medikal are bringing the second edition of their Freedom Wave Concert to the stadium on December 25 as a climax for what is being called Freedom Wave Festival.

Preceding the Ohene Gyan or Accra Sports Stadium concert, the following events will take place:

- Arrival of regional fanbases (December 20).

- Exhibition of Shatta Movement (SM) merchandise (December 21).

- Pre concert with new artistes (December 22).

- Prayers for the industry (December 23).

- Dress rehearsal for artistes (December 24).

Source: classfmonline.com/Prince Benjamin