Thursday, 03 October

Scramble for stadium: Shatta Wale cites 2019 VGMAs gun controversy, insinuates Stonebwoy's a troublemaker

Entertainment
Ghanaian star singer-songwriter and record producer Shatta Wale

Shatta Wale has cried foul concerning schedule arrangements at the Accra Sports Stadium leading up to his December event there.

On Monday, September 4, 2023, the Reggae/Dancehall star announced on Facebook that he, together with rap star Medikal, will be holding a Freedom Wave Concert at the international stadium.

The next day, he asked his fans for feedback to improve the event.

Two days after, he revealed with another flyer that even though the Freedom Wave Concert, which debuted in 2022, is scheduled for December 25, it will be preceded by four main events – thus making it a festival –unlike last year's:

- 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).

On September 12, he asked his followers to suggest new acts to perform during the festival.

Three days later, Friday, September 15, Reggae/Dancehall star Stonebwoy also announced the date and venue for his one of his annual concerts. He indicated, with a flyer, that the 2023 Bhim Concert will be held at the Accra Sports Stadium.

In a rant posted to Facebook, Tuesday, September 19, Shatta Wale reacted to Stonebwoy’s announcement, insinuating that the latter and the officials of the National Sports Authority have worked to sabotage his festival.

He even mentioned that President Nana Akufo-Addo’s daughter is meddling in the matter.

“The stadium, you people 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.

“You people were here when Stonebwoy pulled a gun at an awards show. You want gun issues at the stadium? You people do not think. It is your work and we don’t interfere with advice so you people have not even given a thought to the consequences of your actions, in that, what you people are doing could cause chaos in the country,” the On God hitmaker said.

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?”

Charles Nii Armah Mensah, alias Shatta Wale, bemoaned that there are “foreign companies that are coming onboard to help this thing be a successful show so why this date?”

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.

What is more, “eventually, I heard the president’s daughter called the stadium telling them that they have to allow us to do the show”.

In a moment of visible anger, Wale raised his voice and asserted: “The stadium, in the first place, is not mine, and certainly it is not for the president’s daughter.”

Source: classfmonline.com/Prince Benjamin