Charterhouse CEO Discusses Shatta Wale’s Possible Return To The VGMAs
The CEO of Charterhouse, the company responsible for organising the annual Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMA), has stated that she and her staff are willing to speak with Shatta Wale and his representatives about the musician’s possible return to the award scheme.
During an interview on Joy FM, Theresa Ayoade mentioned that after the ban was lifted on Shatta Wale and Stonebwoy, both of their teams reached out to discuss how they could collaborate for the development of the industry.
“We are open to a conversation… We want to be as inclusive as possible. We are happy to sit around the table and have a decent conversation, which is what we did with Stonebwoy’s team. We are happy to have a conversation, but as decent adults and mature people,” she said.
In spite of the ban being lifted against him and Stonebwoy after their public clash in 2019, the reggae and dancehall musician once again missed the 24th VGMA. Mrs. Ayoade also stated that, as business associates, they are concerned about the integrity of their programme.
“We just want to make sure that the scheme is respected. Whoever agrees to be part of the scheme agrees to abide by the outcome of the scheme. Most importantly, just give it that respect, because we give every musician the necessary respect. The industry must also give us that respect for what we do because we are collaborators in the industry,” she added.
Following a public altercation in 2019 in which Stonebwoy showed a gun on stage, both he and Shatta Wale were banned from performing at the VGMAs indefinitely. But Stonebwoy has returned to the award programme, winning Afropop Song of the Year and Reggae/Dancehall Artiste of the Year at the 24th VGMA, while Shatta Wale is yet to return.
