Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, has withdrawn its partnership deal with All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA). The country is no longer hosting the music event with effect this year.
Incumbent Minister of the Tourism sector, Barbara Oteng Gyasi, shared the contract termination news in an exclusive interview on Atinka TV. The minister confirmed that, the decision to withdraw from AFRIMA was due to the displeasure raised by industry players when Ghana hosted it last year.
She disclosed, “The initial agreement was to host AFRIMA for 3 years, but the industry collaboration as expected was unsuccessful. Many industry players were discontent with it and if AFRIMA is for the industry and the players are discontent with it then we will have to withdraw and relook at it so that the next time we are going to organize such event, it will be properly done to the delight of everyone.”
The three-year contract, which was signed under the leadership of former Tourism minister Catherine Afeku, was worth $4.5 million. Upon signing the deal, the creative arts suffered lot of criticism from the public and key players in the entertainment industry, regardless the effort that was made. Several music patrons missed the Conference Centre hosted event in November last year, making the show’s attendees comprise a larger percentage of public figures outside Ghana.
Stonebwoy, KiDi, M.anifest, King Promise, Sarkodie, GuiltyBeatz, were the few Ghanaian acts who picked up AFRIMA trophies in 2018.
