A nominee breached security protocol – Charterhouse explains VGMA brawl

Charterhouse has defended its security protocol as “adequate” despite the pandemonium which marred the 20th edition of the Ghana Music Awards.

Charterhouse CEO, Theresa Ayoade in an interview on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Monday, traced the brawl partly to an “unfortunate breach” in the seating arrangement.

“All the nominees were supposed to sit at a designated area. But one of them failed to sit there and we couldn’t control him.”

It is widely known that dancehall artiste, Shatta Wale gave up his seat within the designated area for the nominees to his father, who sat between rising star Kuami Eugene and legend Amakye Dede.

Shatta Wale, who preferred the comfort of the Shatta Movement and the adulation of his fanatics, moved to the podium while Stonebwoy, his rival, was receiving the award for Reggae/Dancehall Artist of the Year.

The disruptive march triggered a response from Stonebwoy who brandished a gun much to the frightened reaction of the audience many of whom stormed the exit.

There are reports of a stampede, the use of tear gas and pepper spray amidst the brawl as the award’s 20th anniversary descended into a spectacle.

The Chief Executive is disappointed.


“We were really expecting it to end on a high note,” she said, explaining the award has reached a milestone that deserved to attract international attention.

She also expected the VGMA had grown big enough to also attract tourists. Feeds to DStv which broadcast the awards was temporarily suspended.

Theresa Ayoade said the organisers had developed enough experience in handling even bigger audiences at venues as big as the Accra Sports Stadium.

Charterhouse programs, she said, have gone ahead without incidents of violence and there was the expectation that last Saturday’s event was not going to depart from the trend.

Theresa Ayoade said the organizers had developed enough experience in handling even bigger audiences at venues as big as the Accra Sports Stadium.

Charterhouse programs, she said, have gone ahead without incidents of violence and there was the expectation that last Saturday’s event was not going to depart from the trend.

SOURCE: MYJOYONLINE.COM