Barima Sidney Apologizes to Mahama for Releasing controversial ‘Papa No’ track

Ghanaian hiplife recording artiste, Sidney Kofi Ofori, known professionally as Barima Sidney has offered an unqualified apology to former President John Dramani Mahama for releasing his viral track dubbed ‘Papa No’ some three years ago.

It will be recalled that many Ghanaians partly blamed the song for the former president’s defeat in the 2020 general elections. However, speaking in an exclusive interview with Joy Prime’s Roselyn Felli on  Prime Morning on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, the crooner disclosed he never released the song for Mr. Mahama, as many Ghanaians claimed. 

Detailing the origin of the song, the ‘African Money’ hitmaker made known that the ‘Papa No’ track was inspired by a social media trend during that period. Sidney further stressed that nobody was a target at the time he was making the song, as he was simply continuing with his usual music.

However, some individuals inserted Mr. Mahama’s pictures onto the track, and the musician clarified that he was unaware of it.

In the words of Sidney; “I heard two ladies conversing on social media about ‘Papa No’ and we all know those two celebrities, Gloria Kani and Tracey Boakye. So, when I heard of Papa No, I was like, this is very interesting. Let me just work on something. So, I just went to the studio one night from 12 to 7 a.m.; we just released it, and by 9:00, it was all over. 

So, I didn’t have anybody in mind, but then some people gathered some rashes of the former president and put it behind the music, and they were using it to promote their own stuff. So, at the end of the day, people thought it was me. I had no idea.” 

The renowned musician further apologized to the NDC flagbearer for any harm the song has caused him. 

“I’ll take this opportunity to apologize to the former President John Mahama. I mean, it wasn’t about him, and I wasn’t the one who did those videos and rashes that circulated on social media. ‘Papa No’ goes to everybody,” he pleaded.