We’ll search your bags and your whole body at this year’s VGMA – Theresa Ayoade

Alex Amankwa

CEO of Charterhouse, Theresa Ayoade has promised patrons of this year’s Vodafone Ghana Music Awards that there will be tighter security and thorough searches before people are allowed into the venue.

Theresa Ayoade was speaking at a press conference at the Swiss Spirit Hotel in Accra on Thursday ahead of Ghana’s biggest music awards ceremony.

Recall that last year, the event was disrupted by an altercation that ensued between dancehall acts Stonebwoy and Shatta Wale.

While Stonebwoy mounted the stage to receive the Reggae/Dancehall Artiste of the Year award with his entourage, his arch-rival, Shatta Wale also joined him on stage with some of his fans.

In their bid to get Shatta and his fans off the stage, a scuffle ensued and Stonebwoy pulled a gun allegedly handed to him by his former manager Blakk Cedi.

Charterhouse has assured Ghanaians that nothing of this sort will happen at this year’s event.

Theresa Ayoade confessed that last year, security measures were in place but were not adequate but this year, better measures will be put in place and her organisation will leave no stone unturned to ensure the safety of patrons.

She said:

“Last year, we used the hand-held scanners. We did not use the full-body scanners.

“But now all the rest are going to be rolled out. We’re going to have bag scanners, body scanners, we will scan you till you are tired,” she quipped.

“Now we are all of a heightened sense of security and we feel we should do that. It’s good for all of us.

“We need to ensure the safety of all our patrons. So subsequently if you come for the event, we ask you to remove your shoes, open your bands, stretch your arms, you know we’ll do all of that so bear with us,”

Shatta Wale and Stonbwoy after the incident were penalised for their actions.

The Board of the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards stripped them off the awards they won on the night and also placed an indefinite ban on them from the scheme.

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