Blakk Rasta disqualified from 2009 Ghana Music Awards

Reggae artiste Black Rasta has been disqualified from this year’s Ghana Music Awards for insulting behavior.

The decision was taken at a meeting held by members of the Planning Committee in response to recent verbal attacks by the artiste on the personalities of the Committee.

Black Rasta, who is also a radio presenter on an Accra FM station, a few weeks ago lashed at the Ghana Music Awards Organisation, and Charterhouse, the organizers of the ceremonies of the awards scheme, on his radio programme for not nominating his song ‘Barack Obama’ in the ‘Most Popular Song of the Year’ category as well, but named it only in the ‘Reggae Song of the Year’ category.

While the Planning Committee of the Ghana Music Awards welcomes criticism of the scheme, it believes that language used should not be insulting and, therefore, takes exception to the artiste’s outbursts.

Black Rasta’s pronouncements questioned the professional capabilities and integrity of the committee members, calling them names. The committee, thus, believes that based on the artiste’s statements, members cannot adjudicate on his entry in the awards scheme and reward him, consequently expelling him.

In its 10th year, the Ghana Music Awards, which comes off this Saturday April 4 at the Accra International Conference Center is a people’s choice awards scheme that seeks to foster the development of the Ghanaian music industry, and rewards those in the industry who have excelled in the five main music genres in Ghana, namely gospel, hiplife, highlife, reggae and traditional music.