Award schemes causing depression for musicians – Hammer

Ghanaian music producer, Hammer, who has over the years produced several hit songs for uncountable number of musicians has said, award schemes in the country are reason behind the series of depression news specifically about musicians.

The Last Two record label boss, also known as Edward Nana Poku Osei named Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMA) as one scheme that has over the period mounted such stance on musicians.

He cited instance of nominating a musician in nine different categories but end up awarding the person with nothing, with which he says, the musician becomes a topic on social media citing abuse among others.

Speaking in an interview with Adu Kumi on Tete-a-tete on Asempa FM, the veteran music producer cited the cases of the likes of Okomfour Kwadee and Pappy Kojo, claiming they went into depression as a result of their inability to win these accolades.

“Some time ago Pappy Kojo went into depression, I believe it was as a result of the VGMA ordeal, he was nominated for nine but won none. This act has a huge potential of breaking an artiste’s mental health. The mind is very fragile, if you joke with it, it’s very dangerous.

“Don’t push these boys to the wall and just walk away from them, it breaks them. When you nominate an artiste for 9 awards at least he/she must leave with two. If you know that that person is not getting even one award, don’t give him nine nominations. It’s too much to go home empty-handed; you can nominate that person for three awards” he said.