Ghana Was Stripped Off AFRIMA Hosting Rights – Francis Doku

Contrary to earlier reportage that Ghana pulled out from continuous hosting of the All Africa Music Awards, (AFRIMA), Francis Doku has denied the assertion. 

According to him, Ghana was not withdrew from the hosting rights after signing the 3-years deal but was rather stripped off due to lack of interest expressed by government.

Speaking in an interview with Naa Ashorkor on Showbiz A to Z on Joy 99.7 FM last Saturday, the once Country Director for the awards said, lack of capacity to meet the financial and contractual obligations agreed on July 12,2018, which are necessary to retain hosting the event.

”Ghana was stripped off instead because we expressed lack of interest. There were a bit of challenges on the first edition being hosted here in Ghana. I think it was due to our first experience which would have changed along the way. At the end of it all, the commitment itself from government was not seen serious after the first edition. This all caused Ghana to be stripped off hosting rights by AFRIMA” he said.

The issue of AFRIMA and the franchise acquired by Ghana for the 2018 edition stoked a lot of debates among entertainment stakeholders in Ghana.

Most entertainment pundits argued that it was a waste of money to have gone for the deal when the government had a lot of developmental projects to embark on for its art and tourism sector.

However, the Former Minister of Tourism Arts and Culture, Catherine Afeku had reiterated that the hosting of the award in Ghana was in tandem with the government’s national development agenda to boost the arts and tourism economy.