Entertainment of Friday, 16 November 2018

Source: entertainmentgh.com

AFRIMA 2018 may be called off

Anita Erskine, others were billed to MC the show Anita Erskine, others were billed to MC the show

Anticipation for the 5th edition of the All Africa Music Awards to be held for the first time in Ghana has been quite high, but, with just days to the event, information picked up by www.entertainmentgh.com may not be good news.

This portal has got word that there is some strong speculation that the Nov. 21-24 Awards slated for Accra, may not come off as scheduled due to the inability of the Government of Ghana to fulfill her contractual obligations with The African Union and the organizers.

The African Union Commission and its partners for AFRIMA are contemplating the cancellation of the event in Ghana if the Government does not come through with its promise and agreement as partners to collaborate on the event.

Sources claim that, the Government of Ghana convenanted and committed to supporting the high profile event in varied ways, including the provision of venue, security, logistics, protocol services as well as some partnership package.

Information picked up by www.entertainmentgh.com indicates that, the partnership package agreed to and promised by the Government of Ghana through the Ministry of Tourism, Arts & Culture, is yet to be realized with just days to the opening of the event – which is scheduled for next week Nov. 21 – 24, 2018.

The organizers, according to sources, have waited on Government for quite a longtime, with the hope that Government of Ghana would come through in providing the needed contractual obligations in facilitating similar events it has carried out in other countries.

The inability of the Government to provide and fulfill her part of the contract as agreed months ago, may cause the organizers to cancel the event.

Promotion of the event, which has various activities for four days would have South Africa’s Pearl Thusi, American-based Ghanaian’ Michael Blackson and Ghanaian, Anita Erskine as hosts – has inundated the media space across Africa and Europe for weeks and any form of cancellation or re-scheduling may come with some dire repercussions, especially for Ghana as the host nation.

In May 2018, organizers of the Awards plus an array of popular music stars across Africa were hosted by H.E. Prez Nana Akufo-Addo, in deliberations that eventually saw the hosting rights to the 5th edition given to Ghana.The country Director of AFRIMA,Francis Doku could not be reached for comments at the time of going to press.