Founder and main organizer of the Ghana Movie Awards, Fred Nuamah, has been spotted in town by Peacefmonline.com cameras cruising in the Zoyte SUV car meant for winners of the “Best Actress in Lead Role (English) category.

Fred was seen personally driving the car at the Aphrodisiac Night Club on Saturday, July 16, 2011 during the Eviction Party for Ghanaian Big Brother Amplified housemate Alex Biney. Fred, who also doubles as an actor, was in the company of two Nigerian Producers in Ghana for business and to also grace the eviction party. He admitted driving the prize car to Aphrodisiac Night Club on the said date but explained rather casually that he decided to take it out for a spin to social events in a bid to "make the car somewhat visible".

When Fred was asked on Peace FM’s “Entertainment Review” why he has decided to drive a branded car instead of his personal car, he replied, "there is no big deal if i decide to drive a car i personally acquired for two top winners of the Ghana Movie Awards".

According to him, winners of the prize car were supposed to cruise around town in it as a form of advertising the various companies that sponsored the event and showcase their respective logos, but since the four actresses have refused to drive the car, he will do so himself.

“It is not my fault that the actresses have not come for their car but the promise we made to the sponsors must be fulfilled...It is just fair to understand where I am coming from, as the founder of the event. I am driving the car because the second edition of the awards is coming on this year; I presented the car to the four of them and up till now they have not come for it for no reason and we can’t allow it to sit in a parking lot,” Fred Nuamah said.

“If you refuse to abide by the rules given to you the car is taken from you. I have already said that I am going to meet with the jury then we decide on the car but we can’t say that because they have won the car and they are not driving it we should leave it parked there. At least I have to warm the engine once in a while...It is a promotional car, there are company logos on the car so if they are doing this, either I find somebody to do it or I do it myself”.

He disagreed with the suggestion that it was unethical to cruise around town in the prize car.

“If you tell me that you saw my sister, my uncle, my mother or any member of my family driving the car, I will concede that is wrong; but I drove the car myself meaning that we are promoting the event because the second edition is around the corner," he explained.

It will be recalled that four actresses: Jackie Appiah, Juliet Ibrahim, Roselyn Nggiza and Yvonne Okoro won the award for Best Actress in A Lead Role (English) category and as part their prize package, all four were presented with one SUV.

This generated heated debate in media and showbiz circles after the maiden edition of the award ceremony on Christmas day December 25 2010 was held and the presentation made.

The four actresses who played four friends in the award winning movie “4Play” were supposed to agree on how they were going to use the car after it was officially presented to them at the Golden Tulip Hotel in January 2011, but till date, they have not been able to come to a consensus, even though Jackie Appiah has publicly declared that she has opted out of sharing any dividends that will accrue from the sale of the prize car.

Renowned actor, Kofi Adu popularly known as Agya Koo, was presented with the second car for his contribution to reviving the movie industry after winning the award for “Best Actor Lead Role (Local Language)” for his role in “Ama Ghana”. He has been seen on countless occasions on the streets of Accra and Kumasi, happily cruising in the car.

Meanwhile, plans are far advanced to launch the second edition of the Ghana Movie Awards on Wednesday August 3, 2011 in the conference hall of Golden Tulip Hotel in Accra at exactly 10am. The much awaited launch will attract movie stars, Producers, Directors, Editors, movie industry stakeholders from all over the country and beyond.

Special guests for the occasion will be Deputy Minister of Information Mr. Samuel Okudzeto, Deputy Minister of Tourism, Mr. James Agyenim Boateng among others.

After the launch, submission of movies will be officially opened for interested producers to bring their movies for consideration, followed by a nomination party scheduled to take place in November at the Golden Tulip Hotel in Kumasi.

The main awards night is slated for Christmas day December 25, 2011 at the Accra International Conference Center.