Was the RTP Awards a ‘huge’ Success?

‘Agoro be soa, efiri anopa (literary meaning that if good things will happen, it probably will show from the early stages)’. The issue lingering in the event organizing sector isn’t that these organizers aren’t able to put up good shows, but it has to do with the quality behind whatever they dish out.

I want to once again congratulate all the winners (both those that deserved it and those that did not deserve it) on that night. I will like to say ‘Ayeeekooo’ to the ‘Chairman General’ Uncle Kwami Sefa Kayi for showing that until he retires; he will continue to retain his bragging right as the Numero Uno. No questions please. He is just peerless.

I will not want to sour their (the winners) joy because I want to state my point frankly, I believe that constructive criticisms will only help and build this industry bigger and better.

From the onset, I had already hinted that this RTP Awards was becoming a laughing-stock and that the whole ‘thing’ was eventually turning into a child’s play, but as usual, I got battered, beaten with words and someone even took a bet with me. Sincerely, the event had been already postponed twice before it was finally settled for the 13th of October, 2012, with a new brand taking the title sponsorship of the whole event, thus, mounting its roll-up banner on the stage for the world to acknowledge their presence as it may seem.

Before that night, the organizers gave flimsy excuses, one was that there was a technical hitch, well that can be understood, but not with the excuse of the trophies being manufactured in space or whatnot, those were merry-go-round talks.

I don’t want to say that whatever or whoever pushed the organizers to delve into organizing the event must have been somewhat a ‘mistake’, but bravery is in the mind, and so it finally took place on the final date scheduled.

Certain things were ‘kpalavious’ and I will in good faith point them out, not to drown their spirit but to keep them on their toes with the notion that someone somewhere is watching, probably in the Northern sector of the country as the whole dilly-dally was an Accra-Kumasi scenario. Meaning that apart from these two places in Ghana, the rest radio and TV stations in these regions are ‘yawa’?

Abuse of Time & Venue

The organizers gave no hoot about time and that prompted at least two-thirds of the ‘flop’. Who cared? Whatever they dish, certainly the people will swallow, so they could afford to drag us into the wee hours of the morning before allowing us to go to our beds. The event was to start at exactly 6:00pm (plus or minus the Ghana Man’s Time), but it started four hours late meaning that 10:00pm on the dot, the presenters welcomed the audience in the ‘Moscow’ like Dome. That cold almost could have sent an innocent person from normality to abnormality. And if you care to know when the organizers decided we go home, Sunday, 1:48am.

Slippery stage & the Falling contest

I have heard one or two acts in Ghana trying to sue the event organizers for embarrassing them and Asem is one. He may be right in his pursuit because it was glaring that the young man almost lost half of his sets of teeth. What about Tagoe Sisters (one of them) who almost went ‘yakataaa’ on the floor? What about the ‘oyinbo’ lady who slipped and was saved by the band’s men? It was very obvious that Joselyn Dumas walked with extra care; else she would have been remembering two things on the night (her award and the fall).

Wrong venue @ this juncture

For an event of that nature with a cool content, it should have been kept simple and straightforward, but I don’t think that the venue used was right and moreover, I feel that there were more lively venues that would have brought out the beauty of the night. Must every Tom, Dick & Harry show be channeled to the Dome? Can’t all these our ‘pot-bellied’ investors rise to the task and at least build different event venues?

…And so finally

Amidst all the flaws which almost landed people on the floor, I will want to ask event organizers to respect the people they drag to their events, they must be conscious of the fact that that if you don’t pay attention to little details, it messes you up, thus, ‘agoro be soa, efiri anopa’.

A recount of the Winners on the night

RADIO & TELEVISION PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR Kwami Sefa Kayi – Peace FM

RADIO MORNING SHOW HOST OF THE YEAR Captain Smart – Fox Fm

RADIO MID MORNING SHOW HOST OF THE YEAR Sammy Forson – Y FM

RADIO DJ OF THE YEAR DJ Champagne – YFM

RADIO SPORTS SHOW HOST OF THE YEAR Joe Lakkar – ANGEL FM

REGGAE SHOW HOST OF THE YEAR Blakk Rasta – Hitz FM

RADIO GOSPEL SHOW HOST OF THE YEAR Rev. Gabriel Ansah – ADOM FM

RADIO FEMALE PRESENTER OF THE YEAR Jeremy – Y FM

RADIO ENTERTAINMENT TALK SHOW HOST OF THE YEAR Akwasi Aboagye – PEACE FM

RADIO NEWSCASTER OF THE YEAR - LOCAL LANGUAGE Nana Yaw Kesse – Peace FM

RADIO NEWSCASTER OF THE YEAR – ENGLISH LANGUAGE Shamima Muslim – Citi FM

RADIO TALK SHOW HOST OF THE YEAR Suhuyini Alhassan – Radio Gold

RADIO DEVELOPMENTAL SHOW HOST OF THE YEAR Maafia Konadu – Peace FM

TELEVISION NEWSCASTER OF THE YEAR - MALE CATEGORY Bright Nana Amful – TV3

TELEVISION NEWSCASTER OF THE YEAR - FEMALE CATEGORY Nana Aba Anamoah – TV3

TELEVISION MORNING SHOW HOST OF THE YEAR Gifty Anti – GTV

TELEVISION SPORTS SHOW HOST OF THE YEAR Michael Katahena – Metro TV

TELEVISION CURRENT AFFAIRS SHOW HOST OF THE YEAR Nii Ardey Clegg – Multi TV

TELEVISION DEVELOPMENTAL SHOW HOST OF THE YEAR Mama Doris (Tele Nurse) – Crystal TV

TELEVISION FEMALE PRESENTER OF THE YEAR Gifty Anti – GTV

TELEVISION ENTERTAINMENT SHOW HOST OF THE YEAR (MALE CATEGORY) Jon Germain – METRO TV

TELEVISION ENTERTAINMENT SHOW HOST OF THE YEAR (FEMALE CATEGORY) Joselyn DUMAS – VIASAT 1

TELEVISION PROGRAMMING CATEGORIES

TELEVISION PROGRAMME OF THE YEAR Vodafone Health Line – Vodafone Ghana

TELEVISION ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAMME OF THE YEAR 4 SYTE TV

TELEVISION SPORTS PROGRAMME OF THE YEAR Sports Station – TV3

TELEVISION NEWS PROGRAMME OF THE YEAR NEWS 360 – TV3

TELEVISION REALITY SHOW OF THE YEAR Ghana’s Most Beautiful – TV3

TELEVISION SERIES OF THE YEAR (LOCAL) Chokor Trotro

RADIO PROGRAMME OF THE YEAR Drive Time On Joy – Joy FM

BEST CORRESPONDENT OF THE YEAR Jefferson Sackey of Joy FM

RADIO SPORTS PROGRAMME OF THE YEAR Happy Sports – HAPPY FM

RADIO NEWS PROGRAMME OF THE YEAR Peace News

Ignite your appetite with Efya doing ‘The Best In Me’ song