Public relations and communications officer for Charterhouse, Robert Klah, has opened up about the venue challenges that has confronted organisers of the Telecel Ghana Music Awards (TGMA).

Recently, it was announced that the Grand Arena, which has been the main venue for the TGMAs for the past 5 years, has been switched to the Palms Convention Center.

Speaking on this development during the TGMA Countdown with Isaac Dadzie, Robert Klah explained that early communications from the owners of the land on which the Grand Arena is located indicated that some arrangements were still pending and unfinalised, leaving organisers in a state of confusion.

"We had information from the people who were running the Grand Arena that some things are not finalised, so some things are pending, so they were being worked on.

“But during the period we were still hopeful because it looked like it was going to be positive," he said.

He revealed that organisers began scouting alternative venues as a precautionary measure, assessing options against the high standards the event has maintained over the years, factoring in location, parking logistics, attendee flow, red carpet experience, and overall capacity.

He said the Palms Convention Center emerged as the backup option but was quick to note its limitations.

"Plan B was the Palms Convention Center, but it is not the most suitable place. That's about 2,500 seater capacity. But if we create the kind of stage we create at the Grand Arena, it won't work," he explained.

On why the Grand Arena faced availability concerns, Klah kept specific details under wraps, citing the confidential nature of negotiations between the two parties.

He did, however, note that the venue's owners had their own plans for the space.

"The crux of the matter is that the owners want their place... whatever they want to use it for, it's within their space to use it," he said.

He stressed that having a backup plan is standard practice for any serious event organiser, but that the goal was always to secure the preferred venue.

"As an event organiser, you must have your plan B sorted... but you are still hopeful that the place that we want to go to is where you want to get to," he said.

Watch the full video below:



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