Private legal practitioner Nii Ardey Clegg says it would have been more appropriate for the organisers of the Ghana Music Awards, VGMA20, to announce the winners of the withheld categories to show respect to people who spend money to vote.
Nii Ardey Clegg who was speaking on the scuffle that happened at VGMA20 between Dancehall artistes Shatta Wale and Stonebwoy said the award winners should have been announced through a press conference if there is a fear by organisers that fans of the two artistes will end up fighting.
According to him, the decision seems rushed by organisers of VGMA20.
"It seems the announcement was a bit rushed but it is allowed if the rule of the game allows that."
Addressing issues raised by some people that the charges levelled against them in court will not see prosecution, Nii Ardey Clegg explained that the court will not rule base on their personalities but rather the pieces of evidence put before it and how the prosecution is able to sustain it.
Speaking on security arrangements at VGMA20, he said, "After my investigations, I realized there was some breach. The security system and arrangements were poor. Metal detectors were not installed which raises eyebrows."
"Long and short, there is a problem with organizing an event and failing to anticipate the possibilities that may arise," he added.
Also commenting on the VGMA20 issues, Morning Show host of Metro TV Randy Abbey said we should be grateful the minor incident happened to prevent the bigger one if the winner of the Artiste of the Year category and Song of the Year should have been announced.
He said per his information Shatta Wale would have picked the popular song and Stonebwoy named Artiste of the year which will bring a lot of confusion at the venue.
"Maybe we need to thank God for what happened. Per what I heard, maybe what would have happened at the venue was going to be something else."
Randy Abbey further questioned the way licences are issued for guns in the country, he said assessment must be done on the individuals to check their temperament and other things before licencing their guns for them to help prevent further occurrences.
"You don't create a society where we have a gun culture and that's what we should be mindful."
Shatta Wale, Stonebwoy plead not guilty in court
Stonebwoy and Shatta Wale both pleaded not guilty various charges in court after their brawl at the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards last Saturday.
Shatta Wale is facing a charge of offensive conduct conducive to breach of peace while Stonebwoy has been charged with offensive conduct conducive to breach of peace and display of a firearm in public without permission.
The two were put before a court in Accra today, Wednesday.
The court presided over by Magistrate Isaac Addo granted the two bail at a cost of GHc 50,000 each.
Lawyers Jerry Avenyor and Selali Wonya represented Shatta Wale and Stonebwoy respectively. The case has been adjourned to June 20, 2019.
The two were cautioned to be of good behaviour while the case is ongoing.
Background
Many celebrities who were at the 20th edition of the Ghana Music Awards, had to leave the venue after a brawl broke out between the camps of Shatta Wale and Stonebwoy.
It all started when Shatta Wale and his team were seen going on stage after Stonebwoy was announced Reggae/Dancehall Artiste of the Year.
Pandemonium broke out when blows were exchanged between the two camps. Stonebwoy then pulled a gun on stage after he felt threatened by Shatta Wale.
The incident degenerated into pandemonium with one Nii Amoo spraying pepper spray according to Police report.
Although they have both apologised, many people have expressed disappointment in the conduct of the two dancehall artistes.
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