Some Ghanaian celebrities have slammed UK boy band, One Direction, who are also one of the world’s biggest groups for their negative remarks about the country during a recent trip.
The group made up of Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson and Liam Payne where in Ghana over the weekend on a charity tour as part of their involvement with the U.K. charity organization Comic Relief.
After their visit to Ghana, Niall Horan took to social networking site Twitter to say: "Just arrived back from Accra,Ghana! Best life experience ever! This @rednoseday please get involved!"
He again tweeted that: "I've seen the slums right in front of me! This is no joke! They really need your help! Poverty is real!," and added that: "Massive thanks to @rednoseday for taking us to Ghana! It was incredible! Real eye opener! We take so much for granted over here!"
Another member of the group, Harry Styles, who recently came out of a relationship with singer Taylor Swift also tweeted: "Today was the most amazing day I've had so far..In my life ever."
The award winning group, who are signed to Simon Cowell's record label Syco Records, have recorded a cover of Blondie's One Way or Another to help raise money for the Comic Relief fund.
This year's ‘Red Nose Day’ which takes place on March 15 encourages people to do something funny for money.
Apparently their comments on twitter and pictures they posted about the trip did not go down well with Ghanaians who say they could have done better by also projecting the positive side of the country.
Eonline, a well known international entertainment news medium in their reportage of the trip also described Accra as an “impoverished village.”
Controversial musician Wanlov the Kubolor mocked the group by commenting on a photo of the group clapping with some kids on twitter that: “Ghana is getting worse so heaven sent 5 downcut jesuses to teach us clapping.”
Award winning actress, Ama K. Abebrese also sent several tweets on the issue.
She said: “@NiallOfficial n @onedirection Your tweets about the slums and poverty of Accra, Ghana was very touching…….however … Next time, also tweet about the luxury hotel and VIP treatment and beauty of the country you enjoyed.”
She added that, ““@NiallOfficial n @onedirection … I understand its for charity, but this highly negative image of sub Saharan African countries like Ghana….. that you choose to focus on without balance for the so many positive aspects to your millions of ff”.
“@NiallOfficial n @onedirection … serve mostly to reinforce negative stereotypes. I have donated to @rednoseday and it does good work…I live in the beautiful city of Accra, Ghana, and there is so much more to it than slums and poverty.”
@NiallOfficial n @onedirection …. so next time, please be #Balanced#ComeBetter There is more to Ghana, so much more,” she concluded.
Actress Lydia Forson said: “Dear @onedirection next you visit a country, remember like yours there are beautiful and ugly parts. Don’t base your views on one part”.
She further said: “Like every “normal” country we have the rich,poor,middle class. Don’t show one side of a country and project it as the whole @onedirection” the actress added that: “But don’t blame @onedirection too much, blame the people who constantly feel the need to show only deprived parts of Africa!”
Musician and former Big Brother Africa representative Mimi also tweeted: “@lydiaforson @onedirection Excuse me, who are they anyways? The cheek of it…. Omo firi y3so nko”.
One person, Kiana, with the name @snapstyles tweeted: “one direction are only money hungry” “fame has gone to their heads” “they only care about publicity”.
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