It was not prudent for OJ to pull out of VGMAs 2017 – Okraku-Mantey

It was not prudent for OJ to pull out of VGMAs 2017 – Okraku-Mantey A member and spokesperson for the 2017 Vodafone Ghana Music Awards, Mark Okraku-Mantey asserts that gospel musician, OJ’s decision to opt out of the scheme was not taken in thoughtful consideration.

OJ and other gospel musicians under Cebex Music Production boycotted the awards following allegations by George Quaye, Public Relations Officer (PRO) of Charterhouse, organisers of the award scheme, that gospel musicians offer the most bribe for the awards.

Although George Quaye later apologised, OJ who filed for about five nominations before George Quaye’s statement, went back for the forms he submitted saying, he was not interested in the awards anymore. He indicated that until the PRO names the gospel musicians who offered bribe, he would not be part of it.

His decision, according to Okraku-Mantey was never prudent.

“Although I think it is his right, I thought it wasn’t prudent for him to have done that because he had one of the best songs last year. It would have qualified for Record of the Year,” he said on Hitz FM’s Daybreak Hitz, Monday.

“I never understood. I decided not to call OJ and the producer, Cebex because if you made an effort to pay to win the previous awards, OJ has won twice or thrice. He performed at VGMAs last year. Nobody even influenced anyone to win what he won so why would you withdraw as if you are the only one who has been touched? This industry, you’d think you’re fighting for the gospel music fraternity; they would go for the award and leave you. I think it was an impulse decision. It was not well-thought through,” Okraku-Mantey added.