No Miniskirts At Ghana Movie Awards

Actors and all male nominees for the 2011 Ghana Movie Awards (GMAs), as well as male journalists who would be covering the event, will be turned away at the entrance unless they are dressed in black suits and bow ties, or better still tuxedos and white shirts, the News One newspaper has gathered.

“If we want to raise the bar, then it must cut across everything including what we wear to such award ceremonies and the standard is that gents must be in tuxedos with white shirts and bow ties to match but a good black suit would be accepted. And mind you, journalists are not exempted,” a source from the GMAs planning committee told News-one.

The source added that there was strong lobbying from a section of the planning committee that traditional Kente cloths should also be accepted. He said that decision was turned down because it would allow for other traditional attires to be accepted as well. Actresses and female nominees and guest, would also have to dress in formal evening wears as mini-skirts and skimpy dresses would not be tolerated at the gate.

Meanwhile, News-One can report that if this dress code is enforced, a lot of Ghanaian actors would be compelled to buy new suits to tuxedos as many of them hardly dress in such attires.

Not too long ago, Majid Mitchel was sacked from the red carpet being used by celebrities and VIPs at the 64th Annual Cannes Film Festival in France because he was improperly dressed.

He was dressed in a pair of jeans and a jacket with a pair of sneakers on his feet. It was funny and a bit embarrassing when security and protocol signaled him to get off the carpet and quickly buy a pair of new shoes from a Lebanese guy who was selling some cheap executives shoes not far away.

The source said this year’s event was being structured in a way that the media would be the first to arrive as early as possible to prepare for a red carpet segment of the show. 6pm to 7pm will be for media arrival. Any media person who arrives after 7pm will not be allowed entry.

The second edition of the awards ceremony which is aimed at honoring excellence in Ghana’s movie industry was launched a couple of months ago and is scheduled to come off on December 25, 2011. It will also be televised to millions of viewers across Africa and beyond.

Nominations will be announced in November 2011 with an anticipated huge party at the Golden Tulip Hotel in Kumasi. News-One is yet to get updates on movies received so far.