Stonebwoy's 'Kotoko and Hearts' statement uncalled for – Assembly member

Japhet Festus Gbede, an Assembly Member for Wuxor, Have, and Sremanu Electoral Area in the Akatsi South Constituency of the Volta region, has delivered a strong critique of remarks made by Stonebwoy during yesterday's high-level engagement aimed at mobilising support for the Black Stars.

He described the artiste’s submission as inappropriate and lacking the tact required for such a national platform.

The Assembly Member, who identified himself as a fan of the artiste, said Stonebwoy’s comments were particularly concerning given that the meeting was intended to foster unity between him and Shatta Wale in order to leverage their influence and fan bases for a collective national cause.

He noted that openly suggesting that unity between the two artistes was impossible did not only undermine the spirit of the engagement but also appeared dismissive of efforts by the President to build consensus and collaboration in support of the national team.

“Such platforms demand a high level of emotional intelligence, restraint, and strategic communication. Publicly shutting down a unifying initiative at that level sends the wrong signal and weakens the broader objective,” Mr. Gbede said.

The Assembly Member further criticised what he described as “subtle competitive signalling” exhibited during the engagement, indicating that certain actions and statements created unnecessary comparisons rather than reinforcing a united front.

He pointed specifically to the timing and perception surrounding donations made during the engagement, suggesting that the optics contributed to rivalry instead of solidarity, which was the primary goal of the initiative.

Additionally, the young communication team member of the Akatsi South NDC raised concerns about references to political affiliations and claims of personal contributions to the electoral success of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), describing such remarks as misplaced and irrelevant to the subject under discussion.

“Introducing partisan elements into a national, non-political engagement shifts focus from purpose to personal positioning. It was unnecessary and detracted from the seriousness of the moment,” he added.

While acknowledging Stonebwoy’s status as one of Ghana’s best leading musical talents, the Assembly Member maintained that participation in high-level national discourse requires a more measured, disciplined, and unifying approach.

He concluded that the artiste’s style of engagement increasingly reflects tendencies associated with political communication, suggesting that such a trajectory may be better suited to the political arena if not properly refined for national platforms.