The Country Director of the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) has dispelled reports that Ghana has been handed the hosting rights for the awards.
According to Francis Doku, organisers of the awards are yet to settle on the host country for the awards this year.
His comment contradicts Mrs Catherine Ablema Afeku, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture’s declaration that Ghana will host the event for the first time in November this year.
According to the sector Minister, representatives in the arts and entertainment industry from 55 African countries were expected to converge in Ghana for the final awards ceremony, which is organised by the AFRIMA Secretariat in Nigeria, with the collaboration of the African Union (AU).
“The actual programme will be in Ghana. There will be over 100,000 people coming for the concert at the Independence Square on Friday, alongside a business summit on entertainment and the creative arts, and then the awards night. About 80 million people are expected to view it on DStv because it will be shown for seven days prior to, before and after,” she said.
But speaking in an interview on Showbiz A-Z on Joy FM with Naa Ashorkor, Francis Doku said the host country will be announced this week.
“There was a meeting with President and the Minister of Tourism to just look at how Ghana could host it so that process has been ongoing until now,” he said.
The AFRIMA Country Director added that “in the coming week or so the announcement will be made about which city eventually got to host it but Ghana’s government and the AU have been working to make sure it is Accra…”
According to Francis Doku, there are other African cities who have also expressed interest in hosting the event.