We need Bigger Event Venues - Mrs. Theresa Ayaode

Executive Director of Charter House, organizers of Ghana Music Awards, Mrs. Theresa Ayaode has pleaded with government and policy makers to consider putting up bigger enclosed event venues in Accra and other parts of the country to enhance events production in the country.

Theresa made this passionate appeal as part of her speech at the launch of the prestigious Ghana Music Awards Festival 2012, at the Golden Tulip Hotel on Saturday February 18, 2012.

She craved for the attention of everyone present especially the Deputy Minister of Information Hon. James Agyenim Boateng, before she made the plea. “I plead with the government to help build bigger event venues because all the event venues we have now outgrown its usefulness”.

She added that Ghana Music Awards started from the National Theater, moved to the Accra International Conference Center and now to the Dome. Theresa stressed that apart from the less than 1500 capacity National Theatre which was purposely built for events, any other venue available in Accra are not meant for professional event productions.

Mrs. Ayaode said as a company sometimes they wish to take the main awards night to other regions but they are always faced with the challenge of getting an appropriate enclosed venue. This year’s event will be held at the Dome on April 14 2012 because according to her there is no alternative.

Other notable faces spotted at the musical evening includes; Uche Ofodile, Chief Marketing Officer of Vodafone Ghana, MUSIGA President Obour, Ex-MUSIGA President Sidiku Buari, Rex Omar, Amandziba, Paulina Oduro, Hammer of the LAST TWO, Appietus, Kill Beats, EL, Jay Soul, VIP, 4X4, Tic Tac, Efya, Tiffany, Eazzy, rappers; Manifest, Sarkodie, Yaa Pono, D-Cryme, movie stars; Lydia Forson, Ecow Smith Asante, Naa Askorkor, gospel singers; Ohemaa Mercy, Gifty Osei, among others. The full event calendar of the VGMA Festival 2012 was announced that the 13th edition of the award ceremony would be held at The Dome of the Accra International Conference Centre on April 14, where 15 top awards will be presented to outstanding works from the past year.

The main ceremony will be preceded by the presentation of awards for industry categories at a special ceremony at the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel, on April 10. Meanwhile, the much anticipated release of nominations for the 2012 Ghana Music Awards will be announced on February 28 at a short ceremony which would be televised live on GH One Entertainment Television. Public voting will begin on all platforms, including SMS text and internet voting will begin from March 1.

Also revealed during the launch, was the prize package for this year’s awards which includes 2,000 GH¢ for each winner, and 10,000 GH¢ for the Artist of the Year.

The winner of the World Bank sponsored Music for Development category also wins a cash prize of 5,000 GH¢. This year’s music awards festival will include nominees’ party in Takoradi on March 10 and Kumasi on March 24, as well as club parties in selected regions. It would be climaxed with the final nominees’ party in Accra on March 31.