24Hrs to VGMAs: Did Sarkodie charge Charterhouse GHc120,000 to perform at VGMA?

There are reports that award winning Ghanaian rapper, Sarkodie, charged events outfit Charterhouse GHc120,000 to perform at this year’s Ghana Music Awards.

According to the reports, the rapper demanded the amount for a 10-minute performance at the awards to be held at the Accra International Conference Centre on Saturday, April 11.

Earlier in the week, Charterhouse was forced to render an unqualified apology to Sarkodie for advertising him as one of the performers for the awards on April 11. The events company explained in a statement that the addition of the artiste’s name to the list of performers was due to an error.

Sarkodie expressed disappointment in the organizers of the awards for a radio advertisement that said he will be performing at the event even though he had no such contract with Charterhouse.

The rapper said on twitter that “I got a call in the states that promo running on Yfm still that I’m performing… Called them and they were swearing on graves… Charter House is trying to play smart [on musicians]. I just want my profession to be respected where am from … And they should stop acting like we not that important…”

Reports are now emerging that Sarkodie initially demanded GHc100,000 for the performance but Charterhouse offered to pay GHc40, 000 - an amount the rapper didn't find acceptable.

A source told Myjoyonline.com that the Tema-based rapper requested for an amount of GHc90,000 from the music awards organisers as his final figure.

The source explained that after Sarkodie had returned from a trip to the United States to hear advertisement that he will be performing at the awards, Charterhouse offered to make amends by paying him the GHc90,000 he for him to perform at the awards.

The source added that the rapper strangely turned down the GHc90,000 and made a counter-offer of GHc120,000 which the organisers said they could not pay.

George Quaye, Head of Communications for Multiple Concepts, parent company of Charterhouse, during an interview on the matter on Peace FM Thursday refused to confirm or deny the reports.

Attempts by Myjoyonline.com to also get George Quaye to confirm or deny the reports proved futile. He only said, “You know I won’t confirm or deny.”

When Myjoyonline.com contacted Sammy Forson, manager for Sarkodie, he admitted that he has heard reports that his artiste did charge the said amount but said “I would rather not comment.”

Asked if his artiste will be performing at the awards, he said Sarkodie is presently in the country and “he hasn’t been booked per his calendar,” to perform at the event Saturday.
credit:myjoyonline