Amakye Dede, a legendary figure in highlife, has reacted to requests that he identify the person who coerced him into crowning Kuami Eugene as the highlife’s future at the 2019 Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMA).
In an interview with Okay FM, he disclosed that Kiki Banson, the manager of the performing artist, had given him the crown to present to Kuami Eugene.
Amakye Dede claimed that before going on stage to conduct the ceremony, he first gave the crown to another person backstage.
“It wasn’t me…They forced me to do it,” he said adding that people who doubt can seek confirmation from Mr Banson.
Amakye Dede admitted on Wednesday that he gave in to outside pressure and designated Kuami Eugene as the 2019 monarch of Ghana’s highlife genre.
Following his assertions, Charterhouse, the organization behind the VGMA, distanced itself from the accusation and insisted that it had no involvement in the occasions leading up to the coronation.
Amakye Dede has since been urged by Robert Klah, Head of Public Events and Communication, to identify who compelled him to participate in the action.
“We did not orchestrate any crowning session so I am a bit lost when it comes to the assertion that event organisers are responsible. We work with a team. So, you give them the opportunity, they create what they want to do,” Mr Klah said on Accra-based Asaase Radio.
“The only thing is that you want to ensure that whatever they are going to present is not distasteful, so they get there and perform their act and you move on,” he added.
Amakey Dede added that he doesn’t believe the artist management will dispute his involvement in the crowning that drew criticism in 2019.
