Entertainment pundit and broadcaster Ola Michael has voiced his concerns over the organization of the red carpet event at the 2024 Telecel Ghana Music Awards (TGMAs).
According to him, the red carpet didn’t meet the expectations of people.
“The red carpet event is an event on its own. But up till now, Charterhouse has yet to master it. This year’s red carpet looked like a marketplace. Maybe they didn’t plan it, or they got someone unqualified to plan it. They just allowed anyone on the carpet.”
Ola Michael
Ola Michael pointed out the experience of industry professionals who had to share the space with inappropriately dressed attendees.
“A professional like Bullet will come on the red carpet, someone who can help boost the allure of it, and he was being forced to share the red carpet with someone who wore a polythene bag. Someone else put on a nurse’s uniform and was allowed to come on the red carpet.”
Ola Michael
He stressed the importance of respecting the red carpet tradition and suggested that with proper management, the red carpet can get to a point where it’s bigger than the awards show itself.
“I think they should polish it up; it’s been 25 years. If it continues like this, people will lose interest in it. If we do it well, it will get to a point where people will just come for the red carpet and not the event itself.”
Ola Michael
Ola Michael’s comments join those of other industry players who have called for a revamp of red-carpet events at various shows following the ‘disappointing’ display at the 2024 TGMAs.
Media personality, Sammy Rasta cited the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCAs) as an example where the red carpet overshadowed the awards themselves and urged TGMA organizers to partner with seasoned fashion influencers like Kofi Okyere Darko (KOD) to elevate the red carpet experience.
TGMA Red Carpet Session Sucked
Ghanaian broadcaster and fashion icon, Kofi Okyere Darko, expressed his disappointment about the red carpet session of the recently held Telecel Ghana Music Awards.
The founder of the Nineteen57 fashion company noted that he thought the people who appeared on the carpet could have done better.
“For me, for the performers on the night, everyone brought their A-game. It was the red carpet that sucked. If we watch what happens out there, continentally, let me even come back to the African continent, events that take place in South Africa, Nigeria, and what have you, we see [better stuff].
“Chale, don’t complicate things, especially for the brothers. Just wear a simple black suit and accentuate it with a bit of color. Since the event is red-themed, maybe with red. In people’s quest to outdo themselves, they actually under-do themselves.”
KOD
“There is so much happening out there that we don’t have to reinvent the wheel,” he added
Kofi Okyere Darko who is one of the hosts of the event during its incipient stage, also assessed the quality of emceeing on the night.
“I think we had timeless people who were not on the stage for the first time. Naa Ashorkor has done this maybe three times. Chris took a break from hosting live shows.
“I was looking forward to seeing him. On a scale of 0-10, I will give Chris maybe like 7. The only place I didn’t seem to get was their intro. They had a bit of a shaky intro but they picked up.”
KOD
The Telecel Ghana Music Awards was held on June 1, 2024, at the Accra International Conference Center with Stonebwoy winning the Artiste of the Year award, among five other slots.
Other award recipients at the awards ceremony were Strongman, King Paluta, Olivetheboy, Nacee, Amerado, Kofi Kinaata, Kuami Eugene, Kofi Karikari, and Queendalyn, among others.
The Telecel Ghana Music Awards was organized by Charterhouse.
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