Celebrated Reggae/Dancehall artiste Stonebwoy has been removed from the lineup of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Victory Concert, which is slated for Sunday, January 5, 2025.
This decision, made just days before the event, comes in response to backlash from the party’s grassroots and youth supporters about Stonebwoy’s inclusion on the artistes list.
The reigning Telecel Ghana Music Awards Artiste of the Year was initially unveiled as one of the headliners for the upcoming concert on Sunday but the announcement was met with mixed reactions, sparking a social media storm under the hashtag #DropStonebwoy.
Critics argued that Stonebwoy’s inclusion was inappropriate due to the artiste perceived lack of alignment with the NDC’s ideologies or his previous political affiliations. Many party members and supporters took to social media to voice their concerns, urging the concert organisers to reconsider their decision.
The supporters objections were rooted in a belief that the inclusion of certain performers should reflect unwavering loyalty to the party’s ideals and vision.
A vocal section of the supporters argued that the concert was a moment to celebrate the NDC’s historic victory in the December 7 general elections, and therefore, the artistes performing should align closely with the party’s ideology and should have played a role in its campaign.
In response to the mounting pressure, the organisers of the NDC Victory Concert released an official statement on Friday, December 3, confirming Stonebwoy’s removal from the performance lineup.
“The organisers of the Ghana Victory Concert, responding to public sentiment and concerns from the party’s grassroots regarding Stonebwoy’s inclusion, have decided to remove the artist from the concert lineup. We sincerely apologise to all members of the National Democratic Congress, particularly the grassroots, for what may have appeared to be a lack of discretion on the part of the organisers,” the organisers statement read in part.
Below is the full statement.
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