While actors and musicians raised concerns about welfare, incentives, and pension schemes, Shatta shifted the focus to the fans who support them.
He questioned the government’s plans for the street and ghetto youth, who feel ‘left out’ by successive administrations.
Drawing from his own experience of rising from the ghetto, the dancehall musician passionately challenged Bawumia on how he intends to make a difference for these young people.
Shatta’s opening remarks made it clear that he didn’t want to attend the meeting initially. However, he said he changed his mind because he felt he and the government could work together to address his concerns.
“Initially, I didn’t want to be here, but I have a very big problem that I feel we can work out together,” his opening address stated.
Shatta stated further, “I have been watching your campaign about creating jobs and I can even see your slogan that says, ‘To lead is to solve’. I am actually here to tell you about these great people that we have here. Maybe we might be here but the people that actually made us who we are not here.
He continued to drum support for those struggling on the streets, highlighting that these fans support everyone present in the room.
“I have been on the street as a ghetto boy, I rose from the ghetto. These people are struggling on the streets and I wonder if a government wants to come to power, how well they will communicate to these people on the streets. These are the fans that support all of us here. These are people without any hope and that is why sometimes people like us want to share what we have with them,” he added.
He expressed concern for those struggling on the streets, highlighting that these fans support the artists present. “These people have lost hope, and that’s why we sometimes want to share what we have with them,” he said.
In his conclusion remarks, he requested Bawumia respond in pidgin so the ghetto youth could better understand his message.
“I’d please like you to give your response to the people on the street in pidgin so they can understand better,” he requested.
Bawumia’s response
In reply, Bawumia expressed his passionate commitment to helping the needy.
He highlighted his initiatives, stating he is the current patron of Leper’s Aid Ghana and Mother Teresa’s Soup Kitchen, emphasising his dedication to supporting the underprivileged.
“What dey my heart be the people wey dey suffer for the country inside. Ibi en dey my heart. I be patron of Leper’s Aid Ghana. Me den lepers dey eat together because I dey wan help them. Also, I be patron of Mother Teresa’s Soup Kitchen and we help the street children. So my heart dey the street inside. The thing wey i dey do all, I dey do am sake of I wan help the people.
“Digitalization too dey help everybody. I no be so? If I come government, all the tins wey I dey talk sey I go do, I go do am,” he stated in pidgin.
Background
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Presidential Candidate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia,
hosted an exclusive event to engage with members of Ghana’s arts and tourism industry.
The event which took place on October 16, 2024, at the Alisa Hotel in Accra was dubbed, “Evening Encounter with the Arts and Tourism Fraternity.”
It was aimed at fostering dialogue and strengthening relationships between the creative arts sector and the tourism industry.
