Music Producer, Ahmed Banda, famed in music circles as Bandex, has confirmed he personally asked Cee, Isaac and Ampong, three musicians in his stable not to attend the public awards of the MTN Ghana Music Awards ceremony. The three won the Best Collaboration award of the 9th MTN Music Awards but were conspicuously missing from the event after the organisers, Charter House sent them invites. Ms Juno Abena Turkson, Public Relations Executive of Charter House, climbed up stage to receive the award on behalf of the three, claiming Bandex had barred his artistes from attending the evening event. The revelation shocked many in the audience, and generated heated debates on the airwaves. But confirming the ‘edict’ to Myjoyonline, Bandex said his action was in protest of the organisers’ failure to send him an invitation as a producer. He was at the Industry Awards version of the celebration, held earlier on Wednesday, April 23, with the three musicians, and even here, he had to ‘press’ for an invite to enable him attend the event. He also added that after the Industry Awards, the Producers Association of Ghana, otherwise known as the Ghana Association of Phonographic Industry (G.A.P.I) met to register their disapproval of the Record Label of the Year award going to Mad Time Entertainment, because by GAPI’s standards Mad Time did not deserve it. Following that meeting, he said they resolved to meet Charterhouse to register their protest and consequently sent a letter through the GAPI President, Mr John Mensah Sarpong asking them for a meeting. He said the meeting could not come on as planned. Bandex said after the GAPI meeting and the letter sent to Charter House requesting for a meeting, he had a call from Mrs Diana Hopeson, President of the Musicians Union of Ghana, urging them to attend the public awards because the event was already too close. This, he said, was apparently because Charterhouse called her to report the grievances of GAPI. Bandex said from the GAPI meeting, it was apparent that other producers had been refused invitations, a sad development he claimed has been happening over the years. In a similar vein, Mr. John Mensah Sarpong, GAPI President confirmed to Myjoyonline that he signed and made sure the association’s letter was sent to Charterhouse. He even followed up to Charterhouse and spoke with CEO, Theresa Ayoade, but failed to get any favourable response. He then sent the Secretary of GAPI to Charterhouse to request tickets for the producers, but the request was turned down. As a result he, Sarpong, who had been given two invites, refused to honour the invitation to the public award in order not to betray his fellow producers who he served as president. Miss Juno Abena Turkson on her part said she decided to receive the award for the three artistes as part of the organisers, Charterhouse, to save the unfortunate situation and did not need the express consent of Bandex to do that. She also said she was unaware of any letter from the producers. As part of the rules for the awards ceremony, all award winners who failed to receive their prizes in person forfeited an accompanying 1000 Ghana cedis cash prize. Author: Kwesi Hazel