UK-based Ghanaian Afrobeat artiste, Fuse ODG refused to attend this year’s Black Entertainment Television (BET) Awards in Los Angeles because he was angry with organisers.

The Ghanaian, who was nominated in this year’s awards, is not happy that organisers of the awards do not accord nominees for the Best International Act categories (Africa and UK) with the needed respect.

Widely respected as one of the world’s prestigious award events, which focus primarily black people everywhere, the BET Awards have for some years received a lot of flak for its treatment of nominees for the Best International Act categories.

But for the past three editions of the awards, awards for the international categories winners were usually presented backstage.   

Winners of the two categories since the 2013 edition have received their awards on stage but at a pre-recorded event, in front of almost empty seats, preceding the main awards.

Fuse ODG was nominated in the Best International Act: UK and he battled FKA twigs, Lethal Bizzle, Little Simz, MNEK and Stormzy for that award. Stormzy was adjudged winner of that category.

Explaining why he did not attend the awards at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, the ‘Antenna’ hit-singer said on twitter that the organisers do not respect the hard work of artistes.

“Dear @BET, the reason why I didn't come is because you give our awards backstage! You have no respect for our hard work and achievements,” he said.

Ghanaian dancehall artiste, Stonebwoy has been adjudged winner of the other Best International Act category - Best International Act: Africa.

The dancehall artiste, who was adjudged Artiste of the Year at 2015 Vodafone Ghana Music Awards, beat Ghanaian counterpart Sarkodie and some of Africa’s biggest acts to win the award.

The other nominees in that category were AKA (South Africa), Fally Ipupa (DR Congo), Sauti Sol (Kenya), The Soil (South Africa), Wizkid (Nigeria) and Yemi Alade (Nigeria).

Read: Insult or honour: Africa receives 2013 BET award in front of empty seats