Ghanaian broadcaster and event host, Kafui Dey, has proposed the use of seat fillers, ideally university students living close to event venues, as a way to reduce delays at events such as the Telecel Ghana Music Awards (TGMA).

He made the suggestion in an interview with Kwame Dadzie on Joy FM’s Showbiz A-Z, while assessing the quality of hosting at the event over the years.

While he acknowledged the strides the scheme has made over the years, he noted that one thing that needs to be fixed is the late start of the award ceremony.

“What doesn’t help them [the MCs of the TGMA] is that the event doesn’t start on time. I don’t know why our organisers can’t start employing students from UPSA, UniMAC and UG to be placeholders.

With the Oscars and the Grammys they give free tickets to the student population around the venue. Your brief is to come to the venue in your tuxedo, suit, the women in their gowns, look beautiful, sit in the seats that are empty. If the event starts at 8 o’clock and it is only half-full, the students will fill the seats. So when the stars come, they get up for them to sit down,” he said.

When asked if he would be willing to host the TGMA one day, he answered in the affirmative.

“If they call me I will do it. I have done concerts. I did a concert at the Polo Grounds not too long ago. This was Panji Anoff’s event. He was the producer, he called me on, and I enjoyed it. I am a music person so I enjoy music events and I am an MC too, so if TGMA wants to bring me on, I won’t refuse it,” he said.

The organisers of the Telecel Ghana Music Awards have always come under severe criticism for usually starting the award ceremony late, causing the event to stretch into the following day.

Kafui Dey is a Ghanaian broadcaster, television and radio presenter, and master of ceremonies with years of experience hosting major entertainment and corporate events in Ghana.