State broadcaster, the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) would not allow music videos of iconic highlife musician, Kojo Antwi to be aired on its platform because of his dreadlocks, a former employee of GBC has revealed.
According to ace broadcaster, Kwasi Kyei Darkaw popularly known as KKD, while Ghana Television (GTV), which was the only television station in the country at the time and tasked with the responsibility of educating the Ghanaian populace as well as promoting and sustaining Ghanaian culture, would gleefully play music videos of Jamaican reggae music stars like Bob Marley and Peter Tosh who equally wore dreadlocks, it refused the airing of any music video of Kojo Antwi with the excuse that his dreadlocks could have negative influences on the youth of the country.
This attitude of the state broadcaster which was championed by its management at the time, KKD stated, is characteristic of the Ghanaian people. He described Ghanaians as self-hating people who do not appreciate and regard anything Ghanaian.
KKD believes the decision by the state broadcaster at the time not to air Kojo Antwi’s music videos is an indication of the Ghanaian lack of appreciation and disregard for Ghanaian talent and skills.
“Kojo Antwi’s music, if he had a video would not be played on Ghana Television (GTV). Whiles they play Peter Tosh and Bob Marley, they wouldn’t play Kojo Antwi’s music video on GTV because he has dreadlocks. I think we have been a self-hating people for a very long time. And say this without a pinch of salt. We are very happy to praise strangers for doing the very things for which we will condemn one of our own,” he stated on Accra-based Joy FM.
His revelation comes on the back of a legal action taken by two Rastafarian students against Achimota Senior High School for denying them admission because they wear dreadlocks.
The two students, Tyrone Marhguy and Oheneba Kwaku Nkrabea were turned away by the Achimota Senior High School over their hairstyles.
Despite an earlier intervention by the Ghana Education Service (GES) directing the school to admit the students, the school, with the backing of some teachers’ unions, the school’s PTA and old students, insisted it would not admit the students unless they have their hairs down.
The decision of the school triggered a public debate as some criticize the school for acting in a manner they deemed discriminatory and unlawful while others insist the students must comply with the school’s rules.
Parents of the students have since taken legal action against the school and the government asking the court to compel the school to admit their children as they argue that the school’s directive is against their right to express their religious beliefs and practices which is guaranteed under the 1992 Constitution.
