Dancehall artiste, Charles Nii Armah Mensah, also known as Shatta Wale has declined to perform at the launch of multiple community mining projects in Ellembelle District in the Western Region. It comes after civil society groups in the environmental sector including A Rocha Ghana petitioned the Dancehall artiste. The CSOs had warned that surface mining has already caused “tremendous havoc” in the area by polluting rivers and streams.
Complicit
According to the CSOs “creeks, streams, and rivers, including Ankobra, Broma, Subile Norloa and Amanzule have been poisoned from mining.” The community mining projects are being promoted and sponsored by Kwasi Bonzoh, the Honorable District Chief Executive (DCE) of Ellembelle. “‘By inference then, honouring this invitation to perform will make you complicit in the imminent destruction of whatever is left of our land,” they told Shatta Wale. The group says Shatta Wale could undermine his image as an icon for Ghanaian youth if he goes ahead to perform.
Green Revolution Hero of the Year
A Rocha Ghana has since commended Shatta Wale for taking such a bold decision describing him as the Green Revolution Hero of the Year. “Shatta Wale is our Green Revolution Hero of the Year. We kept our fingers crossed and hoped he would see our “Love Letter”. He did!.” “Shatta Wale has reviewed his schedule and excluded the previously planned feature at a Community Mining launch event at Ellembelle.…,” A Rocha Ghana posted on Facebook.