Shatta Wale could get a three-year jail term for his conduct at the 2019 Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMA 2019) which led to an altercation between him Stonebwoy on the stage, Joy FM's Samson Lardy Ayenini has said.
According to Ayenini who is also a practising lawyer, Shatta Wale's conduct on the night seems to break the protocols at the VGMA which could constitute an offence. Moreover, if reports that Shatta Wale and his team were stopped by the police from accessing the stage were true, they could be charged for obstructing the police officers from executing their job.
Putting all these together, Ayenini stated, Shatta Wale could get a three-year jail term if a court exercises the option of a custodial sentence instead of a fine. "If they take the view that the conduct amounts to the prohibited riotous behaviour and are successful in proving same in court, the accused is liable to up to three years in jail or may be made to pay a fine, sign a bond to be of good behaviour, etc
.", Ayenini explained in a write up. Also, Shatta Wale could get a three-month jail term and/or GHC6,000 fine for mocking Stonebwoy's disability if prosecutors decide to take that matter up. As revealed by a lawyer He said: "I have also sought to remind all of us that making derogatory remarks about persons with disabilities (PWD) for their disability is an offence punishable by a fine of up to ¢6000.00 and/or plus up to 3 months in jail. Let’s consciously show them love because this difficult life is extra difficult for them."Ayenini's explanation of the law's position on the gun pulling act comes after Stonebwoy and Shatta Wale were both granted bail on Monday, May 20, 2019, after spending the previous night in police custody. Stonebwoy had been called on stage to receive the Reggae-Dancehall Artiste of the Year award beating Shatta Wale, Samini, and others. Shatta Wale who was seated in the crowd decided to show up on the stage during Stonebwoy's speech and it turned into a very chaotic situation leading to Stonebwoy pulling a gun. The altercation brought the event to a halt for a lot of minutes before calm was restored and the two were picked up to help in police investigations. Meanwhile, another top media personality, Kwame Sefa Kayi who co-hosted the VGMA has urged the police to revoke Stonebwoy's licence to carry. According to Sefa Kayi who condemned the two musicians on his Peace FM Kokrokoo morning show, Stonebwoy's was not emotionally stable or fit to be allowed to own a gun.