Accra: Veteran highlife musician, Amandzeba Nat Brew, who has served as the board chair of the Ghana Music Awards, recently recounted the backlash he faced after announcing punitive measures against popular musicians Shatta Wale and Stonebwoy. In an interview on JoyPrime on March 11, 2026, Amandzeba shared his experience of being at the center of a controversial decision following a highly publicized brawl between the two artists at the 2019 Vodafone Ghana Music Awards, now known as the Telecel Ghana Music Awards.
According to Ghana Web, the altercation occurred during the 20th edition of the awards ceremony, held at the Accra International Conference Centre on May 18, 2019. The event, which featured performances and accolades for artists such as Medikal, Kuami Eugene, Diana Hamilton, and Nigeria’s Burna Boy, was overshadowed by the onstage conflict between Shatta Wale and Stonebwoy. The disturbance began when Stonebwoy went onstage to accept the Reggae/Dancehall Artiste of the Year Award, prompting Shatta Wale and his crew to confront him, resulting in a scuffle during which Stonebwoy allegedly brandished a gun, causing panic among attendees.
In the aftermath of the incident, both artists faced a ban from the awards scheme, a decision that was upheld until February 2021. Amandzeba recalled the immediate wave of insults directed at him following his announcement of the sanctions on television, underscoring the challenges faced by the awards board in maintaining order and discipline among high-profile musicians.