Veteran filmmaker and entertainment analyst Socrate Safo has taken a strong swipe at organisers Charterhouse, accusing them of repeatedly showing disregard for audiences at the Telecel Ghana Music Awards.
He argued that the 2026 edition simply reinforced a long-running pattern he believes has gone unchecked within the awards scheme.
Speaking on Peace FM on May 16, 2026, Safo said the event schedule had been publicly set with the red carpet expected at 7pm and the main ceremony at 8pm. In practice, however, he noted the red carpet only began around 8pm, while the main show did not kick off until about 10pm, leaving guests seated until close to 4am.
“If you organise an event and you say it will start at 7pm and you start at 10pm, it means you do not respect your audience. And they were made to sit up till almost 4am. Do you feel you are dealing with robots? To keep them sitting all these hours? How did you plan your production? Was it timed?” he asked.
He drew a contrast between Charterhouse’s execution and the discipline of veteran stage producer Uncle Ebo Whyte, whom he praised for strict adherence to timing and audience consideration.
“When he says his theatre production is starting at 8, it starts at 8. That is respect,” he said.
Safo also turned his attention to the audience itself, arguing that repeated attendance despite delayed starts has allowed the problem to persist.
“Year after year, this is what you do to your audience and they don’t care. And maybe the audience does not respect themselves. If they did, they wouldn’t have kept going back year after year,” he said.
He concluded by urging organisers to prioritise punctuality even if it risks starting with a smaller crowd at the beginning of events.
“If you say a show will start at 7pm, start it whether or not the people are in. Start giving the awards. Next time, they will come early. It is about time we call the organisers out. We don’t do that,” Socrate Safo stated.
Watch his statement below.
@peace104.3fm1 TGMA: It looks like most event organizers in Ghana do not respect their audience. – Socrate Sarfo #EntertainmentReview
♬ original sound – PeaceFm
