President of the Foundation of Concerned Arts Professionals (FOCAP) Kojo Preko Dankwa has stated that the ban on artiste-alcohol brand partnerships is depriving musicians of their livelihoods.
Speaking on Onua Showbiz with Nana Kwame Gyan last Saturday, Kojo Preko Dankwa explained that because these artistes depend on ambassadorial deals, coupled with streams and shows to survive, the ban on alcoholic partnerships in their line of work, which often come with huge financial benefits, strips them off their means of survival.
“Let’s ask ourselves that if not for these ambassadorial deals, shows and streams, where do our musicians get their daily bread from? They don’t get paid on a monthly basis. They depend on their creative gifts to survive so it’s high time we realize as a country that we are depriving them of their livelihoods,” he said.
He added that the reason for this ban, which is the case of minors being exposed to alcoholic products, is flawed because even with the ban, kids are exposed to alcoholic products in several other ways.
“As I’m speaking now, someone has sent his son to go and buy him cigarette. Where is the FDA? At the moment an alcohol seller has asked her young child to sell alcohol to someone. What is the FDA doing about this? So to say musicians are the ones exposing children to alcoholic products because of advertisements they do for these brands is neither here nor there,” he added.
Suggesting practical ways to effectively deal with children’s exposure and access to alcoholic products, he among other recommendations, advised event organisers to put measures in place to prevent minors from attending events where alcohol is patronised, with the FDA sanctioning them if the fail to do so.
By Galley Bernard
