Meek Mill’s video: It’s okay for us to admit that there was an error – Govt spokesperson

A Government spokesperson Mr Kofi Tontoh has identified errors in how American rapper Meek Mill was handled by officials at the Presidency regarding the music video that he shot at the seat of government of Ghana.

Mr Tontoh said officials must admit that an error was made in how the whole situation was handled.

“Last week, I saw some pictures, I was taken aback when I saw pictures of Meek Mill, not him being at Jubilee House perse, but his dressing, his attire. I was taken aback a little bit.

“I felt, why wasn’t he dressed up properly especially if he is getting the opportunity to go an see the president? Perhaps someone could have given him a nice caftan, that was where the first issue started….

“If an error is made it is ok for us to admit that there is an error. I think at that point, someone should have taken control and say, ‘let us take the pictures and then let us give it to him’.

“So, for example, he was wearing a white top and some short, so you could still take the pictures and crop just the relevant parts and put it out. So for me, that was an error, protocol-wise that could have been corrected,” he said on TV3 Tuesday January 10.

Tontoh however doubted if there was an intent on the part of the rapper to embarrass Ghanaians and the President.

“Nevertheless, I think we have to look at the intent. Was there really an intent to embarrass or disrespect Ghanaians and the President? I don’t think there was a genuine intent to do something wrong. I think there was some degree of lapse when this transpired that could have been handled better,” he said.

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The government received flak from Ghanaians over the matter when the video popped up on social media on Sunday January 8.

For instance, North Tongu Member of Parliament Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa said government officials who were responsible for this act should be sacked.

Mr Ablakwa described the situation as a despicable desecration of the seat of government.

Commenting on Facebook, Mr Ablakwa said “All those responsible for this despicable desecration of the Jubilee House by Meek Mill must be fired immediately.

“How do those explicit lyrics from the president’s lectern project Ghana positively?

“Is Ghana’s seat of government no longer a high security installation?”

Civil Society activist, Dr Steve Manteaw also indicated on Facebook that “This is how low and cheap it gets. Another first for Ghana. I shiver to think about the security implications.”

The rapper has since apologized for the controversial music video.

In a tweet, Meek Mill said, “my apologies to the people if any disrespected. We still gonna push to make the connection between black people in America and Africa.. What I’m trying to do is more than a video and you should see coming soon. My apologies to the office [of the President] also”.

He has deleted the video.

Meek Mill visited Ghana and performed at the AfroNation concert on Thursday, December 29, 2022.

source: 3news