Veteran Ghanaian musician Barima Sidney has extended an apology to former National Democratic Congress (NDC) Flagbearer John Dramani Mahama regarding a song he released in the past.
The song in question, titled ‘Papa No,’ was created by Sidney before the 2020 general elections to capture prevailing social media trends.
Explaining the context behind the song, Sidney noted that the term ‘Papa No’ had gained significant traction on social media, prompting him to compose the track.
However, he expressed regret that some individuals misconstrued his intentions, erroneously associating the song with targeting Mahama, who was linked to the term at the time.
During an interview on JoyPrime TV, monitored by GhanaWeb, Sidney took the opportunity to express his remorse to Mahama if the song inadvertently contributed to the latter’s electoral defeat in 2020. He emphasized that his original intent was not to target or harm the ex-president while creating the song.
Responding to a question from host Roselyn Felli regarding allegations that his ‘Papa No’ song impacted Mahama’s electoral chances, Sidney clarified, “I want to address the ‘Papa No’ situation.
It stemmed from two well-known celebrities, Gloria and Tracy, discussing ‘Papa No’ on social media. I found it intriguing, so I composed and released the song around midnight. By 9:00 am, it had already spread widely.”
He further explained, “I didn’t single out anyone in particular. However, certain individuals combined clips of the former president with my music, using it for their own promotion. This led to the misunderstanding, but I was unaware of these actions. I take this opportunity to apologize to His Excellency John Mahama. It wasn’t my intention; others were responsible for the misinterpretation.”
Barima Sidney’s apology underscores his desire to clear the air and rectify any unintended consequences that arose from the song’s reception and subsequent association with political figures.