A letter from the French Embassy in Ghana has surfaced online, responding to a petition from the New Ghana Social Justice Forum, an NGO.
The Forum had requested the exclusion of rapper Sarkodie from the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The petition, dated July 8, 2024, was directed to the French National Olympic and Sports Committee, labeling Sarkodie as “misogynistic” based on lyrics from his song “Jennifer Lomotey” and allegations from actress Yvonne Nelson’s memoir, which claimed he forced her to abort a pregnancy.
The Forum argued that allowing Sarkodie to perform would be inappropriate, particularly given his past actions and statements concerning women.
In a response dated July 19, 2024, Ambassador Jules-Armand Aniambossou clarified that Sarkodie, whose real name is Michael Owusu Addo, is not scheduled to perform at the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Instead, his performance is set for August 9, 2024, at the Africa Fan Zone “Station Afrique,” an independent cultural event occurring alongside the Olympics.
The Embassy’s letter stated: “Sarkodie (known in private life as Michael OWUSU ADDO) will not be performing at the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. His performance is scheduled to be part of the Africa Fan Zone ‘Station Afrique’ which will be held on 9th August 2024 at Stade Robert César-L’Île-Saint-Denis. Station Afrique is an independent cultural event running concurrently with the Olympic games.”
The Embassy acknowledged the concerns raised by the NGO and emphasized its commitment to equal human rights, gender equality, and women’s empowerment, clarifying that it does not support any form of discrimination.
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