The Kloma Hengme Association has asked rapper Sarkodie to pay GHc2million as compensation for denting the image of Krobo people or face a court action.
In a letter signed by their lawyer Kwadwo Appiagyei-Atua (Dr) Solicitor and Barrister-at-Law, the association, a Krobo heritage and advocacy group whose mission is to project Krobo values as the basis to promote the development of Krobo people, expressed dissatisfaction with a line the multiple award winning rapper said in a song titled Jennifer Lomotey, produced by David Kojo Kyei aka Kaywa.
Sarkodie in the rap said: “Krobo nii baa papa a ahweneɛ da ne sisi. Ɔkɔmfo Anɔkye de adwaman no abɔ ne dua,” which literally translates as “A noble Krobo lady with beads around her waist who has been cursed by Okomfo Anokye with promiscuity.”
These lyrics, according to the association, is founded on the myth that legendary fetish priest Okomfo Anokye had cast a spell on Krobo women to be promiscuous. The myth, the association said, is created to cast aspersions on the Krobo people and is therefore prejudiced and discriminatory, contrary to article 17(2) of the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana which provides that “[a] person shall not be discriminated against on grounds of […] ethnic origin […]”.
The association noted that by singling out the Krobos for ridicule, it has subjected them to disabilities or restrictions which other ethnic groups are not similarly subjected to, because it seeks to create a barrier to fair treatment and equal opportunity for Krobos in general.
According to the group, the lyrics of the song are defamatory given they have caused disaffection among the Krobos and, have as a consequence, injured their hard-earned reputation by exposing them to ridicule or to lowering them in the esteem of right-thinking members of the Ghanaian society.
To this end, the association wants Sarkodie to implement the following steps:
1. Issue an immediate order to the relevant media houses asking them to halt playing the Jennifer Lomotey song on their airwaves;
2. Expunge or cause to be expunged the portion of the lyrics which my clients find offensive and defamatory or completely ban the use of that song from the airwaves;
3. Expunge or cause to be expunged all audio and video clips of the song which are found on various social media platforms that are registered in your name;
4. Write an unreserved apology to the chiefs and people of the Krobo Traditional Area, including a statement to the effect that such an offensive act will not be repeated against the Krobo people;
5. Make a statement to the general public advising them to desist from transferring or sharing the song which contains the offensive lyrics with anybody else; and
6. For denting the image of the Krobo people and dragging their hard-earned reputation in the mud, pay a compensation of two million Ghana cedis (GHS2,000,000) to the Krobo people.
The association said it would take legal action if the award-winning rapper fails to respond to the demands within a week.
