PPP'S EVA LOKKO COLLAPSED CONCERT PARTY IN GHANA - ACTOR

Ghanaian local actor, Akwasi Boadi, popularly known in movie circles as "Akrobeto", has accused the 2012 Vice Presidential candidate of the People's Progressive Party (PPP) of collapsing comic theatre in Ghana. The theatre play which was commonly called 'Concert party' in the golden old days became the focal point in show business in Ghana which was the paramount source of entertainment to many Ghanaians. Concert party used to play a great role in Ghana's entertainment scene and during the age of the concert parties, it was very rare to find Ghanaians not glued to their television screens catching some fun and laughing their hearts out. Concert party saw the likes of Kofi Adu, popularly called Agya Koo, Akrobeto, Bob Okala, KaKaiku, Ice Water among other very funny comedians all on one stage performing to the delight of their patrons. In fact, one could not do away with Concert party because Ghanaians really relished the moments watching these people display their acts. But today, Concert party has hit the rocks and once a lucrative venture has now turned sour as many people are discouraged to enter the comedy industry. Speaking in an interview with Delores Frimpong Manso on the Delay show on Friday, February 7, 2013; Akrobeto blamed Mrs. Eva Lokko for the downfall of Concert party in Ghana. He explained that at the time Mrs. Lokko was the Director-General of Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), she managed to increase the airtime charges for the sponsors of the Concert party, Unilever Ghana Limited. The charges, according to Akrobeto, were so exorbitant that it became a major disincentive to the sponsor who opted out of the comedy industry. As a result, Concert party could not be televised on the State-owned Broadcaster and obviously, Mrs. Eva Lokko's orders discouraged Akrobeto and the likes who depended on Concert party to make a living for themselves, from continuing their comic careers. However, Akrobeto was grateful he found a new way to fend for himself by moving into the local movie scene, which recently has taken Ghana's movie industry by storm. With the influx of new talents and personalities trooping into the local movie scene, Akrobeto said he is never morose nor regretful about his past job.