Veteran Ghanaian dancehall musician Oduro Sarfo, popularly known as Sugar Ranking, abruptly ended a live television interview after a heated discussion with broadcaster Roman Fada over comments he made about dancehall star Charles Nii Armah Mensah Jr., popularly known as Shatta Wale.

During the interview, Sugar Ranking claimed that Shatta Wale has failed to acknowledge him as an elder within Ghana’s dancehall scene, arguing that seniority in the culture comes with respect.

“Shatta doesn’t respect me. He’s younger than I am. He wants to be an alpha male, but if he’s an alpha male, naturally, I am also older than him, so I can say he doesn’t respect me,” he said.

When Roman Fada pressed him to explain the basis of the alleged disrespect, Sugar Ranking accused the host of attempting to provoke him into making controversial statements because of his perceived connection with Shatta Wale.

“I can see you’re setting me up today, but I know you support Shatta Wale. Before I came here, I did my research on you, so I know you do campaigns for Shaxi. That is why you’re pushing me to say something,” he alleged.

Roman Fada rejected the accusation, explaining that his support for Shaxi was based on his view of it as a positive project and not because of any personal relationship with Shatta Wale.

“I am a professional broadcaster. I don’t support Shatta Wale; I have never met him. But he’s doing something good, so I spoke about it. I am simply saying don’t say things about him when he’s not here to defend himself,” he responded.

Sugar Ranking later explained that he had been dragged into what he described as attempts to create conflict between him, Shatta Wale and dancehall rival Livingstone Etse Satekla, popularly known as Stonebwoy.

He said some social media users had accused him of being paid by Shatta Wale to attack the Bhim Nation movement, a claim he rejected.

“What I am saying is someone came on live and said Shatta Wale has paid me to go on TV and destroy Bhim Nation. For what? I only said Shatta doesn’t respect me because dancehall is a culture, and I am older. So when he sees me, he must call me father, but he doesn’t. That’s why I say he doesn’t respect me,” he stated.

Roman Fada maintained that personal issues should be addressed privately and cautioned against making claims about individuals who were not present to respond.

“If you have a personal problem with him, then it’s better you leave here and go solve it with him,” he told Sugar Ranking.

Following the exchange, Sugar Ranking stood up and left the studio, bringing the interview to an unexpected end.

Social media users continue to debate whether walking out of the interview was a sign of respect or disrespect.

Watch the interview here:

@atinkatvghana “Shatta Wale doesn’t respect. He’s my small boy, we must even call me Daddy” — Sugar Ranking walks off live show after Roman Fada questioned him to justify his claims about Shatta Wale #AtinkaTVGhana #atinkasocials #EntertainmentLounge #shattawale #fyppppppppppppppppppppppp ♬ original sound – ATINKA TV

Source: Yvonne Nyarko Agyemang