Meek Mill has apologized for recording a music video in Ghana’s presidential palace, commonly known as Jubilee House, without permission.
The video of the celebrity lip-syncing in the palace’s corridors and rooms – and even behind the presidential lectern – provoked an outcry.
He was accused of “desecrating” Jubilee House, while members of parliament raised concerns regarding potential security dangers.
Mill stated in a statement that he would “accept responsibility for my error.”
“To the people of Ghana, no video I release is ever intended to disrespect you,” he added.
“The quickest way to connect is through music, and I wanted to achieve that through showing art. I’m in my thirties from the United States and didn’t know much about the culture.”
He said that officials for Ghana’s president, Nana Akufo-Addo, may not have known he was filming a music video, stating that the setup consisted of “a small camera and a child.”
The White House has not commented on the story, and Mill has withdrawn his Instagram video.
Mill, who was born Robert Rihmeek Williams in South Philadelphia, traveled to Ghana this month after discovering that he is 18% Ghanaian through an ancestry test.
Afterward, he was invited to visit Jubilee House after performing at the Afronation concert in Accra and riding dirt bikes through the city streets.
The footage he captured during his vacation was shared on Instagram on Sunday, inciting fury in the West African country.
“Brought to justice”
“All those involved in Meek Mill’s vile vandalism of the Jubilee House must be sacked immediately,” stated North Tongu district representative Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.
“How do these explicit lyrics from the president’s lectern represent Ghana in a positive light? Is Ghana’s seat of government no longer a high security facility?”
The member of parliament, whose NDC party is in opposition to the National Patriotic Party of the president, stated that he will request an investigation into the incident upon the resumption of Parliament from recess.
“We will insist that those responsible for this national shame and worldwide embarrassment are held accountable,” he said on Accra’s Joy FM radio station.
Alex Segbefia, the former deputy chief of staff of Ghana, concurred that the film was needless and wrong in every way.
Julius Kwame Anthony, a social activist, added that “seeing a foreign musician in the president’s pulpit” was a “shocking” incident that “is plunging our country to new depths.”
“Under no circumstances would a Ghanaian rapper like Shatta Wale or Stormboy be permitted to speak from the pulpit of the President of the United States. It would never happen.”
Mill emphasized in his statement that he was merely eager to share his experiences in Ghana with the world.
“In America, we didn’t know this existed, and we were delighted to display it because Ghana is rarely shown in our media, so I’ll take responsibility for my error!
“We will continue to work to establish the link between black Americans and Africa,” he continued.
“What I’m attempting to achieve is more than a video, as you will soon see! I apologize to the office as well! “
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