One Direction Charity Visit to Ghana Comes Under Fire From Country's Celebrities

Posted on Jan 17th 2013 3:30PM by Jason MacNeil

one direction concert contest winner recap Kevin Kane, Getty Images

British boy band One Direction meant well when they visited Ghana this past weekend. But the trek and subsequent tweets by band members upset some local musicians and celebrities concerned about negative stereotypes.

According to Myjoyonline, Niall Horan tweeted regarding the visit: "Massive thanks to @rednoseday for taking us to Ghana! It was incredible! real eye opener! We take so much for granted over here!" The trek was in connection with the band's involvement with the British charity Comic Relief. One Direction recently recorded a cover of Blondie's "One Way or Another" as a benefit single for the organization.

But in subsequent tweets, the musician added: "I've seen the slums right in front of me! This is no joke! They really need your help! Poverty is real !" He later described the trek as the "best life experience ever!"

"Today was the most amazing day I've had so far.. In my life ever," fellow band mate Harry Styles tweeted.

The comments didn't go over well with some of Ghana's celebrities and musicians, with controversial artist Wanlov the Kubolor dismissing the band and their visit to Accra and its surroundings.

"Ghana is getting worse so heaven sent 5 downcut jesuses to teach us clapping," the musician sarcastically tweeted with an accompanying photo of the band clapping near some local children.

One Direction Ghana Wanlov the Kubolor Twitter

Actress and television host Ama K. Abebrese was also critical of the band's quick trek into the country. "@NiallOfficial n @onedirection Your tweets about the slums and poverty of Accra, Ghana was very touching.......however.." she began in a string of tweets. "Next time, also tweet about the luxury hotel and VIP treatment and beauty of the country you enjoyed."

Abebrese -- who received both positive and negative tweets from fans of One Direction -- said "I understand its for charity, but this highly negative image of sub Saharan African countries like Ghana..... that you choose to focus on without balance for the so many positive aspects to your millions of ff...serve mostly to reinforce negative stereotypes.

"I live in the beautiful city of Accra, Ghana, and there is so much more to it than slums and poverty," Abebrese continued. "So next time, please be #Balanced #ComeBetter There is more to Ghana, so much more."

Meanwhile other people including actress Lydia Forson said to remember that the "next time you visit a country, remember like yours there are beautiful and ugly parts. Don't base your views on one part."

Forson however added in one reply she didn't necessarily blame the band, but organizers of the trip.

"@1DirectionPains I don't even blame them, I blame the organization that insisted on showing only deprived areas,like that all we are," she said.

The band aren't the first high-profile celebrities to feel the brunt of visiting various countries. Last year, the Hollywood Reporter cited a tour -- and subsequent television series -- by Oprah Winfrey to India as receiving similar sentiments from Indian media outlets, one of which described the trip and ensuing series as "myopic, unaware, ignorant and gauche."

Meanwhile, other rock stars such as Bono and Live Aid founder Bob Geldof were both criticized in 2007 for their charity work in Africa.

"Aid has failed because campaigners, charities and governments do not have the right plan and excluded African entrepreneurs and grassroots organizations from being part of the solution," Jobs Selasie of African Aid Action said. "You can't impose change from without (outside). It has to come from within and we won't end poverty with handouts. Africans need to fight corruption and work hard."

One Direction have not responded directly to the criticism. The group are currently in Japan following their Ghana trek.

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Filed under: Hot Off the Press

Around The Web:

Harry Styles Tweets Pic Of One Direction's Ghana Visit! - Perez Hilton

Ghanaians slam One Direction for negative representation of Ghana ...

Why Did One Direction Go to Ghana? It's a British Thing - Popdust

One Direction Preview Comic Relief Trip To Ghana (PICTURE)

One Direction Travels to Ghana on Comic Relief Trip, Harry Styles ...

One Direction in trip to Ghana - Music, Entertainment - Independent.ie

One Direction Visits Ghana With Red Nose Day | Disney Dreaming

One Direction in Ghana for Comic Relief - picture - Celebrity News ...

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January 23 2013 at 9:54 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

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