Sarkodie has been at the receiving end of a barrage of backlash from Ghanaians for publicly smoking cigars and subsequently sharing photos and videos of himself in the act.
Many civil organizations and Ghanaians have criticized the rapper and asked him to apologize since he’s becoming a nuisance to society through his constant smoking of cigars which according to them, influences the young negatively.
But responding to all the accusations on the DayBreakHitz show with Andy Dosty on Hitz FM, today, Sarkodie explained the reason behind his smoking of cigars.
According to him, the smoking of cigars is done to signify victory and to celebrate success. Although he admitted to the fact that smoking is bad, Sarkodie maintained that he does not feel guilty for smoking cigars.
Smoking generally is bad. However, if you do a little research on Cigars, you’d realize it is used to celebrate success; achievements. It’s just a sign of victory.
Reacting to the push by CSO’s like Vision for Alternative Development (VALD), the Ghana Non-Communicable Diseases Alliance (Ghana NCD Alliance), Media Alliance in Tobacco Control and Health (MATCOH), Jaishi Initiative, and the Community Health Support Team (CHEST), for him to put a stop to the smoking of cigars and apologize to Ghanaians, Sarkodie said:
The organization that didn’t like me posing with cigars in pictures wanted me to apologize. Apologize to who?
Sarkodie also added that contrary to assumptions, he is not a habitual smoker, he only clutches onto a cigar in photos he shares online.
I don’t just wake up and smoke cigar. The only time I hold a cigar is what you see in the pictures.