Entertainment
When Visibility Replaces Value, The Cost to Ghana’s Creative Industry
“I TRIED TO MAKE THEM UNDERSTAND”: A Song, a Warning, and the Future of Ghana’s Creative Industry
By Socrate Safo
There is a line in Culture’s song that refuses to let me rest:
“The more victimisation is on their back, the more foolish they become.”
It is a hard line. Uncomfortable. But painfully accurate for where Ghana’s creative industry is heading today.
For a long time now, some of us have tried, and tried, and tried to call attention to a dangerous pattern forming across the industry. We are not speaking from a place of bitterness or fear of change. We are speaking from memory. We watched the film industry walk this same road. We know where it ends.
Yet, as the song says, they just can’t understand.
Repeating a Familiar Tragedy
The film industry once beat its drums by night and by day. The movies were everywhere. The audience was loud. But the money was thin. Free access became normal. Piracy became tolerated. Value disappeared. Eventually, the noise faded, the investors vanished, and the industry collapsed quietly.
Today, music and other creative sectors are repeating that mistake, only this time, on a far larger and more dangerous scale.
Artists now spend huge sums to organise stadium shows, throw the gates open for free, and fill the stands. Drone shots fly. Photos circulate. Social media cheers. The artist boasts.
But after the applause fades, the truth appears: losses, debts, regret.
Still, instead of asking hard questions, many satisfy themselves with less.
Victimhood as a Disguise for Foolishness.
Whenever this issue is raised, the response is often framed as victimhood. “The industry is hard.” “Streaming platforms are cheating us.” “Sponsors don’t pay enough.” “People don’t support creatives.”
All of that may be true. But as Culture warned, the more victimisation is upon their back, the more foolish they become.
Under the cover of victimhood, destructive decisions are justified. Free concerts become “promotion.” Free songs become “strategy.” Empty profits are celebrated as success. Numbers replace income. Visibility replaces value.
Artists now pay studios, producers, and engineers to create music, only to release it for free. All that matters is how many streams they get. That is what they brag about. But streams do not pay studio bills. Streams do not build pensions. Streams do not sustain an industry on their own.
Meanwhile, the fee-paying audience, the very foundation of any creative economy. Is disappearing. Just like the people who used to buy films, those who once bought music are being trained out of the habit.
Teaching the Audience to Expect Nothing to Cost Anything
The same thing is happening with live events. Some shows are funded by artists themselves. Others rely on sponsors. Either way, the audience is learning one thing: wait long enough and the gate will be opened.
They come early. They wait outside. They know that eventually, someone will shout “free entry.” Over time, paying for tickets begins to feel foolish. Why pay when patience works?
Again, they satisfy the Lord for less.
Investors Will Learn Faster Than Artists
While creatives argue and boast, investors are watching. They put in money and see no returns. Sponsors fund concerts and realize there are cheaper ways to get visibility. When they finally get wise, they will not argue on social media. They will simply invest elsewhere.
And when that happens, the industry will not just be on its knees. It will be crawling, on its belly.
A Simpler, Harder, Wiser Path
There is another way, though it is less glamorous. Organise shows in venues that attract fee-paying audiences, even if they are small. Build slowly. Respect value. Let people pay, no matter how few they are.
This approach is often dismissed as “old school.” But old school is not the enemy. Forgetting lessons is.
Culture’s song keeps asking: “When will they ever learn?”
That question hangs heavily over Ghana’s creative industry today.
Some of us have beaten the drum by day and by night. We have tried to make them notice. We have tried to make them know. But still, they just can’t understand. And yet, the future is waiting.
Fix yourself up, the song says. Prepare. Aim for more, not less.
Because if we continue down this road, mistaking noise for progress and victimhood for wisdom, we will soon look back, just like we did with film, and realize that we were not cursed.
We were warned.
NB:I AM HUMAN, I AM GETTING TIRED OF THESE WARNINGS.
Culture
“We Entertain Stupidity in This Country” — GHOne’s Lilly Mohammed Slams Foreign Affairs Minister Ablakwa Over IShowSpeed Passport Saga
Broadcast journalist Lilly Mohammed has descended on Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, over the decision to issue a Ghanaian passport to American streamer IShowSpeed.
Speaking on GH Today, GHOne TV’s morning show, the host expressed strong dissatisfaction with the minister’s action, questioning the justification for granting Ghanaian citizenship to the internet personality after a brief visit to the country.
“Let’s get serious as a country. It’s like we’re not serious at all. Somebody comes to Ghana, he’s a streamer, he’s putting Ghana on the global map, he’s doing whatever. He comes for a day or two, and then you shove a Ghanaian passport into his hands. You’re not serious,” she said.
Lilly Mohammed stated that she could not see the importance of IShowSpeed’s visit that warranted the issuance of a Ghanaian passport.
“You’re not serious. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, you were somebody we had high expectations of. You shoved a Ghanaian passport into the hands of somebody who came here streaming and embarking on his own personal thing. Coming to step on our jollof, jumping on the Black Stars Square, what has that done to our GDP? What has it added to our economy?” she questioned.
The media personality further compared the situation to Ghanaian YouTuber Wode Maya, who has consistently promoted Africa on the global stage, asking whether any country had rewarded him with citizenship for his efforts.
“Wode Maya has been putting Ghana on the map globally. Have you seen America give him an American passport? Even Nigeria, has Nigeria given him a Nigerian passport? You entertain stupidity so much. You’ve given him a Ghanaian passport for what achievement? What has he done for Ghana?” she asked.
She also criticised the public reaction surrounding the visit, particularly an incident where some Ghanaians reportedly ate jollof rice that IShowSpeed had stepped on during his visit.
“You give him a Ghanaian passport because he sat on our jollof, and the moment he steps away, Ghanaians rush to eat it. You are not serious. With the greatest respect, let’s put some value on our passport. Let’s put value on this country,” she stressed.
Lilly Mohammed further lamented the difficulties faced by Ghanaian citizens in acquiring passports, contrasting it with the ease with which the streamer was allegedly granted one.
“Meanwhile, Ghanaians are queuing for passports. Ghanaian citizens born in this country, who by the Constitution are entitled to citizenship, are struggling. You say you have opened the passport system to eliminate goro boys, yet people are still finding it difficult to get a basic passport,” she said.
While clarifying that she had no personal issue with the streamer, she maintained that the decision to issue him a Ghanaian passport was unjustified.
“I have no problem with him. I didn’t even know him until he came to Ghana. It’s a beautiful thing what he’s doing, and it’s risky. For a young man, he’s very bold and deserves a pat on the back. However, to give him a Ghanaian passport, what has he done to deserve it? Let’s get serious in this country, for real,” she concluded.
Background
On Tuesday, January 27, Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, announced that the Ministry had approved the issuance of a Ghanaian passport to popular American streamer and internet personality IShowSpeed. According to the minister, the decision followed confirmation of what he described as the influencer’s “irrefutable ties” to Ghana.
IShowSpeed, an American streamer currently on an African tour highlighting the continent’s culture and lifestyle, arrived in Ghana on Sunday. He was officially welcomed on Monday, January 26, with a traditional Akan naming ceremony held in the Eastern Region.
Ghana Music Awards Europe has officially announced the appointment of Abigail Monalisa Semaha, widely known as Mona Gucci, as its new Chief Operations Officer.
The announcement, made in Accra and Europe, marks a significant milestone in the organization’s efforts to strengthen its operational leadership as it expands its footprint across Europe and the global Ghanaian music community.
According to the organizers, the appointment reflects Ghana Music Awards Europe’s commitment to excellence, innovation, and forward-thinking leadership. Mona Gucci brings with her extensive experience in media, branding, communications, and creative industry management. She is widely respected for her deep understanding of entertainment culture, audience engagement, and strategic leadership.
In her new role, Mona Gucci will oversee the day-to-day operations of Ghana Music Awards Europe, lead strategic planning, manage partnerships, and supervise the execution of key initiatives aimed at elevating the awards scheme’s brand. Her leadership is expected to improve organizational efficiency, strengthen industry relationships, and enhance the overall experience for artists, stakeholders, and audiences.
Speaking on the appointment, organizers of Ghana Music Awards Europe expressed strong confidence in her ability to drive growth and innovation within the organization. They noted that her professionalism, experience, and insight into the entertainment landscape make her a valuable addition to the executive team.
Mona Gucci also expressed her excitement about the new role, stating that she looks forward to contributing meaningfully to the celebration and global promotion of Ghanaian music and culture.
Ghana Music Awards Europe remains dedicated to recognizing and honoring Ghanaian musical excellence while creating platforms that connect artists to international audiences. The annual awards scheme was established to celebrate and promote Ghanaian music and creatives in Europe and beyond, fostering cultural exchange and global recognition for Ghana’s vibrant music industry.
The High Court in Accra has confirmed that there is no record of a last will belonging to the late highlife musician Charles Kwadwo Fosuh, widely known as Daddy Lumba, at the Probate and Administration Division’s registry.
This confirmation followed an official search conducted as part of the legal process surrounding the administration of the musician’s estate.
According to court documents, the registry search was initiated to determine whether Daddy Lumba had deposited a will with the High Court. The request also sought details such as the date of deposit, the individual who submitted the document, and the lawyer who prepared it, should such a will exist.
However, a formal response from the registry, dated January 19, 2026, at 2:37 pm, stated that no will associated with the late musician is on record. The document, signed and stamped by the Registrar of the Probate and Administration Division, confirmed that the court’s registry holds no such record.
The absence of a registered will indicates that Daddy Lumba’s estate may be administered under Ghana’s intestate succession laws, unless a valid will is produced from another source. This development introduces additional legal considerations for the family and legal representatives managing his affairs.
Daddy Lumba, one of Ghana’s most influential and celebrated highlife musicians, left behind an extensive musical catalogue that continues to shape the country’s music industry. Since his passing, public attention has remained focused on the handling of his estate, reflecting both his stature and the enduring impact of his legacy.
“We Entertain Stupidity in This Country” — GHOne’s Lilly Mohammed Slams Foreign Affairs Minister Ablakwa Over IShowSpeed Passport Saga
MINISTER FOR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND EMPOWERMENT INAUGURATES GRANT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE FOR THE ADWUMAWURA PROGRAMME
Chinese Ambassador bids farewell to President Mahama
-
Entertainment2 weeks ago[EDITORIAL] Why Ayisi is not Getting the Expected Mileage in Ghana’s Music Industry
-
Entertainment1 week agoThe Exposé that Redefined the Creative Vote: Inside Kojo Preko Dankwa’s Deep Dive into the Creative Arts Agency
-
Entertainment2 weeks agoComedians are Chasing MC Roles: What Should Professional MCs Do?
-
Entertainment1 week ago8 Events that Ignited Detty December in Ghana
-
Entertainment1 week agoCreative Diplomacy in Limbo as PanAfrica–Ghana Awaits Government Response on Healing Africa Tour
-
Sports2 weeks agoMané Strike Sends Senegal into AFCON 2025 Final
-
Lifestyle1 week agoMost People Aren’t Afraid of Failure. They’re Afraid of Knowing Themselves
-
Mining2 weeks agoAkonta Mining Operations Manager Granted GH¢10 Million Bail in Illegal Mining Case