Veteran Highlife artist Rex Omar has expressed strong reservations about encouraging his children to pursue music careers in Ghana, citing numerous disappointments associated with the industry.
In an interview on Accra-based 3FM, Rex Omar shared his own experiences and highlighted the systemic challenges Ghanaian musicians face, particularly on the international stage.
When asked if he would advise his children to enter the music industry, he responded emphatically, “no.” Despite recognizing their talent, he has successfully guided them away from pursuing music professionally.
“None of my children are into music. I didn’t impose it on them. I told them the truth. They understand that if you play around with music as a Ghanaian, music will disappoint you,” he explained.
Rex Omar recounted his tour across South Africa and other countries, noting the stark contrast in support he received compared to other artists who were welcomed by their embassies with branded vehicles and other forms of assistance. In contrast, he felt abandoned by the Ghanaian government.
“I realized how exposed I am as an artist. It brought my spirit down,” he said.
He approached the then Minister of Tourism seeking support for another tour, but received only minimal assistance.
“Today, tomorrow, today, tomorrow, today, tomorrow. He said they could sponsor one person, but even with that, I went on the tour for five months. I came back two months later before I was given something small. And even that something small, with the ups and downs, I nearly left it,” he recalled.
Rex Omar’s experiences have led him to conclude that the industry neglects its creatives. Without a robust support system, he believes it is challenging for Ghanaian artists to achieve significant international success.