Ghanaian musician-turned-politician A Plus has expressed his concerns about the challenges plaguing the country’s creative arts sector, emphasizing that the root of the issues lies with the artistes themselves, rather than politicians.
Speaking in an interview with Hitz FM on August 12, 2024, A Plus highlighted the lack of unity within the industry, where many creatives are more focused on individual recognition than collective progress.
“The problem with creative arts is the creative arts people themselves. It’s not the politicians. Everybody wants to be seen as ‘me doing this.’ They can’t be united. If you want to help creative arts people, you have to help them with one hand and hold them with another hand because they will beat you,” he said.
According to A Plus, this disunity severely hampers the growth of the sector, making it difficult for anyone to provide effective support.
He cited Dancehall artist Shatta Wale as an example, who distanced himself from the music industry due to the prevailing lack of cohesion and seriousness among many artists.
“The creative arts issues are just too many. And that is why, I support Shatta Wale because they are not united. Most of them are not serious. It is very difficult to help them,” he added
A Plus also shared that his priorities lie with his personal interests and supporting underprivileged communities, rather than advocating for artistes’ royalties.
He observed that many artists only become concerned with royalties when their careers are on a downturn, neglecting the issue when they are successful and earning from shows.
“So for me, I’m not in this for anybody’s interest. I mean this for my interests and underprivileged people and communities. If anybody wants to be part of it, I’ll find a place in my setting for them,” he said.
He concluded by stating that the responsibility for the industry’s progress rests on the creatives themselves, and that any effort to help them must be approached with caution due to the internal challenges they face.
“I’m not here to come and spend my time fighting for people’s royalties. Because the people that you are going to fight for, only start talking about royalties when they are not getting shows and are not selling.
“Do you hear Stonebwoy or Sarkodie or all these big artists fighting over royalties? They are making money now. They are playing shows. They are okay, but once it reduces, then now you find them,” he said.