Ghanaian Highlife artist Kwabena Kwabena has pushed back against a recent statement by Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Mark Okraku-Mantey.
The minister claimed the singer’s career gained momentum after endorsing the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and its presidential candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo, in 2008.
Okraku-Mantey suggested that political endorsement, including Kwabena Kwabena’s popular song “Number One” for the 2008 campaign, contributed to his rising fame.
“Kwabena Kwabena became a bigger artiste after ‘NPP Wo Soro’ [song]. Yeah, Kwabena Kwabena became more popular after endorsing Candidate Akufo-Addo. So if you have your issues, don’t blame them on the political parties. If you manage yourself well, position yourself well as a brand, [you will thrive],” the government appointee said on Joy FM.
In a response during a September 2024 interview on Okay FM, Kwabena Kwabena expressed disappointment with the minister’s comment, emphasizing that his career had already taken off before his political involvement.
He pointed to the success of his hit song “Aso” in 2005, which became popular in Ghana and even the UK by 2006, to demonstrate his established fame prior to his endorsement of the NPP.
“It’s unfortunate that the deputy minister would make such a statement. I don’t know the context under which he made that statement but if my memory serves me right, in 2008, I was on tour in North America, I had gone to Canada and was in the US when A -Plus called me to tell me that Akufo-Addo wanted me to work with him.
“If I wasn’t popular then, why would he be looking for me?” he said.
Kwabena Kwabena also reminisced about the release of his hit song ‘Aso’ in 2005, which had fans dancing and singing along across Ghana and in the UK by 2006.
“Those who know the fact know that I released that song in 2005, people were dancing to it, I was everywhere. The first time I played that song in the UK, I had the whole house singing along. I even got emotional like King Paluta got emotional when he performed Aseda in the UK. And that was in 2006,” he added.
Kwabena Kwabena’s manager, Nana Poku Ashis, also weighed in, stressing that while the singer’s political support for the NPP didn’t initially harm his career, the 2012 election loss led to some setbacks, including reduced fan support and fewer performances.
Despite these challenges, Ashis maintained that Kwabena Kwabena’s success was due to his personal determination rather than any backing from the political party.
Kwabena Kwabena has since distanced himself from politics and is currently promoting his upcoming gospel EP “God of Restoration,” featuring the single “Fakye Me.”
Watch post below:
'I gained popularity before endorsing NPP' – Kwabena Kwabena dispels Okraku Mantey's claims
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