Ghanaian highlife musician, Kwabena Kwabena has revealed that he started Valentine’s Day shows in Ghana.
This comes after Akwaboah had attributed the cancellation of his 2024 Valentine’s Day concert to Kwabena Kwabena’s event which was also slated for the same day and venue.
“For the past 6 years, Valentine’s Day has become synonymous with Akwaboah’s ‘Shades of Love’ concert. This is why it pains me to say we will not be able to have our concert this year,” Akwaboah wrote in a statement issued in 2024.
However, setting the record straight on the origin of Val’s Day concerts in Ghana, the ‘Adult Music’ singer said he started organizing concerts on Valentine’s Day before any other Ghanaian musician.
“On the 14th of February 2014 that was the first time I did a Valentine’s concert. I called it F14. So I started Valentine’s shows. And it shouldn’t be a problem that anybody wants to do some or wants to do an event on the 14th because I believe there are a lot of people out there who want to go out and have fun.
“In as much as any artiste will make a claim to that particular day, that’s very unfortunate because I started it.”
Kwabena Kwabena
Emphasizing the importance of recognizing the contributions of artists, Kwabena stated, “No artist should lay claim that it’s mine. I mean it’s not fair.”
Kwabena kwabena interview connotes the significance of artistic recognition and the history of entertainment in Ghana.
In the meantime, Kwabena Kwabena is set to organize the Valentine’s Day event at the Grand Arena on the 14th of February 2025.
Kwabena Kwabena on NPP’s Mistreatment
Ghanaian musician, Kwabena Kwabena opened up about his dissatisfaction with the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and how they have treated him over the years.
He shared his feelings of betrayal after the NPP edited and used one of his songs for their campaign without his permission.
“After they picked the number one position, they decided to use the old song for the campaign and they contacted the team about it, and they started the conversation. A conversation began and before I realized it’s been edited and played on radio.”
Kwabena Kwabena
He explained that they picked the “oye number one” part of the song to communicate their number one position on the ballot without his consent.
Kwabena Kwabena had previously composed a campaign song for the NPP in 2016, titled “Vote Number 1,” which became very popular and helped the party win the elections.
However, his manager, Nana Poku Ashis, disclosed that some individuals took money on Kwabena Kwabena’s behalf without his consent, and the party later denied him compensation, claiming they had already paid him.
Asked how he felt about Nana Akufo-Addo’s eight years in power, “I don’t think any human being would be satisfied; it feels very bad they could behave like that.”
According to him, the outcome of the last election should tell people that “Ghanaians are not satisfied and I cannot be satisfied as well.”
He also expressed his concern regarding the Ghana Revenue Authority’s (GRA) 21.9% tax on event tickets, labeling it as detrimental to the music industry.
The highlife crooner highlighted the substantial investments required to organize events, stating that such a high tax rate poses a huge threat to performers and organizers.
“You put in so much, you invest so much, and then somebody comes to your door and says that I’m gonna take 21.9% off every ticket you sold.”
Kwabena Kwabena
In suggestion to what works better for the music industry, he remarked: “I think it has to be done after net time, they should calculate percentages on my profit”.
Diagnosing the implications of the financial burden placed on artists and event organizers, he urged: “It has to be reviewed because it’s killing the industry.”
He believes that adjustments should be made that better reflect the financial realities faced by artists, particularly in light of the growing expenses involved in putting on live shows.
His concern comes on the back of calls by various creatives such as OB Amponsah, Lekzy DeComic, George Quaye, and Peter Sedufia, for the government to find ways of mitigating the effects of the taxes on their works.
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