Ghanaian hiplife artist Kwaw Kese has once again raised eyebrows over what he calls the “politicization” of Ghana’s music award schemes, claiming that favoritism and financial influence have diluted genuine recognition.
The rapper revisited his experience at the 2023 Telecel Ghana Music Awards (TGMA), where his song ‘Awoyo Sofo’ was nominated for Hip-Hop Song of the Year but lost. “That award was supposed to be mine,” Kwaw insisted.
“Awoyo Sofo was bigger than all the songs in that category. Little kids were even playing it. But this industry is politics. If you don’t play along, they cut you off.”
Kwaw Kese
He argued that the current award system values popularity and votes over artistic excellence.
“People can buy votes. I’ve seen it happen. Someone can buy 10,000 votes and win. So what happens to the artist who deserves it but doesn’t have money to buy votes?”
Kwaw Kese
The “Abodam” star called for reforms to ensure fairness, hinting that some board members have conflicts of interest. “Some people on the board are managers of artists. How do you expect transparency in such a setup?” he asked.
Despite the alleged politics, Kwaw said he remains unshaken and proud of his influence on the streets.
“They can keep Accra and their awards. When we go to the hinterlands, that’s where you’ll see who really commands the crowd. I still charge higher than most of the new guys because I perform for two hours straight — that’s real artistry.”
Kwaw Kese
The artist also publicly reprimanded a fellow unnamed artist for celebrating prematurely after news broke that his song is being considered for the 68th Grammy celebrations.
According to him, one should wait until actual nominations are announced before claiming victory.
He said he was reserving any true celebration for if and when a nomination arrives.
Kwaw Kese to Venture into Nkokor Nketenkete Programme
The Ghanaian hiplife artist announced plans to venture into poultry farming as part of efforts to expand his business portfolio beyond music.
He said he is keen to benefit from the government’s new poultry development initiative, dubbed “Nkokor Nketenkete.”
Kwaw Kese revealed that he is already involved into farming and now wants to branch into poultry.
“I do maize and cassava farming. I am ready to jump into the ‘nkokor nketenkete’ to start a poultry farm, so the government can help me.”
Kwaw Kese
The rapper, known for his outspoken nature, explained that relying solely on music for income in Ghana has become increasingly difficult, prompting his decision to diversify. In addition to farming, he also runs an automobile business and a restaurant.
The Nkokor Nketenkete initiative forms part of the government’s Feed Ghana flagship programme, aimed at revitalising Ghana’s poultry sector.
The project seeks to increase local production of broiler chickens and eggs in order to significantly reduce the country’s dependence on imports.
Under the programme, approximately 55,000 households are expected to participate in egg and poultry production. Participants will receive support in the form of day-old chicks, feed, cages, vaccines, and technical assistance.
A pilot phase is set to begin in select districts, including 12 in the Northern Region before scaling nationwide.
The project also includes a component for “anchor farmers”, involving about 50 medium- to large-scale commercial producers. Each is expected to rear approximately 80,000 birds, forming a key part of the supply chain.
Ultimately, the initiative aims to meet nearly all of Ghana’s domestic poultry demand within three years, helping to slash the country’s heavy poultry import bill and creating sustainable jobs across the agricultural value chain.
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