Gospel artist Carl Clottey has voiced his disappointment over the lack of financial and structural support from the church.
The singer recounted a disheartening experience following the release of one of his albums.
“I was really excited about my album and wanted the whole church to hear it. We produced about 1,000 copies of CDs, but sadly, only 60 copies were sold in the church. That moment hit me hard.”
Carl Clottey
Although church members often show up to his events to offer moral support, Clottey stressed that it has not translated into the kind of investment needed to sustain and grow his ministry.
“My church, The Apostolic Church–Ghana, works according to a leadership structure. So, unless you’re in a specific assembly where the leaders are personally willing to support you, you’re pretty much on your own.”
Carl Clottey
Clottey revealed that much of his progress in the gospel music industry has been fuelled by personal effort and the support of close family and friends. “At some point, I realised I was doing everything by myself. The church is yet to show that kind of financial or structural support,” he said.
Despite the setbacks, the ‘Di Wo Hene’ hitmaker remains committed to his music ministry. With a growing catalogue of inspiring gospel tracks such as ‘One and Only’, ‘Deedew’, ‘Yehowa’, and ‘Your Grace’, Carl Clottey is known for blending soulful worship with contemporary gospel rhythms. His message centres on hope, faith, and spiritual intimacy.
Over the years, Carl has become a recognisable figure within Ghana’s urban gospel space, gaining a loyal fanbase through his heartfelt performances and consistent social media engagement.
His music often bridges generational gaps, appealing to both youth and older audiences within and outside the church.
Clottey maintains that, while he values the support he receives from church members who attend his events, true growth requires more than just presence. “I’m grateful for those who stand with me, but there’s a lot more needed to push a ministry forward,” he said.
Carl Clottey Calls Out Credit Snubs
The Gospel musician vented his displeasure about being consistently denied proper credit for songs he has written for other artists in the gospel music industry.
Carl revealed that he has written songs for about five or six artists, yet many of them have failed to acknowledge his contributions publicly. “I’ve written songs for people, and instead of giving me credit, they go on the radio and claim they just woke up one morning and got the inspiration to write the song,” he said, clearly disappointed.
The ‘Di Wo Hene’ singer admitted that part of the problem stems from the absence of formal agreements at the time of the collaborations.
“The truth is, I did some of these songs without proper documentation. That’s something I’ve learned from, but it doesn’t make it any less frustrating.”
Carl Clottey
Clottey further stated that many of these songs failed to reach their full potential, not only due to the lack of credit but also because of poor promotion by the artists involved. “Some of them don’t put enough energy into promoting the songs, so the music doesn’t really get out there for people to enjoy. That’s discouraging,” he noted.
He stressed that songwriting is a serious creative effort that deserves respect, especially within the gospel music space.
“Writing a song takes time, creativity, and spiritual sensitivity, especially in gospel music. It hurts when that work is overlooked.”
Carl Clottey
Despite these setbacks, Carl Clottey remains committed to his craft and continues to use his songwriting gift to bless others. However, he called on fellow artists to uphold integrity by giving due credit to those behind the music.
Beyond performing, he is recognised for his strong songwriting ability and emotive lyrical style, often touching on faith, grace, and devotion.
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