Veteran guitarist Ackah Blay has expressed his frustrations with the Ghanaian music industry, stating that while being a musician is great, being a Ghanaian musician is challenging. In an interview with Christian Agyei Frimpong on Channel R, Ackah Blay spoke out about what he referred to as a “mafia” system within the industry.
He explained that the Ghanaian music scene, though widely recognized, lacks the necessary infrastructure to thrive. “The structure is just a word,” he said, “but the elements needed to make it work are not in place due to the mafia-like system at play. Some people fear that success would not benefit them.”
While refusing to name individuals, he stressed that the success of the industry would benefit everyone in Ghana, but certain people are hindering progress for their own gain. “Being a talented musician in Ghana is a big problem,” he lamented. Although he would be proud to be a musician in future generations, he added that the “mafia system” would prevent people from hearing his music in the current environment.
