The Executive Secretary of the Creative Arts Agency (CAA), Gyankroma Akufo-Addo, has underscored the need for Ghanaian artistes to develop a sound that can easily be associated with the country.
While addressing industry players and artiste managers at a recent stakeholders event aimed at promoting the #playghana agenda, she noted that currently, there is no distinct way to describe the components that define Ghanaian music.
“As it stands now, if we say Ghana music, the immediate question will be what is Ghana music? Everybody is doing everything and so we are supporting everything,” Gyankroma Akufo-Addo said.
Furthermore, the Executive Secretary of the CAA said that music producers and artistes must focus on developing one type of sound and refine it to a level that would gain international recognition.
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“However, our producers and musicians must be able to come out with a particular sound that is coming from Ghana. For instance, if it is Highlife, let’s do it or Hiplife, let’s stick to that. Whichever one, I think the most important thing is to have a music sound from Ghana that will be internationally recognised,” she added.
To support Gyankroma’s point, the Deputy Executive Secretary, Frank Kwabena Owusu, referenced Jamaica as a prime example, highlighting how the country has successfully developed the Reggae genre to the point of global recognition. In contrast, he noted that it’s challenging to identify a Ghanaian song.
“It’s difficult to easily identify a song that is coming from Ghana but that shouldn’t be the case. Our music industry should be at a point where music audience can easily identity Ghana’s sound.”
According to the Deputy Executive Secretary, “We should be at a point where when anyone hears music from Ghana, the listener will not ask, which one is that?” he said.
Mr Owusu also stated that the initiative would be feasible if some artists were chosen to lead the charge in promoting the sound.
“We can have at least 10 artistes who will be supported to produce the sound and then we can push it from there,” he added to his submission.
