Silent rivalry stifling industry growth – Nana Fosuhene on GH music

ROAD Manager for renowned music duo Akatakyie, Nana Fosuhene, has voiced concerns over what he describes as unhealthy and silent competition among seasoned Ghanaian artistes, which he believes is stalling the growth of the music industry.

Nana Fosuhene revealed that getting veteran artistes to collaborate with one another on songs is a major hurdle due to subtle rivalry and egos at play.

In an exclusive interview with Graphic Showbiz, he lamented that despite the shared history and connections many of these artistes have, there is always a noticeable reluctance to support each other openly.  

"It’s a real struggle. There’s this unspoken competition that makes it difficult for seasoned acts to come together and work on projects. Some of them, despite having good relationships with us, turn down collaboration offers without any tangible reasons.”  

Sharing an experience, Fosuhene recounted a situation where Akatakyie tried to feature a top Ghanaian artiste on a song they believed had massive potential.  

“We had this song that was perfect for a collaboration with one of the top artistes in the country. When we got to the studio and played it for him, he loved it but refused to jump on the track.”

“Instead, he asked that we give him the song because he believed it was a hit even though he already has several hits to his name. We declined and kept the song to ourselves,” he disclosed.  

According to Fosuhene, this attitude is not only affecting collaborations but also stifling creativity and growth within the industry.

He highlights the importance of fostering unity over rivalry to ensure the industry reaches its full potential.

He therefore advised musicians not to see collaborations as a threat to their individual brands but as an opportunity to strengthen the Ghanaian music industry as a whole.  

“Unity is key. We need to understand that coming together to work isn’t about who’s bigger or better. It’s about pushing our culture and music forward. If the big names unite to work on songs, imagine the impact that they would have—not just here in Ghana but internationally,” he said  

While acknowledging that rivalry popularly known as beefs in the industry could sometimes spark public interest and media attention, he warned that it often comes at a cost to long-term industry growth.  

“Beefs might create short-term buzz, but they leave a lot of damage behind. Imagine what could happen if seasoned artistes put aside their egos and worked together more. The industry would thrive, and we could put Ghanaian music on an even bigger global stage,” he emphasised.