Kwabena Kwabena’s manager, Nana Poku Ashis, has revealed that some individuals accepted money on behalf of the artist after he composed a campaign song for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in 2016.
In an interview on Joy Prime’s Prime Morning show with Roselyn Felli, Ashis addressed the issue of whether Kwabena Kwabena charged a fee for the song. He emphasized that a few friends of the musician who were party members took money without his consent.
According to Ashis, although Kwabena Kwabena believed he had composed the song voluntarily and for free, party executives were aware that charges had been made. He stated, “Some people charged on his head.
Some of his friends that led him to go and meet the party leadership, charged on his head. So, the party knows that they’ve given Kwabena something through somebody. Where the money dey? He never got the money.”
Ashis further mentioned that Kwabena Kwabena later approached the party to receive the money but was denied because they believed he had already been paid, with documented files of the payment.
Despite this situation, the musician continued to show support for the party in subsequent elections. However, he was neglected after the NPP emerged victorious in the polls.
In light of these events, Ashis advised musicians who compose or plan to release campaign songs for political parties to establish business terms with them and charge accordingly.
He also stressed the importance of refraining from engaging in political discussions for their own safety.
In 2016, Kwabena Kwabena composed a campaign song titled ‘Vote Number 1’ for then-candidate Akufo-Addo, which gained popularity and contributed to the party’s success in the elections.
Following the song’s release, the artist disclosed that he had not received any form of compensation for his work.
Due to the treatment he received after the party’s victory, Kwabena Kwabena vowed never to compose a song for any political party without official payment.
He instructed his management to ensure that payment is arranged before entering the studio to record.
It is worth noting that Kwabena Kwabena had previously composed a campaign song titled ‘Number One’ for NPP’s Nana Akufo-Addo in 2008.
