Sarkodie has called on Ghana to invest more in the creative industry, warning that the country is overlooking its economic potential and failing to create the conditions artists need to thrive outside Accra.
The rapper made the call during a media tour ahead of Rapperholic Kumasi 2026, which will take place on Saturday, October 24, at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium.
He said Ghana’s creative industry could generate more income, create opportunities and contribute to government revenue if the right infrastructure were in place.
“I think we’re just overlooking the potential of what we can make out of the creative industry, and we are rather shipping it out,” Sarkodie said.
He explained that the concentration of opportunities in Accra has made it difficult for talented people in Kumasi to build their careers without relocating to the capital.
“We are not keeping the Kumasi talent here because of the infrastructure we built,” he said. “So now they feel like they have to be in Accra.”
Sarkodie believes the problem goes beyond music itself. In his view, the creative sector should be treated as a serious part of the economy rather than an activity that deserves attention only when artists need support.
He urged people and institutions with the resources to support the industry to recognise the business opportunities it presents.
“If there’s any creative industry people coming to you guys for support or coming to be part of the industry, don’t see it as, ‘Oh, it’s just music,’ and go for it,” he said.
“There is a lot happening in there that will urge everybody to be a part of.”
The rapper also linked the industry’s challenges to the difficulty of converting local music consumption into revenue. He said Ghanaian artists may have large audiences at home but still earn relatively little from those listeners because the necessary systems are not in place.
For Sarkodie, addressing the problem requires more than organising concerts. It means building an environment where creatives can work, earn and grow their businesses in their own regions instead of feeling compelled to move to Accra or seek opportunities abroad.
Rapperholic Kumasi is returning to the Ashanti Regional capital for the second consecutive year after the concert brand was traditionally associated with Accra during the December festive season.
The event offers Sarkodie another opportunity to bring his flagship concert to Kumasi, while his comments place the spotlight on a broader question: how Ghana can build a creative economy that benefits artists and their communities across the country.
