Akwaboah says industry 'code' cost him millions despite writing hit songs
Akwaboah says an industry "code" cost him millions despite writing hit songs. Akwaboah opened up about the hidden "code" in Ghana's music industry that prevents artistes from charging for songwriting and collaborations-despite creating hit songs.
Akwaboah spoke about financial difficulties associated with songwriting in Ghana during an interview on Angel FM on April 7, 2026. He suggested a more organised and transparent structure would have enabled him to maximise the value of his songwriting skills. He remarked, "I believe that if there were a proper system in Ghana's music industry, I would have been more inclined to write for others." He explained that in Ghana, "the payment is usually minimal" when writing for someone, and "when it involves a fellow artiste, it becomes even harder to charge a fee-it's simply an unspoken code." He revealed, "I could have been a millionaire by now if not for this culture within the industry, because most of the songs I have written for others became hits."
Akwaboah explained that his initial motivation for writing music was to demonstrate his ability and support artistes who struggled with songwriting. He said, "When I started writing for others, it was simply to prove that not every artiste needs to write their own songs. That is why we exist-to provide songs for those who need them."
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Akwaboah has opened up about the financial difficulties associated with songwriting in Ghana. He explains how industry norms have limited his ability to earn from his craft - despite producing numerous hit songs.
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