Artiste manager Nana Poku Ashis has called for Ghanaian creatives to be more business-oriented when engaging with political parties.
According to him, due to the risks creatives tend to face after endorsing political parties, they should try as much as possible to benefit from these transactions when they have the chance.
Speaking in an interview with GhanaWeb Entertainment, Ashis highlighted the risks creatives face when endorsing political parties, noting that such endorsements can sometimes lead to career setbacks.
He stressed that while love for a party might be genuine, creatives should position themselves to gain something tangible from their support.
“Why should you sell your entire career? You are not a politician. Right after they finish what they have to do with you, they are done with you. It should be all business. Your music is helping them achieve something. What are you benefiting from them?” he stated.
Ashis advised creatives to clearly define their terms and ensure their contributions are recognised and rewarded.
“It’s all about positioning. We’ve seen artistes who have gone to endorse parties and then their careers were shattered. So, if I, as an artiste, am throwing my weight around a political party, there should be some form of business,” he added.
He commended Afrobeats artiste Olivetheboy, who said that his performance at the NDC Youth Manifesto Launch on August 15 was strictly business. He encouraged all artistes to ensure they receive fair compensation for their efforts.
Ashis, who currently manages Kwabena Kwabena, stated that they would only accept to engage with a political party if they stand to benefit from it.
“If you see us on any platform right now, it’s purely business. I’m not sure it will be on merits anymore. We’ll do business. You might see us on NDC the same week. You might see us on NPP. It’s business.
“If they call us, we’ll go and do business. I mean, that’s the point at which we are now. If he, the artiste, has love for one of them, he should keep it. That is his love. But when it comes to the team KBKB, he might like A. I like B. But we’ll just go and do our business,” he said.
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