Nkonkonsa Celebrity Gossip From Africa
Nana Poku Ashis, the manager of Ghanaian artist Kwabena Kwabena, has addressed comments by Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts, and Culture Mark Okraku-Mantey, who implied that Kwabena Kwabena’s success took off once he supported the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
In an interview with Joy FM on August 10, 2024, Okraku-Mantey stated that artists could benefit from political affiliations, citing Kwabena Kwabena as an example. He stated that the singer’s career received a boost after publicly endorsing Nana Akufo-Addo.
Nevertheless, in a private conversation, Ashis rejected Okraku-Mantey’s comments as “ambiguous” and challenged the deputy minister’s understanding of “larger.”
Ashis clarified that Kwabena Kwabena’s career was steady after endorsing the NPP in 2008, but took a turn after the NPP’s defeat in the 2012 election. The vocalist encountered major obstacles, such as criticism from fans aligned with the opposition and a decrease in backing.
“He was targeted in many instances. Some of his fans from the opposition side were upset with him for using his platform to campaign for the NPP. Others felt disappointed in his decision. On social media, he faced a lot of backlash and insults, and some fans even said they wouldn’t attend his shows anymore, leading to a drop in numbers,” Ashis explained.
In an interview with GhanaWeb’s Isaac Dadzie on August 14, 2024, Kwabena Kwabena talked about his persistent hard work despite setbacks and his unmet expectations for support from the NPP, even after their victory in the 2016 election.
“He believed that once the party he supported came into power, he could make a few calls and receive some assistance, but those efforts went unanswered. He had to struggle on his own,” Ashis added.
Ashis maintained that Kwabena Kwabena’s career growth was a result of the artist’s hard work and not because of any assistance from the NPP.
“Why take credit for something you didn’t contribute to? You didn’t give him any money or support, so if he has grown, it’s not because he endorsed the NPP. In fact, he faced backlash for that endorsement and had to work his way back up. So Mark’s statement is vague,” he said.
Ashis stressed that Kwabena Kwabena supported the NPP because of his true admiration for Akufo-Addo, not for money, and that any future political activities would be handled as strictly business.
“He wasn’t paid for anything. He supported Akufo-Addo out of love. Lessons have been learned, and from now on, everything will be approached as a business,” he declared.
Kwabena Kwabena has shifted his focus from politics to concentrate on his music career.
He is promoting his new song, “Fakye Me“, from his upcoming gospel EP, God of Restoration.
NKONKONSA.com
