Shatta Wale has claimed that fame did little to improve his life in Ghana, revealing that he once slept on the streets even after becoming one of the country’s biggest music stars.
The outspoken singer believes Ghana does not celebrate its entertainers the way Nigeria does, leaving many artists struggling financially despite their popularity.
Nigerians appreciate success. Ghana does not appreciate success. As a star, I was sleeping on the street as big as I am. At one point, my girlfriend, who was living with her parents, was the one accommodating me.
For Shatta Wale, the struggle did not end there.
He recalled relying on taxis to get to shows because he could not afford a car, insisting that many Ghanaian musicians shared the same reality.
Even as a big Ghanaian artist, back then, I take taxis to shows. Not just me, a lot of Ghanaian artists do that. Ghanaian artists earn pennies, while their Nigerian counterparts earn big.
The singer argued that the difference lies in how the two countries treat success.
While Nigerians celebrate and invest in their stars, he believes Ghanaians often fail to give entertainers the support they deserve.
Shatta Wale urged fellow Ghanaian artists to look at Nigeria’s music industry and raise their expectations, saying the industry must create an environment where musicians can build successful careers instead of merely surviving.