Sarkodie, the most celebrated rapper in Ghana, has seen radio hosts and other industry professionals denigrate local artists for what they claim is a failure on their side to gain wider audiences or go global with their music like some of their African contemporaries.
In a recent interview, Sarkodie stressed that local radio hosts, who have similarly achieved little progress in their careers, do not have the moral authority to criticize musicians for not performing on major international stages.
He made subtle jabs at radio hosts who have had their jobs for more than 20 years but haven't reached any significant milestones. These same people then "disrespect" musicians and put pressure on them for not winning large for the nation, claiming that the presenters don't give them opportunities.
"It is simple to claim that Shatta Wale or Sarkodie didn't accomplish something while sitting at the radio. If you've been on a Ghanaian radio for close to 20 years and haven't switched to a platform like Choice or BBC, I don't think you have the moral authority to talk about Ghanaian artists who haven't moved. I know that we as artists have things we should do because every time there is a step "Sarkodie made this statement in a now-viral interview.
The rapper used the occasion to describe how late Ghanaian BBC journalist Komla Afeke Dumor helped him obtain a prominent position on the network.
Sarkodie was discussed in a 2013 interview with Paul Bakibinga of BBC Africa.
He continued, "For instance, Komla Dumor made it feasible for me to go on BBC.
