Gyankroma Akufo-Addo, Executive Secretary for the Creative Arts Agency, has called for the creation of a distinctive musical identity for Ghana to enhance its global recognition. During a stakeholder engagement with music industry leaders, she stressed the importance of developing a unique sound that resonates globally.
While acknowledging Ghana’s rich Highlife music heritage, Gyankroma emphasized the need for a specific, universally appealing genre. “When we say Ghana music, people often ask, ‘what is Ghana music?’ We need a distinct sound that originates from Ghana, whether it’s Highlife or Hiplife. Our music identity should be universally acknowledged,” she said.
Gyankroma noted that the current situation makes it challenging to identify a distinct Ghanaian sound globally. “Our music industry needs to reach a point where audiences worldwide can readily identify Ghana’s musical signature.”
The initiative aims to foster a unique sound that can stand out globally while allowing Ghanaian musicians’ diversity and creativity to flourish. The goal is not to limit musicians to specific genres but to create a unified and recognizable music identity.
This call comes at a time when the local music industry is experiencing a downturn, and initiatives like PlayGhana are crucial to boosting Ghanaian music exposure on local radio stations and promoting homegrown talent.
