Award-winning Ghanaian gospel artiste Esther Smith has opened up about what she describes as an excessive fee charged by a well-known church for hosting her December concert.
Speaking in an interview with media personality Kobby Kyei, the celebrated singer revealed that the church — which she chose not to name — demanded GH¢60,000 for the use of its auditorium for just one evening. She expressed disappointment at the amount, particularly considering the short duration of the programme.
“The church charged us GH¢60,000 to use the auditorium,” she disclosed.
Esther Smith further explained that the situation became even more frustrating when her team had to hire additional chairs because the venue’s existing seating capacity was insufficient to accommodate all attendees.
“We even had to hire additional chairs because the ones available were not sufficient. We used the venue for just one night, only a few hours, and it was far too expensive,” she said.
According to her, the extra logistical expenses placed additional financial pressure on the event, raising broader questions about how churches structure venue fees for gospel programmes.
Beyond the financial burden, the gospel musician used the opportunity to address the issue of fair compensation within both the creative industry and ministry space.
She indicated that if the same church were to invite her to minister at an event, she would not hesitate to charge accordingly.
“If that pastor were to invite me to minister, I would also charge accordingly. Artistes must ask for what they deserve, especially when they are invited to perform,” she stated.
Her comments highlight the ongoing conversation around balancing ministry and professionalism, particularly for gospel musicians who often operate at the intersection of faith and business.
Esther Smith also recounted a separate incident involving another church to which she had previously made charitable donations. She said she was surprised and hurt when her request to rent their auditorium for a programme was declined.
According to her, the church informed her that their premises were reserved exclusively for members and not available for rental to non-members.
“I used to donate to a particular church some years ago. When we later approached them to rent their auditorium for my event, they told us they do not rent their premises to non-members. I was genuinely hurt,” she revealed.
Since the interview aired, social media users have weighed in on the matter, with many debating whether churches should charge high fees for gospel events and how gospel artistes should position their services — as ministry, business, or both.
Esther Smith’s remarks have reignited conversations about fairness, value, and sustainability within Ghana’s gospel music industry. As the creative sector continues to evolve, the relationship between churches and gospel musicians remains a sensitive yet important topic for discussion.
