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Ghanaian music global recognition remains a major issue for the country’s creative industry, with dancehall star Stonebwoy arguing that Ghana must do more to promote its achievements and talented musicians on the international stage.
Speaking on the BBC’s This Is Africa programme, Stonebwoy said Ghana has a rich musical heritage and a pool of talented artistes capable of making a stronger global impact.
However, he believes excessive focus on competition and negative developments has sometimes overshadowed the achievements of Ghanaian musicians.
“Ghana has such beautiful music,” Stonebwoy said.
The award-winning musician stressed the need for Ghana to deliberately promote positive stories about its creative industry and highlight the international successes of its artistes.
Stonebwoy calls for stronger promotion of Ghanaian music
According to Stonebwoy, achievements by Ghanaian musicians often do not receive the level of publicity and recognition they deserve.
He argued that positive stories need to be amplified significantly more than negative developments if Ghana wants to change the perception of its music industry.
Stonebwoy believes a stronger promotional strategy could help Ghanaian artistes attract more international audiences, partnerships and opportunities.
He also suggested that the country’s creative sector could learn from the way Nigeria celebrates and promotes the international achievements of its musicians.
Ghana can learn from Nigeria’s approach
Stonebwoy pointed to the reaction that often follows major international achievements by Nigerian artistes.
Using the iHeartRadio Music Awards as an example, he explained that Nigerian successes are frequently accompanied by extensive publicity that explains the significance of the achievement and places it within a wider narrative of Nigeria’s global influence.
“When a Nigerian wins an iHeart, you and I know how that is going to gain PR immediately.”
He suggested that Ghana could adopt a similar approach by giving greater attention to its artistes when they achieve international milestones.
For Stonebwoy, Ghanaian music global recognition should not depend solely on individual artistes. The wider industry, media, fans and stakeholders all have a role to play in promoting the country’s successes.
Competition should not overshadow Ghana’s achievements
Stonebwoy also criticised what he described as an excessive focus on competition within Ghana’s music industry.
While competition can encourage musicians to improve, he believes it should not become more important than building the overall Ghanaian music brand.
He argued that constant comparisons can create the impression that Ghanaian musicians are not making progress, despite the country’s long history of producing influential artistes.
“We’ve always probably allowed too much over focusing on the competition.”
He maintained that Ghana possesses enough talent to compete internationally but needs a more coordinated effort to project that talent.
Stonebwoy’s international milestone
Stonebwoy’s comments come as he continues to expand his international profile.
The musician is preparing to headline the BHIM Festival on August 15, 2026, at OVO Arena Wembley in London. The performance represents another major milestone in his career and provides an opportunity to showcase Ghanaian music to a global audience.
His remarks therefore highlight a broader conversation about how Ghana can transform individual international successes into sustained global recognition for its music industry.
Stonebwoy’s message is clear: Ghanaian musicians must continue working hard, but the country must also become more intentional about telling its own success stories and promoting its music beyond its borders.
