Veteran highlife legend, Ackah Blay, has voiced his disappointment over the growing trend of explicit content in songs produced by the younger generation of Ghanaian musicians.
Speaking passionately on the issue, the celebrated music icon noted that the Ghanaian music industry, which was once a medium for delivering powerful, purposeful messages, has increasingly leaned toward promoting sexual immorality and explicit content without boundaries.
“Music is more than just entertainment,” he said. “It has the power to influence emotions, shape culture, and impact behavior. That’s why it must be handled responsibly.”
Ackah Blay reflected on the golden days of Ghanaian music, when themes of love and intimacy were communicated subtly and artistically, rather than in the raw and unfiltered style seen today.
“We addressed intimacy too, but in an artistic and coded way. Now it’s too raw, too direct, and it sends the wrong message,” he lamented.
He acknowledged that foreign artists also explore sexual themes, but pointed out that their approach is often more sophisticated, and their use of language doesn’t easily translate into Ghanaian dialects without losing subtlety.
“Foreigners also sing about sex in their songs in admirable ways that can’t be replicated in Ghanaian local languages. It’s too heavy,” he explained.
