Grammy-nominated Ghanaian musician, Rocky Dawuni
Grammy-nominated Ghanaian musician, Rocky Dawuni, has urged the government and media to implement deliberate cultural policies that support local music as a key component of Ghana’s 24-hour economy agenda.
Speaking on Starr Chat with Bola Ray on Starr 103.5 FM on Thursday, July 17, 2025, Dawuni criticised the widespread reliance on foreign-curated playlists in Ghanaian clubs and media, warning that such trends stifle the growth of the country’s creative economy.
“Playlist is becoming global. We sit here and we take somebody else’s playlist,” he said. “I’ll go to clubs and our DJs are playing playlists that somebody in ‘abrokyire’ has put; all of the African artists they think should play in our market.”
He emphasised the need to “grow local” if Ghana is serious about boosting economic contributions from the arts and entertainment sector.
“If you don’t grow artists that are local, we won’t have the capacity to increase that economic contribution of the artists to our economy,” he said.
Rocky Dawuni then tied the issue directly to the broader national conversation about building a 24-hour economy. “If we are talking about 24-hour economy… 24 times Ghanaian artists should be played on Ghanaian radio,” he urged. “We should look at it and say, there’s a policy for it. 24 hours.”
When host Bola Ray followed up, asking if this extended to music played in taxis, trucks, and commercial vehicles, Dawuni responded, “Yes! They should be playing. And not playing only the ones that we feel that… all should be covered, including Rocky Dawuni’s own.”
His comments reinforce growing calls for intentional efforts to elevate Ghanaian music and culture at home as a tool for economic empowerment, job creation, and national identity.
