My career was damaged after endorsing a political party - George Jahraa
3rd October 2024
Veteran Ghanaian Highlife artiste George Jahraa has warned musicians about the possible repercussions should they decide to endorse any political party.
In an interview with Adom FM on October 2, 2024, the "Ashikele" hitmaker recounted the difficulties he faced after endorsing an opposition party during ex-President Jerry John Rawlings' tenure.
Jahraa explained that his support for the party led to a setback for his career, including a ban on his music from being aired on the only TV station at the time.
“I joined a party and with what I went through after endorsing them, it wasn’t easy. I was in my Grandfather’s house in Kwadaso… and they invited me to play for them, no one wanted to play for them in 1992… Since then, every song I did was not to be aired and there was only one TV station at that time… I stayed home until Kufour came to power before my songs came out,” he said.
Jahraa revealed that his endorsement severely impacted his music career, limiting his opportunities and preventing him from achieving international success.
"If not that, I would have been on the international scene. I was all over Africa… my producer tried so well, but it didn’t happen… the one I tried to put out, it went for only 2 months… it was later I got to know that the show I played was punishing me," he lamented.
Commenting on the political landscape in Ghana, Jahraa noted the "winner takes all" mentality and the risks musicians face when aligning with political parties.
“It’s winner takes all thing… I saw Busia, Acheampong, Akufo and I saw Rawlings 1, Limann and Rawlings 2… and that is how the power has been changing hands. Anyone in power can fight you, a musician… I was praying for the man to leave power… so if you are a musician, and you are entering into that, you should know the country you are in,” he cautioned.