Veteran gospel musician and Physician Assistant, Philipa Baafi, is calling for greater integrity and accountability within Ghana’s music industry.
The celebrated “Go High” and “I Go Dance” hitmaker has expressed deep concern over the growing practice of young musicians re-recording old songs and monetizing them online without the original creators’ consent.
In an exclusive conversation on Ahotor Mmre with Obaapa Janee, Philipa described the trend as both disrespectful and destructive, warning that it threatens the foundation built by earlier generations of artists.
“Let’s all do the right thing so our music industry will be at its best,” she urged. “It’s wrong for someone to go back to the studio, redo another person’s song, and make money off it without permission. The original artist probably struggled to create that piece — sometimes even borrowing money to record it — so it’s unfair to take advantage of their effort.”
Philipa didn’t shy away from addressing a common defense she hears: that people must “support the young ones.” She believes that true support means teaching them ethics, not encouraging shortcuts.
“When the original owners complain, people say, ‘Let the young ones shine.’ But how can we grow as an industry if we don’t do things the right way?” she asked.
According to her, overlooking such misconduct not only robs veteran musicians of recognition but also distorts the value of creativity and hard work.
“Later, when these pioneers struggle financially, it’s the same public that criticises them for not investing wisely — forgetting others are profiting from their sweat,” she lamented.
This issue has long been debated within both gospel and mainstream entertainment circles. Many industry players now echo Philipa’s call for stronger copyright enforcement and ethical awareness to preserve Ghana’s musical heritage.
Her message resonates beyond the moment — a reminder that true progress in music begins with respect, fairness, and honesty.
Watch the video below
