Dancehall artiste, Shatta Wale, has expressed concern about the country’s economic challenges, saying it easily drives some Ghanaian youth into crime.
According to him, even though people might not intend to persist with crime, they do so in order to provide for their families, but end up being tagged permanently as criminals, and sometimes get killed in the process.
Speaking in an interview on Kumasi-based Luv FM, Shatta Wale called on the government to step up its efforts at addressing the concerns of Ghanaians.
“I’ll take this opportunity to beg the President. Ghanaians are suffering too much. Sometimes I just like to say these things on air for him to know that I also care about the country; the way he wants Ghana to move, that’s how I also want it to move.”
Shatta Wale added that he has released more ‘controversial’ songs in recent weeks to take people’s minds off the hardships.
“People are complaining too much, that there’s no money, their businesses are collapsing. These things bring armed robbery and other things. That’s why I’m even releasing more songs but people aren’t aware. I’m just trying to take people’s minds off stress. I’m trying to put controversial stuff in the industry. The country is becoming hotter and hotter, I won’t lie. Each and every day I hear people say there’s no money and that shouldn’t happen in Ghana.
A recent wave of price hikes in fuel and food prices coupled with the depreciation of the cedi against the major trading currencies has led to complaints from Ghanaians about their declining standards of living.
The recent banking sector crisis, which has seen seven local banks collapse in the space of a year has also heightened public concerns.
Shatta Wale insisted that despite the wealth displayed in his music videos and portrayed in his songs, he isn’t as detached from the sufferings of Ghanaians as many think.
He insisted that he only intends to encourage people who listen to his music that they can be successful as well if they work hard enough since he started from similar humble beginnings.
“I feel it. I don’t eat too much. When I’m hungry and I think about things I’ve been through, I know that that’s not how things were. I don’t release songs for people to know I’m rich, I want people to know that I bought a car because I hustled and believed in myself.”
He appealed to the government to respond to the plight of the citizens because if their current conditions persist, people may be forced to engage in unlawful activities to provide for themselves and their families.
“Sometimes people don’t have the heart to believe and wait for that time, so they take up the guns and go and rob. Before you realise, they get shot and are labelled robbers even though they are just hungry. I believe the leaders want us to live in peace and harmony.”
“Their [Politicians] children go to nice schools, the persons working in the banks also want their kids to go to nice schools; but if the banks collapse, how will they make that happen?” he quizzed.
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By: Edwin Kwakofi/citinewsroom.com/Ghana
