Songwriters in Ghana are not given due recognition – Music Producer

Ghanaian sound engineer, DDT has called on players in the Ghanaian music industry to pay attention to the plights of songwriters as they have continuously been sidelined and neglected despite their immense contribution to the industry.

In a Facebook post sighted by alltunezgh.com , DDT disclosed that it hurts when songwriters are not given their due by artists and the entire industry unlike other established countries where systems are in place to make sure the songwriter is well attended to and given the necessary returns.

He (DDT) wrote, "The African loves his music as much as he loves his food, and just as we enjoy our food at restaurants; always remembering the name of the restaurant and the dish, no one ever bothers to find out the name of the chef responsible for the food we so enjoy. Sadly but truly this juxtaposes perfectly on the music scene in Ghana

"The credit for songs always goes to the artiste. Very rarely does the actual person behind the song get a mention; the songwriter. In the US and UK music industry, songwriters are a big deal, raking in millions for their efforts. In our part of the world, all they rake in are "Thank You’s" at best. You are lucky if u get a mention on an album cover, but then again which of our musicians will openly admit that someone else other than them, is responsible for their hits.

"In other jurisdictions, credit is given to songwriters during performances, interviews or inscriptions at the back of CD covers and they even receive royalties for their works: But same cannot be said for Ghana".