- Gospel musician Brother Sammy says he deserves to be paid
- He shares a story of being unpaid after a performance
- Brother Sammy refuses to accept poverty as a gospel musician
Ghanaian gospel musician Brother Sammy has weighed in on the ongoing debate over whether gospel artists should charge for their performances. In a recent interview with Neat FM on March 29, 2024, Brother Sammy asserted that gospel musicians should be compensated for their work, highlighting that music serves as a livelihood for many.
“I refuse to be broke! Why should gospel musicians and pastors always be poor?” Brother Sammy questioned, underscoring that gospel work, despite its spiritual nature, remains a profession deserving of fair payment. “It is the work of God. Why do people ignore the second part? There is God, and there is work, so while we are doing it for God, we also deserve to be paid for our work,” he added.
In discussing different approaches within the gospel music community, Brother Sammy acknowledged that some of his colleagues opt to accept donations rather than charging a fee. He recognized this choice as a personal one.
Brother Sammy also recounted a personal experience to illustrate his point. He described an incident where he traveled to Mankessim for a church event, only to find that the pastor refused to provide any form of payment for his performance.
“After the performance, I was expecting a small token for my services, but the pastor never showed up. That night, I had to sleep on a chair provided by the security man. The next day, I walked to the bus station and used the little money I had left to get home. That pastor even used my name to raise funds, and I never received a penny,” he lamented.
