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Ghanaian rapper Kwesi Arthur has publicly accused his former management, Ground Up Chale, and its executive Glen Boateng of alleged threats, exploitation and attempts to block his music career.
In a strongly worded statement shared online, the award-winning artiste claimed he is being asked to pay $150,000 for using images of himself for a current independent project.
According to him, Ground Up Chale is insisting it owns his image, music and all related rights from 2016 to date, despite his claim that he has not worked with or had any affiliation with the company since the Son of Jacob era.
Kwesi Arthur further alleged that he has not earned any income from his music during the years he worked with the company, accusing Glen Boateng of benefiting from his hard work while subjecting him to constant threats and manipulation.
He warned that if anything were to happen to him, or if his ongoing independent project is taken down, responsibility should be placed on Glen Boateng and the Ground Up Chale team.
The rapper also revealed that he has remained silent for a long time but decided to speak out due to concerns for his safety and that of his family. He added that the situation has taken a toll on his mental health and wellbeing, describing what he believes to be deliberate efforts to prevent him from releasing music independently.
Kwesi Arthur is not the only artist to part ways with Ground Up Chale. Quamina MP, a Ghanaian musician and producer who previously worked with the collective, publicly disclosed his reasons for leaving the group, citing creative and business differences with the organization earlier in his career.
Additionally, other former Ground Up affiliates such as Kofi Mole and Twitch 4EVA have also moved on from the collective to pursue independent paths in the music scene, highlighting broader challenges within the group’s structure for artists navigating their careers outside the movement.
As of the time of filing this report, Ground Up Chale has not publicly responded to the allegations.
Find below the statement
