Gospel singer Akesse Brempong has entered the fray in a heated conversation within Ghana’s Christian community, pushing back against recent remarks made by Bishop Dag Heward-Mills about not paying church musicians.
In a discussion on UTV’s United Showbiz, Brempong asserted that churches have a responsibility to support their musicians especially those who rely on music as their primary source of income.
“If you’re a gospel artist and you believe making music is your craft and that is where you get your bread from, then I think you should find a church that believes in rewarding or paying artists,” he said.
The singer further called for proper structures within churches to ensure musicians and instrumentalists are compensated for their service. He backed his argument with scripture, citing 1 Chronicles 9:33, which speaks of Levite singers who served in the temple full-time.
Brempong’s comments come in response to a viral sermon from Bishop Dag Heward-Mills, in which the respected preacher dismissed the idea of financially rewarding church musicians.
“Watch out for people who do things for money… I said I am not going to pay people to play instruments. Here, we don’t pay because you love Jesus. If not, go,” Heward-Mills stated.
This is not the first time Akesse Brempong has advocated for better institutional support for gospel musicians. Earlier in 2024, he encouraged churches to establish their own record labels to help nurture gospel talent and grow the industry.
His latest remarks reignite an ongoing debate about the intersection of ministry, music, and money raising important questions about the value placed on creative labor within religious spaces.
Even the Bible support paying church musicians - Akesse Brempong disagrees with Bishop Dag Heward-Mills#UnitedShowbiz pic.twitter.com/Vq526YjfOJ
— UTV Ghana (@utvghana) April 19, 2025
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