I refuse to be broke, gospel music is our livelihood – Brother Sammy

Ghanaian gospel musician, Brother Sammy has addressed the ongoing debate about whether gospel musicians should charge for their performances.

In an interview with Neat FM on March 29, 2024, said they should be paid because music is also a source of livelihood.

“I refuse to be broke! Why should gospel musicians and pastors always be poor?” Brother Sammy challenged, emphasizing that gospel work is still work and deserves fair compensation. “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 stated.

Responding to a colleague who chooses to accept donations instead of charging for performances, Brother Sammy acknowledged that it is a personal decision.

He shared a personal experience where he traveled to Mankessim to perform at a church event and the pastor refused to pay him.

“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 bemoaned.

Brother Sammy justified why gospel artistes must be paid for their services, stating that he prefers to be paid upfront to avoid similar situations in the future.