“Is there a record label here in Ghana?” Kwabena Kwabena has asked rhetorically.

He had been asked by Kwame Dadzie on Joy FM’s Showbiz A-Z if he was interested in signing with any local record label.

While labels like Lynx Entertainment, Highly Spiritual and Rufftown Records were being mentioned, he had a belly laugh.

“No, no, no. I’m sorry, there’s no record label in Ghana,” the Highlife star insisted.

While the cited record labels have scouted, mentored and groomed stars like MzVee, Kuami Eugene and KiDi (Lynx); Kurl Songx and Mr Drew (Highly Spiritual); and Ebony and Wendy Shay (Rufftown Records), among others, none has yet broken the glass ceiling and successfully given a local act global recognition.

Most of Ghana's most successful acts with international accolades are independent artistes, like Sarkodie (with two BET awards), Samini (MOBO award), Shatta Wale (with six IRAWMA trophies). 

Others are managed by a combination of local and international labels, like Stonebwoy (self-established Burniton Music Group and Def Jam Recordings); Black Sherif (RBA and EMPIRE); King Promise (Legacy Life Entertainment and Sony); and KiDi (Lynx Entertainment and EMPIRE).