Rapper Opanka has urged the public not to blindly copy Western culture but to understand it before practice.

He took issue with the notion that Ghanaian men were notoriously unromantic because they were not in the habit of gifting their partners flowers, among other things.

“We should not always do what the Whites do. Let’s be honest, what’d be the use of flowers presented to a woman? Is she going to plant it? Is she going to decorate her home with it?” he asked.

“Honestly, when you’re outside [in the West], it makes sense. It’s someone’s culture. We respect it. It is not our culture, however. Let’s not be influenced by movies. If I buy the flowers for you, what exactly will you do with them?”

Opanka doubled down, arguing if Ghanaian women wanted flowers because of Western practices, they had to be consistent and adopt other practices like “paying for their stuff” on dates, too.

“Meanwhile, if you take a Ghanaian woman out on a coffee or walking date as they do abroad, she will accuse you of being stingy. The White woman who wants flowers is the same one who appreciates simple things like a walk together. So if you want flowers, accept a walk too,” the Hiplife star emphasised.

He said, basically, it was “the effort [Westerners] appreciate,” even more than the gift itself, urging locals to take a cue.  

He urged women to be practical in their expectations of gifts.

“You may need a new wig, money for your rent or new lotion. It’s better to plan on getting money [from your partner] to get that instead of flowers. If I buy flowers, how will you get the wig?” he wondered.

Opanka’s latest song is People.