Ghanaian rapper Pope Skinny, born Edwin Kwame Ohene Darko, has recently shared details about his current career shift after facing setbacks in both his music and radio hosting ventures.
Having moved to the United States, Pope Skinny revealed that he has taken up work as a truck driver, a profession he admits he would have avoided had he remained in Ghana.
He explained that the financial struggles within Ghana’s entertainment industry have driven him and many others to seek opportunities abroad.
Pope Skinny pointed out that a lack of long-term financial security, such as social benefits, has made it challenging for artists to sustain themselves, especially once they retire from their careers.
Musicians in Ghana often face difficulties with future planning, as they are not included in social security systems that can provide support in later years.
The rapper highlighted how the situation is different in countries like the U.S., where systems are in place to help workers secure their futures.
For many artists, this becomes a major factor in relocating to countries where they can access these benefits and have a more stable income.
Pope Skinny emphasized that, without consistent hit songs, many musicians struggle financially and must rely on their savings to continue their work in the creative industry.
Now working as a truck driver in the U.S., he acknowledged that it is a profession he wouldn’t have pursued in Ghana due to the potential ridicule from his peers and fans.
However, the realities of life abroad have pushed him to embrace this new role as a practical means of earning a living. Pope Skinny’s journey underscores the difficulties faced by musicians in Ghana’s entertainment landscape and the lengths some have to go to secure their futures.
“We are musicians. We don’t even have SSNIT in our line of work. It is not an issue with just musicians. You will see people on TV donate money to most celebrities when they visit them. It’s not because the person was irresponsible. We do not have a future plan for musicians here. If you look at all these things and you don’t want to ruin your future, you would have to go somewhere else to pay your SSNIT and benefit from it.”
“I drive a big truck in America. I cannot do it in Ghana because I will be mocked.”
Source: NewsandVibes.com
