Our Leaders Have Failed Ghana – Sly Collins

Obiba Sly Collins, a veteran Ghanaian highlife musician, songwriter, and producer, says for Ghana to achieve good public governance, it needs a dynamic and broad-minded leader with a flawless vision.

The ‘Ghana Odo Nkoaa’ hit-maker described the current political dispensation as a big joke, and stressed that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) had “completely failed the nation”.

”Apart from Nkrumah, there has not been any patriotic leader. Nkrumah loved Ghana and Africa, unlike our current politicians. They are governing for their personal gains. Until our leaders sit up and acknowledge the need to expand their horizons, we will continue to wallow in poverty,” he asserted in an interview with Halifax Ansah-Addo on the ‘Best Entertainment Show’.

According to him, the current economic mess the country finds itself in is largely due to the blatant disregard for pressing national issues.

Commenting on music, the veteran Ghanaian highlife musician expressed worry over the growing perception that the genre is dead. He said the future rather looks bright for the genre, adding that it is the only music that truly promotes Ghanaian culture.

”Highlife is a song for Ghana. It is ours. Most of the talented young musicians are doing highlife and making awesome hits. Highlife is not dead and will not die. 

“We need to flood the industry with more songs and I believe it’s time we re-brand highlife to meet the demand of its lovers in Ghana and beyond. I will urge music stakeholders to support the highlife music because it belongs to us,” he added. 

The veteran musician, who is also an actor, has starred in movies such as Zack Orji’s ‘Tenterhooks’, ‘Small World’, ‘Hour Before Midnight’ (Venus Films) and ‘Called By Fire’ (Charles Okafor).