Ghanaian rapper Samuel Adu Frimpong, popularly known as Medikal, has offered a candid account of the financial pressure Ghanaian artistes face when staging major concerts abroad.

His comments come in the wake of Livingstone Etse Satekla, known professionally as Stonebwoy, hosting his Bhim Fest concert at the 12,500-capacity OVO Arena Wembley in London on August 15, 2026.

According to Medikal, international concerts may look highly profitable from the outside, but artistes often have to commit substantial personal resources to make such events happen, with little or no financial return.

He said the significance of such concerts extends beyond money, as successful international shows help Ghanaian musicians gain visibility and demonstrate their ability to command audiences on major platforms.

“Don’t stress yourself too much. In Ghana, people don’t comprehend a lot of things because so many artistes are doing a lot of big things. Most of the artistes don’t even have to do what they are doing. Most of the artistes don’t make anything from the shows. Everything goes back to the label. So, if individual artistes like myself, Shatta Wale and Stonebwoy host such shows, it’s not easy. So, you have to appreciate it when we do such shows. It’s not even easy to break through in the part of the world where we find ourselves,” he said.

The ‘Too Risky’ hitmaker said he personally experienced the financial downside of staging an overseas concert when he performed at O2 Indigo in London two years ago.

Despite the strong turnout, Medikal said assumptions that he had made substantial money from the event were far from reality.

“Two years ago, I did O2 Indigo. I don’t even remember the capacity, but a lot of people from London came and they couldn’t even enter. The idea people were spreading was that I had staged a show in the UK and made money. I ran into a loss. These shows are just bragging rights,” he added.

Medikal’s comments challenge the perception that sold-out or heavily attended international concerts automatically translate into huge profits for Ghanaian artistes. His account suggests that the costs associated with venues, production, promotion, logistics and other commitments can significantly reduce or wipe out earnings.

His remarks have therefore added a financial dimension to the growing conversation around Ghanaian musicians taking their brands beyond the country, particularly as more artistes seek to stage major concerts in international markets.

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@lupi_love_kyannel Real talk… Big ups Medikal #fyp #foryou #foryoupage #fypシ ♬ original sound – lupi_Love_Kyannel🎙️

Source: Yvonne Nyarko Agyemang