Ghanaian gospel singer Esther Smith has raised concerns about what she describes as unfair treatment of gospel musicians by some church leaders.
Speaking in an interview with Kobby Kyei, the veteran musician revealed that an unnamed church once charged her team GH¢60,000 to rent its auditorium for a single night, a fee she considered excessive for the few hours the venue was used.
According to her, the amount did not even cover basic logistics, as her team had to provide additional chairs because those available at the venue were insufficient.
“The church charged us GH¢60,000 for using the auditorium. We even had to hire extra chairs because the ones there were not enough. We used the place for just one night. It was far too much for a space we only utilised for a few hours,” she stated.
Esther Smith added that such experiences have shaped her approach to ministry invitations, insisting that gospel musicians deserve to be properly compensated for their work.
“If such a pastor calls me to perform, I will equally charge the same amount. I believe artists should demand what they deserve, especially when ministers come to them for performances,” she said.
The singer also recounted another incident in which a church she previously supported financially refused to rent its auditorium to her because she was not a member.
“I remember I used to donate to another church back in the day. When we approached them to rent their auditorium for my show, they told us they don’t rent their premises to non-members. I was genuinely hurt by their refusal,” she disclosed.
