The rumor that his recent visit to the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) was politically motivated or accompanied by special favors has been refuted by the reggae dancehall icon Samini.
On Prime Time with George Quaye, Samini addressed critics' claims that he received political favors and insisted that the visit was purely professional and part of his efforts to promote a forthcoming project.
I went to Abeiku Santana to talk about my project. I tried to meet Rex Omar and did the same thing with KOD,” he explained. According to Samini, the controversy was sparked by a miscaptioned post from a political footsoldier, which falsely implied he had been invited to the GTA and rewarded with “a slice of bread” — a metaphor suggesting partisan favouritism.
He recalled saying, "That caption suggested I was invited and then given a slice of bread as a gift." implying that only supporters receive the bread when your party is in power. During his visit, Samini, along with members of his team, Abeiku Santana, and representatives from the Ghana Tourism Authority, emphasized that the Tourism Authority serves all Ghanaians—not just political loyalists. “Tourism is open to everyone. He insisted that "anyone in tourism should feel free to walk in and conduct business."
Additionally, he resisted the emergence of a political gatekeeping culture by advocating for greater respect for free speech and association. He stated, "You should be able to step away and explain why a party falls out of favor." “That doesn’t make you an enemy.”
Samini’s remarks come amid broader debates about politics and partisanship in Ghana’s creative sector. A vocal advocate for unity across music, media, and tourism, the artist is currently preparing to release his eighth studio album, ORIGIN8A, later this year.
By addressing the rumours head-on, Samini reinforced his stance that national institutions like the GTA must remain inclusive and accessible to all.
His message is clear: Ghana’s creativity and tourism industry must rise above partisan lines and remain open to every citizen.