Kwaw Kese says he will not keep a pesewa from the crowdfunding effort he launched for fellow rapper Kwesi Arthur, revealing that contributors will get their money back.
The rapper made the disclosure during an interview with Kwame Dadzie and Doreen Avio on Hitz FM’s morning programme Daybreak Hitz, where he addressed the controversy surrounding a GoFundMe account he created weeks ago.
Kwaw explained that his decision to open the account followed a social media post by Kwesi Arthur, who claimed his former management was demanding $150,000 from him for the use of his own images. Believing he could rally support, Kwaw said he hoped to tap into the large fan bases both artistes command to help raise the amount and clear the alleged debt to Ground Up Chale.
But the move quickly drew a public response from Kwesi, who distanced himself from the fundraiser and urged people to ignore it, stating he had no prior knowledge of the initiative. Kwaw admitted he was taken aback by that reaction.
“I set up the gofundme account and if it was a bad thing I wouldn’t even talk about it. I came online and posted the gofundme account and said people should support our brother, pay the money so that Kwesi Arthur can have his freedom,” he said.
He maintained that his intentions were genuine and insisted there was never any plan to divert the funds.
“I was doing it strictly for Kwesi Arthur and was I was pained that someone could own his images and they want you to pay $150,000 dollars. You are bigger than that amount of money. Let’s do this, pay the guy off so you can be free,” he said.
According to Kwaw, the campaign raised $170 in total. He disclosed that the funds remain untouched in the GoFundMe account and that the platform has issued a deadline for withdrawal.
“The $170 dollars is still in the account. They have given me a deadline to withdraw it or they refund to the donors,” Kwaw Kese indicated.
