Ghanaian artiste Fancy Gadam has opened up about the financial strain and key lessons that came with organising major performances in Tamale, including the early days of booking top-tier acts for his shows.
He recounted that a defining moment came in 2017 when his team brought rapper Sarkodie to the Tamale Sports Stadium, a deal that cost GH¢120,000. According to him, that experience reshaped how he viewed his own brand and earning power.
“The first time Sarkodie came to Tamale, my management and I paid him GH¢120,000. From that day, I realised my value. I didn’t know my worth before, but from that day, I did.
“From that same day, I told my team that whenever someone wants to use the Tamale Sports Stadium, we won’t charge less than GH¢100,000, and that has been my rate from 2017 to date,” he said.
Fancy Gadam added that the pricing shift later played out when singer Sista Afia attempted to book him for a concert at the same venue but struggled to meet his performance fee.
He explained that the initial arrangement came through an intermediary before Sista Afia personally reached out, leading to a temporary adjustment in price due to their rapport.
“She didn’t approach us directly; someone contacted us on her behalf, but we didn’t know the person. He told us they wanted to organise a show with Sista Afia and me, so we charged GH¢100,000.
“Later, she (Sista Afia) called me personally and asked for help. Because we are close, I reduced the fee to GH¢50,000. We gave her a discount of GH¢50,000. The team and my team went back and forth, but she still couldn’t pay,” Fancy Gadam further stated.
Watch his statement below.
Sarkodie charged me Ghc120,000 for his first show in Tamele 2017 ..
— NEBASARK🇬🇭 (@NEBASARK) April 11, 2026
Fancy Gadam pic.twitter.com/8JFpImpF7v
