Akosua Agyapong has recalled a crucial test she faced at the beginning of her music journey, revealing how she refused an offer she believed was intended to enhance her stage confidence before a major performance.
The veteran Ghanaian singer shared the experience during an interview on Joy Prime on July 13, 2026, while discussing the challenges and influences that young entertainers often encounter as they build their careers.
According to her, the incident happened backstage at the Arts Centre in Accra before a major show that attracted more than 1,000 people. It was one of the biggest opportunities of her early career, but she said the moments leading up to her performance came with unexpected pressure.
Akosua Agyapong explained that the leader of the band she was performing with had a bottle and a small cup, which he used to serve a liquid to members of his team. After attending to the others, he approached her and encouraged her to take some.
“He had something in a bottle. He had a small cup. He went around giving it to his team. Then he came to me and said, ‘Take this, it will ginger you and help you perform well,'” she recounted.
The singer, however, said she did not hesitate to turn down the offer. She took the band leader aside and pointed out someone in the audience who gave her even greater motivation to deliver a memorable performance.
“I took him to the curtains, opened them slightly, and told him, ‘You see the woman sitting in the audience there, that’s my mum. I cannot disappoint her.
“I have performed in front of 6,000 students. So I’m not shy, and I can perform,” she told him.
With confidence in her natural ability, Akosua Agyapong stepped onto the stage without accepting the substance and went ahead to complete her performance.
Years after that experience, the highlife musician says the encounter remains a valuable lesson for young people pursuing careers in entertainment. She noted that emerging talents are still often pressured by individuals around them who suggest that certain choices, appearances or behaviours are necessary to achieve success.
She urged upcoming musicians, actors and actresses to remain firm and trust the talent and purpose they have been given.
“Whatever you start with, you end with it. People introduce them to some things. The musicians, the actors, the actresses; some of them, their managers will say, ‘Oh, you have to do this or you’ll be this. You have to wear this or you’ll be this.’ No. Say no. Because the God that gave you that talent will see you through,” Akosua Agyapong advised.
Watch what she said in the video below.
