Veteran Ghanaian singer Akosua Agyapong has opened up about a defining moment from the early days of her music career. She revealed that she had rejected a substance she believes was meant to boost her confidence before one of the biggest performances of her life.
The singer shared the story during an interview on Joy Prime on July 13, 2026, as she reflected on the pressures young performers often encounter before stepping into the spotlight. According to her, the incident happened backstage at the Arts Centre in Accra ahead of a major show attended by more than 1,000 people.
As she prepared to perform, Akosua Agyapong said the leader of the band she was scheduled to perform with moved around, handing a liquid from a bottle to members of the group before approaching her with the same offer.
“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.
Rather than accept it, she said she immediately declined and explained why.
“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.
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Confident in her own ability, Akosua Agyapong said she walked onto the stage without taking the substance and completed her performance.
Looking back years later, she believes the experience carries an important lesson for the next generation of entertainers. She warned that many aspiring musicians, actors and actresses continue to face similar pressure from people around them who claim certain substances or lifestyles are necessary for success.
“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 her statement below.