Claim: Attractive Mustapha, president of the Ghana Bloggers Association, has shared a video claiming that the local music streaming platform GMX, launched by Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia on Oct 30, 2024, at De Icon Centre, is the first Ghanaian music streaming platform.
Verdict: False! Checks by DUBAWA confirmed a local streaming platform such as Aftown, a Ghana-based digital service provider backed by its experience in distribution and support for artists officially, since Oct.21, 2016. The co-founder of Aftown has equally debunked the said claim.
Full Text
Ghana’s Vice President and presidential Candidate, Mahamudu Bawumia, has long emphasised the need to digitise Ghana’s economy.
He has led several digital initiatives, the most recent of which is the Ghana Music Xperience (GMX) app, a local music streaming app platform launched on Oct. 30, 2024, at De Icon Centre to empower musicians.
During the launch, Dr Bawumia described the GMX app as “a Ghanaian-built music streaming platform designed to connect Ghanaian music with audiences locally and globally. The vast fan base of every Ghanaian musician is Ghanaian, yet they do not make enough money from this strong fan base at home because of piracy and foreign streaming services, which do not promote and pay them adequately. I am very confident that with the support of all of us, through the patronage of the GMX, the game will now change for our musicians and industry to get their deserved compensation.”
Many commented on social media or dropped their opinions concerning the app. In monitoring, DUBAWA noticed that the President of Ghana Bloggers Association, Andre Mustapha Nii Okai Inusah, popularly known as Attractive Mustapha, has shared a video of the launching event on YouTube to his over 45,500 subscribers, with the caption:
“Dr Bawumia Makes History with Launch of Ghana’s First Music Streaming App for Local Artists.”
The 14:12 seconds video on YouTube had garnered 66 views as of Nov. 1, 2024, at 2:49 am, with the comment sections turned off.
Meanwhile, the idea of the app being the first had already caused a debate in the entertainment sphere and on Facebook, so DUBAWA decided to investigate further.
Verification
DUBAWA’s advanced Google keyword verification showed that Aftown had operated since Oct. 21, 2016. Also, DUBAWA noticed that Aftown was developed by Technation Ghana Company and BBnZ Live and is dedicated to African music. The app, free to download on the App Store and Google Play Store, generates revenue through premium subscriptions and adverts for free users. Circa 2019, the company partnered with telecoms giant MTN to allow payment via mobile money. DUBAWA checked the website of aftown, which described the app as “based in Accra- Ghana.” Aftown exists to connect artists to their fan base all over the world. The website then directed readers to get more information on the wiki. The researcher followed the content on wiki and the following;
Additionally, DUBAWA found an article by broadcaster and co-founder of the music streaming service Aftown, Mr Antoine Mensah, who has equally dispelled the notion that GMX is the first Ghanaian music streaming platform.
“I saw the tagline of GMX being promoted as the very first from our end. Like I said in the beginning, there is nothing wrong with new ones coming into the market, but tagging it as the first, I personally felt like it was not the right tag. They need to rephrase that. So internally, between me and my partners, we were like, ‘really?’ If you are bringing a new platform, there is nothing wrong with that, but let’s tag it right,” he said on Hitz FM.
Conclusion
Launched in October 2016 in Accra by Ghanaian owners, Aftown has two main platforms: streaming and downloads. Hence, Attractive Mustapha’s caption on YouTube, “Dr Bawumia Makes History with Launch of Ghana’s First Music Streaming App for Local Artists,” is false.
