Music star Akwaboah and wife

Music star Akwaboah has clarified the context behind a controversial photo that sparked speculation about his health and marital happiness.

Speaking to Nana Romeo on Okay FM, the Ensesa hitmaker explained that he was simply exhausted at the time the picture was taken, following a hectic performance schedule that left him with little rest.

He recounted a trip to Kwahu in the Eastern Region for a performance:
“I left Accra around 8:30 AM and arrived in Kwahu at about 12:30 PM. I performed for an hour from 3:00 PM and set off back to Accra at 5 PM. We got back around 7 PM. I hadn’t slept the entire night – it was back-to-back shows. I rested for just an hour and woke up to go to church. You know I don’t joke with church attendance.”

He continued, “My wife asked that we take a picture. I told her I was tired, but you know women love these things, so we went ahead and took it.”

Akwaboah posted the picture on their wedding anniversary, fully aware it might spark reactions online.

“I anticipated Ghanaians would have all sorts of things to say, so I made sure madam was okay with it before posting – I wasn’t even thinking about myself. Then I saw someone had zoomed into my tired face and people were saying foolish things like, ‘Why, is he not happy? Is madam sucking his blood?’ and so on.”

Though visibly displeased by the criticism, Akwaboah shared that what kept him grounded during that period was the knowledge of his economic privilege — playing a well-paid show while others sat behind screens to mock him.

He revealed he had already prepared his wife, even before their marriage, for the inevitable criticism that comes with being in the public eye.

“She teased me about it, and we laughed together and went out to eat. Now she knows how it works.”

Reflecting on the persistent attacks he has faced since getting married, the singer remarked:
“People throw stones at things that shine.”

He questioned whether this kind of negativity was unique to Ghana, calling it a “crab mentality.”

Addressing cyberbullying more broadly, he said:
“What hurts the most is when someone insults you, and then you go and check out their [social media] profile, their followers, and their picture — you can even tell the kind of phone they used to take the photo. Yet, they have the effrontery to insult you.”

“The truth hurts, but as I always say: humans will always be humans. So sometimes, you let them do what they have to do, and you also focus on what you have to do.”

He added, “Remember that stars need darkness to shine. It hurts, though — you work so hard, you’re in a joyful moment, you share a post, and someone finds a way to criticise it. It’s painful. But if you’re mentally strong like I am, there’s nothing anyone can say that will shake you.”

“When I wake up in the morning, I don’t ask my critics for food. I’m self-reliant and I take care of my entire family. So yes, you have the right to say whatever you want — but as long as your words don’t take food off my table, you don’t matter.”

While Akwaboah expressed displeasure about the trolling in general, he admitted that the comments about his appearance in that particular picture were especially upsetting.

“It reminded me of the proverb: ‘The one who wears the ornate hat is resented.”