Ghanaian reggae artiste and radio personality Blakk Rasta has disclosed that he once returned nearly all the awards he had won over the years due to concerns about paid voting systems.

Speaking in an interview with Kafui Dey on March 17, 2026, Blakk Rasta revealed that his decision was driven by personal conviction and discomfort with the processes behind some award schemes.

According to him, although he had received recognition, including winning `Best Reggae Song’ at the Ghana Music Awards in 2002, he later began to question the credibility of awards that required artistes and fans to pay for votes.

“This song won the best reggae song of the year at the Ghana Music Awards in 2002. I had to return all the plaques to the organisers. I sent all the awards I’ve ever received and they were about 40,” he said.

Blakk Rasta clarified that the awards he returned were not limited to one scheme but included multiple recognitions he had received throughout his career.

He explained that his discomfort stemmed from the idea of having to campaign and financially push for votes in order to win.

“All the awards that I had to vote for and pay money for, my spirit didn’t feel good carrying all these loads in my house. I said to them that thank you for honouring me, but I see that as dishonour because I had to pay via voting and convince my fans to pay for the awards,” he stated.

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The musician further disclosed that he formally communicated his decision to Charterhouse Ghana, organisers of the Ghana Music Awards, but claims he never received a response.

“I realised I was cheap, so I didn’t want them. I wrote a letter and sent it to Charterhouse, but they didn’t even have the courtesy to write back,” he shared.

Despite returning most of his plaques, Blakk Rasta noted that he kept one particular award he received from London because it did not involve public voting or payment.

“In all the awards, there was only one I received without people voting, which I got from London, so I kept that one,” he explained.

He further stated that he no longer associates himself with award schemes that require payment for voting, maintaining that his principles would not allow him to participate in such systems.

“Then the awards started multiplying again. I’m not part of any awards programme that has to do with paying to vote,” he added.

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