Following the public statement released by Kwesi Arthur on January 21, 2026, which raised concerns about his professional safety and alleged financial extortion, the legal representative for Ground Up Chale, Jonathan K. Amable, has officially responded.
In a live discussion held on January 22, 2026, Amable provided a comprehensive rebuttal to the rapper’s claims. He presented a narrative that focused on contractual obligations and documented financial disbursements, aiming to clarify the label’s stance on the ownership of creative assets.
The Ground Up Chale lawyer provided the following details to address the viral allegations:
- Contract History: Amable stated that Kwesi Arthur signed a four-year contract in 2017 with a 60/40 revenue split in favor of the label. This was followed by a subsequent one-year agreement with a 50/50 split.
- Royalty Records: The lawyer disputed the “zero earnings” claim by referencing an email from May 2025. He alleged that Arthur was notified of royalty disbursements totaling £91,370 (approx. $116,000).
- The Platoon Account: A significant portion of the rebuttal involved a $118,712 payment from the distribution company Platoon. The label alleges this was received personally by Arthur for the Son of Jacob project without the label’s contractual share being settled.
- Clarification on Image Rights: Regarding the $150,000 demand, the lawyer clarified that the label does not claim to own “the person” of Kwesi Arthur. Instead, they assert ownership over specific commercial assets, music videos, and creative footage produced under the label’s funding.
Watch the Ground Up Chale lawyer speak on Kwesi Arthur
The case has sparked a wider conversation about artist-label relations in Ghana. Industry veteran Kwaw Kese and other stakeholders have urged the public to look past the emotional nature of social media posts and focus on the legal realities of signed contracts.
