For the second time in two months, the Spectator Arts page has had to mention the word: "Payola". And like the first time, we mention it not as some holier-than-thou columnist, but a recorder of the cries of artists who feel the pain of the act.

The latest is Reverend Thomas Yawson, arguably Ghana’s most prolific gospel songwriter, performer and minister.

"They (radio station music presenters and deejays) take no less than one million cedis (one hundred new Ghana cedis) to play your music for only two weeks or so," he complained, adding: "Look at the number of radio stations. Even if you choose 16 of them, it means 16 million ceids for only two weeks! How much does the music fetch us, not talking about paying back loans contracted to do the production?"

What Rev Yawson considers a bigger consequence of this is that "in Ghana, the TOP TEN or TOP TWENTY music chart shows base their ratings on air-play and sales. Airplay has a direct influence on sales, so if you cannot pay millions to the radio deejays to play your music, you are never on the charts"

The Reverend Minister compares the system that obtains in Europe and America where it is the producer or station owner who determines what the presenter plays on air.

Apparently, the Reverend Minister, husband of the older of Ghana’s trail blazing gospel twins, Tagoe Sisters, has decided not to complain again but to do something to help himself. First, he is concentrating his publicity efforts at the TV stations – notably TV3 and GTV – where he buys air time for official airing of his gospel video.

"The advantage is that on television, I also have the benefit of reaching everywhere at the same time."

Second, he uses the direct approach – of going to the people who buy his works most, that is, the church members.

For several years now, therefore, gospel concert lovers have been missing the personality and performance of Rev Yawson. Why? Because, the virtuoso performer is always on the move, especially overseas where he performs in churches with the Tagoe Sisters.

The Reverend is blessed with knowledge of the bible. For this gift he gets invited to many European and American cities where he ministers in word and music to the Ghanaians there.

At these ministrations, he uses the opportunity to sell his music. Among the cities where he is a household name are Virginia, Minnesota, Los Angeles, New York and Massachusets, in the USA and Italy, France, Holland and Germany.