Contemporary gospel musician, Jemima Annor Yeboah, known by her stage name Jayana, says gospel artistes deserve to earn better living when they use their artistic gifts to glorify God.

According to her, it would be better if corporate bodies, churches and clergymen understand the business side of their ministry in order to reward them appropriately.

She believes it is wrong for people to assert that gospel musicians should not charge for their performances in churches, adding that it is only wicked for pastors to avoid paying gospel acts after gracing their programmes and events.

“I come from a mission house and I see a lot of pastors; they preach the word of God, we sing the word of God but at the end of the day, they are paid at the end of the month. Sometimes, when you don’t even pay them, there are issues.

“So, why should it be different with us? You can’t say that you’re inviting me to your show or events that you are taking tickets or you’re inviting me to somewhere like Bogoso with my team, and tell me you won’t pay me – that is wickedness,” she said.

She said this in an interview with Fifi Folson on Up-Close, a new personality-focused segment on Joy FM’s ‘The Reason is Jesus’ on Sunday, June 12.

Jayana recounted an experience she had in Bogoso in the Western Region where a pastor served her with coca-cola and meat pie.

“One day, I went to minister somewhere and after my ministration, the man of God took me to his office. I thought that day was going to be a blessing but when I got to his office, he opened his fridge and told me to grab some coke and meat pies – that was it.

“I won’t forget. In some instances, they turn their phones off. Some of them [men of God] when they stand behind the pulpit, they are men of God but when they leave the pulpit, they are just mere mortal men who can lie,” she added.