Ghanaian lawyer and musician, Ace Anan Ankomah, has advised that a comment made by Bishop Dag-Heward Mills, the Founder of the Light House Chapel International, regarding paying church musicians should not be blown out of proportion.

Speaking during a discussion on Joy FM’s Showbiz A-Z, the composer and multi-instrumentalist told the host Kwame Dadzie that because just a small portion of the Bishop’s sermon was what stoked the controversy, he would rather the full background to his statement was also considered. 

“We should not misunderstand Bishop Dag. I think he was speaking to a particular situation. Because I know that this man, before he goes to a place, he sends his musicians ahead of time. They go to teach the choir. And I know this because he has made my song 'Ohene' probably the most translated gospel song in Africa. Because every country that he has gone to, they have translated it, taught the choir and the choir has sung it. So he has at least one person go ahead, sometimes months to go and interact with the choir. So I think that he was speaking to a specific event so it should not be blown,” he said.

Ace added that taking just a line of an entire sermon for analysis may not reflect the true picture.

“And there is something about Bishop Dag; you really should listen to his full sermons, if you take one line, you might completely misunderstand him. He says he packs a lot in one and I am not here to defend him but I think that maybe some of the angst about it is because we just got a slice [of the sermon],” he noted. 

A few weeks ago, a 36-second video of Bishop Dag-Howard Mills cautioning musicians in his church who would demand payment for their contribution during service, went viral and generated conversations. 

“Be cautious of those who do things purely for money. In my church, I made it clear that I would not pay individuals to play instruments, because I can play them myself. I play the drums, piano, and guitar.

I gathered all the children and created a music school, where every child is required to learn to play the piano. Now, every child in our church can play the piano.

No one can come and intimidate us in church by demanding money to sing. It’s absolute nonsense. Here, we don’t pay because it’s about loving Jesus. If that’s not your motivation, then you’re free to leave,” he said during one of his church services.

That notwithstanding, Ace Ankomah indicated that paying church instrumentalists depends on several factors. He said it was also dependent on the musician’s choices and the church’s principles.

Ace noted that a musician who passively plays at church but has a main job, may decide to play for free but one that dedicates all his/her time to church work would have to have an agreement with the church authorities so he or she is put on salary.