Joe Mettle Wades Into Church Paying Musicians/Instrumentalists Controversy – Shares his Perspective

Ghanaian gospel musician, Joe Mettle, waded into the raging controversy over whether musicians/instrumentalists should be paid when they perform in churches.

In an interview with Cookie Tee on TV3 Ghana, Joe Mettle said that for him, whether he gets paid for performing in a church or not depends on what is being asked of him.

According to him, he does not take payment when he performs at his church because he makes money from other sources; however, that means when he’s not available to perform in his church, they completely understand.

“Do I expect to be paid in my church? It depends,” Joe Mettle said when asked by Cookie Tee to wade into the controversy. “For my point, there are other things I do that give me payment, I have decided I serve in my church with my gift. So in the same way, if I have a ministration on a Sunday and I need to go, my church understands,”

Cookie Tee dug further, asking what happens if a major show happens in his church with top gospel musicians across the country billed to appear, and he’s added to that bill. Joe Mettle replied that he will not be paid for such an appearance.

He added that when he performs at other churches, he expects payment because moving his team to minister at an event comes with related expenses.

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One of Ghana’s top gospel musicians, Joe Mettle, won the Best Male Vocalist of the Year Award at the just-concluded Telecel Ghana Music Awards (TGMA) 2025.

Dag-Heward Mills stokes controversy over paying instrumentalists

Ghanaian man of God, Bishop Dag Heward-Mills of the Lighthouse Chapel, stoked controversy after speaking up about musicians/instrumentalists who perform at his church and expect payment.

According to the man of God, there is no universe in which he will pay anyone for performing at his church.

He said he has trained many people in his church to play instruments; therefore, he is not going to pay anyone to do that. He also used himself as an example, revealing he can play almost all instruments.

His comments sparked controversy, with entertainment pundits such as Bulldog and Arnold Asamoah Baidoo calling him out on United Showbiz.