Sista Afia Shakes Up Ghana Music Industry: Why Microphone Hygiene is a Must for Ghanaian Artists

Taking to Facebook on Friday, August 28, 2026, Sista Afia (real name Francisca Duncan Williams Gawugah) addressed her fellow artists directly.

Acknowledging that her advice might initially sound controversial, the singer felt it was a vital topic that needed to be addressed to protect the health of performers. She wrote:

“I'm going to say something controversial, but my fellow artists need to hear this. Please disinfect the mic before you put your mouth on it.

We go from show to show sharing microphones with God knows how many people. Everyone is singing, talking, breathing and sometimes literally putting their mouths on the mic! Then after shows, some of us come home feeling sick”

To combat this, Sista Afia suggested highly practical steps, urging fellow performers to start carrying a small microphone-safe disinfectant or sanitizing spray and wipes in their performance bags. She also advised that “if you can afford it, maybe it's time to start bringing your own microphone to shows”.

While the singer was careful to clarify that she is not blaming microphones for every single illness experienced after a concert, she strongly believes that taking proactive health precautions is common sense.

“I'm not saying every sickness after a show comes from a microphone, but with so many people sharing the same equipment, why not take precautions?” she added.

She concluded her message with a direct appeal to her fellow performers: “My fellow colleagues, please let's start taking this seriously. Your health first. Disinfect your mic before you perform”.

This practical hygiene advice quickly received overwhelming support from the Ghanaian public. Comments under Sista Afia's post highlighted that this issue extends beyond the concert stage.

For instance, Sammy Appoh noted, “You are on point. Even those of us who sing in the church have to be careful”. Another fan, Jay M Miller, agreed, stating, “This is not a controversial topic but rather a topic of necessity... Hygiene is really important”. Highlighting that the issue crosses over into other media spaces, Abraham Abiasi remarked, “Even me now am thinking about radio studios as well, especially when the osofos finished preaching kais....”.

Yung Manners added a humorous but telling point about the studio experience: “Chale it's true paaa, honestly sometimes u go enter the booth for recording and the scent on the microphone can make u forget ur lyrics”.

Ultimately, Sista Afia's message is a call to elevate industry standards and make professional stage sanitation a priority for every performer and event organizer across Ghana.

Sista Afia’s bold call for microphone hygiene shines a bright spotlight on a health risk that has been ignored for far too long in our music scene. Sharing unsanitized microphones on stage is not just a personal health risk for artists; it can impact their voices, performance schedules, and overall career longevity. Musicians must take ownership of their health by adopting simple, protective practices like carrying disinfectant wipes, using specialized sanitizing sprays, or investing in personal, high-quality performance microphones. Beyond the artists themselves, event organizers, concert producers, and radio station managers must also step up to ensure equipment is sanitized between uses.

Let us protect the voices that keep our nation vibrant. Next time you step onto the stage or enter a recording booth, put your health first and clean your microphone!