Ghana’s vibrant music scene was on full display in December 2025, with a plethora of concerts that lit up the festive atmosphere. However, a frustrating trend emerged, leaving fans increasingly vocal about their disappointment. Major concerts starting late have become almost expected, turning what should be an artistic and joyful experience into waiting, fatigue, and logistical headaches.

Despite the excitement surrounding headline acts, many concerts ran late into midnight, creating a common trend of delayed schedules across the city’s festive lineup. Notable events such as the GT Bank Music Concert, AratheJay’s NIMO LIVE, Kofi Kinaata’s Made in Taadi, and Black Star Experience Concert Taste of Culture all started late, leaving attendees frustrated and tired.

The issue came sharply into focus at the Revival Concert, where patrons waited for hours before the headline act, Kweku Smoke, finally appeared on stage. Similarly, at Zaama Disco, headlined by Black Sherif, the stage was still being set up at 8:30 p.m., raising early concerns among patrons who had arrived on time. The Bhim Concert, hosted by Stonebwoy, and Rapperholic, hosted by Sarkodie, followed a similar pattern, with performances stretching deep into the early hours of the morning.

The problem reached a critical point at Promise Land, where the main program reportedly began around 2:00 a.m., pushing peak excitement into the early morning hours and leaving many attendees physically drained and logistically stranded. Beyond inconvenience, late concert closures have wider consequences, including traffic congestion, scarce public transportation, and heightened safety risks, particularly for women and young people navigating dark streets.

While some argue that lateness is part of Ghana’s nightlife culture, that justification is increasingly unconvincing. Across the world, major concerts begin and end on schedule without sacrificing excitement. Timeliness is not unAfrican; it is professional. Artistes, promoters, and event organizers must take collective responsibility to improve the December concert experience. Better planning, earlier stage setup, stricter performance schedules, and transparent communication with audiences are crucial to ensuring that Ghana’s music scene continues to thrive.

Ghana’s music is world-class, and its December concerts attract global attention. However, if lateness continues to be normalized, anticipation will keep turning into exhaustion. Respect for the audience’s time must become as important as the performance itself.

Image Source: MYJOYONLINE