Veteran Ghanaian musician and Presidential Staffer for the Blackstar Experience, Rex Omar, has responded to the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin, over his recent criticism of Ghana’s popular end-of-year festivities, Detty December.
Speaking on Hitz FM’s Daybreak Hitz on the morning of May 6, 2025, Rex Omar addressed the Speaker’s remarks which suggested that the term “Detty December” paints a negative picture of Ghana. The Speaker recounted a conversation with a Black woman in the U.S. who described Detty December as a time when people come to Ghana to do “whatever they want,” a characterisation he found disturbing and inappropriate.
Rex Omar, however, believes the Speaker’s concerns stem from a generational misunderstanding of creative language.
“I understand speaker, because obviously, if you hear the word, and it has to relate to Ghana, you would ask questions until someone explains to you in the context. But it has become a word that has attracted people to come to Ghana. Those who come to Ghana don’t really think of Ghana as being dirty. So we will plead with Honourable Speaker of parliament that we, the creatives, have a way of doing things…”
He further clarified the meaning and spelling of “Detty” – an intentional stylization distinct from the word “dirty.”
“It’s not ‘D-i-r-t-y’ [literally spelling], Detty December is ‘D-e-t-t-y’ [literally spelling]. Detty December means Unrestricted Celebrations. Come from all over the world and enjoy. But we have laws in this country! You cannot come here and do anything that is against the law; if you are found guilty, you will be arrested. So whoever translated it to him that you can come and do anything that you like, it’s not true. So Honourable Speaker, we plead with you: we are creatives, so please let us be free and do our stuff. Thank you very much.”
The annual Detty December celebrations have grown into a global phenomenon, attracting diasporans and tourists to Ghana each December for concerts, cultural showcases and nightlife events. Many creatives and stakeholders in Ghana’s entertainment sector credit the movement with boosting tourism and spotlighting Ghana as a global destination for arts and culture.
Rex Omar’s comments highlight the ongoing conversation between Ghana’s policymakers and creative industry players, as both sides navigate the balance between cultural expression and national image.
Story by: Kelvin B. Annor-Yeboah
Edited by: Kelvin B. Annor-Yeboah
