Ghanaian rapper and National Health Ambassador for Hepatitis, Okyeame Kwame, has released a new song titled “No Hep” to support the Ministry of Health’s campaign to eliminate viral hepatitis in Ghana.
The song, launched to coincide with World Hepatitis Day, is aimed at raising public awareness, encouraging testing and vaccination, and reducing the stigma associated with the disease.
Speaking in an interview, the award-winning musician, popularly known as “The Rap Doctor,” said he chose music as a tool for advocacy because of its ability to reach large audiences and influence behaviour.
“I made this song because I want to help the Ministry to promote the elimination of hepatitis from Ghana,” he said.
According to him, music has the power to communicate health messages in a way that resonates with people and encourages positive action.
“If the song becomes popular and people are singing ‘No Hep, no more,’ people will go and check, the stigma will come down.
And then on the back of that, Ghana Health Service can do anything that they want,” he added.
Okyeame Kwame announced that “No Hep” is available on YouTube, Facebook, Spotify and other major streaming platforms, while radio stations across the country are also expected to air the song.
The musician revealed that his commitment to hepatitis awareness began more than two decades ago while preparing for marriage, when he discovered that hepatitis B screening and vaccination were beyond the reach of many Ghanaians.
He recalled that the high cost of testing motivated him to establish a Non-Governmental Organisation to provide free hepatitis screening.
Okyeame Kwame expressed satisfaction that the cost of hepatitis treatment and testing has fallen significantly over the years, noting that medication for hepatitis C is now available free of charge in Ghana.
As the country marked World Hepatitis Day, he urged Ghanaians to know their hepatitis status, get vaccinated if they test negative, and seek medical care if they test positive.
He expressed optimism that Ghana could eliminate viral hepatitis by 2030 if citizens embrace testing, early treatment and preventive measures alongside ongoing public education campaigns.
