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King Promise faces backlash after claiming Lagos is bigger than the whole of Ghana
Ghanaian Afrobeats star King Promise has stirred controversy online after a clip surfaced showing him mistakenly claiming that Lagos, Nigeria’s bustling commercial hub, is larger than the entire nation of Ghana.
The video, which has since gone viral, captures the “Terminator” crooner in conversation with Nigerian TikTok creator Peller during a casual chat in Accra. While comparing population sizes and music streaming numbers, King Promise made the statement that quickly sparked outrage.
“Nigeria is bigger than Ghana; come to think of it, the whole of Ghana is not bigger than Lagos. Lagos is bigger than the whole of Ghana, and it’s not even the capital of Nigeria. So, if you’re talking numbers, it’s not even fair. Ghana has 24 million people; Nigeria is about 300 million,” he said.
His comment didn’t sit well with many Ghanaians, who took to social media to call him out for spreading what they described as misleading information. Critics argued that a public figure of his stature should be more careful with facts, especially on international platforms.
“The whole of Ghana is not bigger than Lagos. Lagos is bigger than the whole of Ghana. Ghana is 24 million people.” – Ghanaian singer King Promise educates Nigerian Streamer Peller pic.twitter.com/qWbXyeNnHg
— EDHUB🌍ℹ (@eddie_wrt) October 20, 2025
In response to the uproar, several users began sharing official data to correct the record. Figures from the Ghana Statistical Service show that the country’s population stood at 30.83 million as of the 2021 Population and Housing Census, with projections suggesting it will hit 33.7 million by 2025.
On the other hand, the Lagos State Government estimates its population at just over 22 million. However, experts admit the exact number is hard to pin down due to rapid urban growth and migration.
While Lagos remains Nigeria’s most populous city, it covers only a fraction of Ghana’s total land area of 238,000 square kilometers, making King Promise’s claim factually incorrect.
Despite the backlash, some fans defended the artist, suggesting that his comment was more of a casual exaggeration meant to emphasize Nigeria’s massive influence in the African entertainment industry rather than a literal comparison.
Still, the incident has reignited an ongoing online rivalry between Nigerian and Ghanaian fans one that continues to blur the line between friendly banter and national pride.