Albert Oparrah Mensah Mr. Albert Oparrah Mensah, affectionately called Opah is a blind Sound Engineer and probably the only blind Sound Engineer in West Africa. He had his formal education at the Akropong-Akuapem School for the Blind where he took special interest in music with great emphasis on keyboard.
After school, he joined various musical groups as an organist and had the chance to perform both in Ghana and outside. Among the groups he featured for were the JJ?s Band and the Adom Professionals, a group of blind musicians who toured Ghana and Europe.
His dexterity on the keyboard and his rich stock of experience acquired over the years, Oparrah decided to venture into another level in music ? which is the art of Sound Engineering. He started working with some renowned sound engineers and notwithstanding the challenges that such a work posed to him as a blind man and also the nature of equipment which was very difficult for the blind to operate, he quickly gained the mastery of this art and became the marvel of all those who saw his ingenuity.
Although blind, Oparrah had the eyes, the visions and the ambition to excel in this field and to break the myth surrounding this profession, which hither to had been monopolized by those who were not blind. With this motivation, he established the Oparrah Digital Studio in 1994.
He started with a four-track Taskan Recorder and in 1995, Oparrah successfully programmed and engineered the Album ?Ade Akye, Ade Akye Anopa Hema Yi? by Rev.Emmanuel Awuah of the ?Yesu Anaa? fame. This was Oparrah?s maiden work as an independent engineer. In fact the programming, the arrangement and the sound quality of that album was so perfect that one could hardly believe that it was done with just a four-track recorder, but behind that wonderful work was such a skilful and talented blind engineer. The album became a hit and really caught up with a lot of people.
This success story undoubtedly motivated Oparrah and spurred him on. He realized that he could match the giants in the engineering profession even without any sophisticated equipment. As he always says ?the effectiveness of any piece of equipment does not lay in the equipment itself, but the man behind the equipment.? Thus in the same year, 1995, Oparrah assisted Mohammed Jaloh, a blind Sierra Leonean to release the album ?Fabome? which also became a hit in Sierra Leone. Also, in 1998 he engineered the album ?Makwantuo Yi? by Oko Sakyi Asamoah, another blind musician.
According to Oparrah, his joy in these achievements lies not only in the good quality of work but particularly in the fact he was able to assist his fellow blind men produce these albums.
It marked the beginning of his most cherished dream to assist people with disabilities, especially the blind to explore their potentials.
He has since recorded a library of albums with some of the country?s most popular artistes including the Blind Messiahs [by Mark Awotwe Quainoo] who in 2001 released the album ?Awurade Di Masem Ye Ma Me? It also proved to be one of Oparrah?s most successful recordings in recent times.
Today, Oparrah is in the class of his own. He is unarguably one of the best Sound Engineers in West Africa. His Studio now boasts of modern and sophisticated recording equipment.
In addition to his immense talents, great skills and exceptional creativity, Oparrah possesses a high sense of understanding, patience and maturity. In fact his excellent interpersonal relationship always wins him the heart of all those who come into contact with this genius sound engineer. He is married with six children and spends most of his leisure time with the family.
As a model of dignity and success to the blind, Oparrah has the vision to assist people with disabilities; especially the blind to unearth, nurture and develop their potential to the benefit of the society and also to enable them lead a decent life.
He even told Ghana Music.Com during an interview that there are many disables out there who can do more than he is doing now but just that the opportunity is not there. People underrate them in so many ways and this makes them fail to bring whatever is in them out.
His last message to every body out there is "Stay Blessed and be kind to all". If a blind man should rise to this level in life then I think is time you know that you have the ability but what is needed of you now is your availability. Mr. Albert Oparrah Mensah is indeed the Blind man with eyes!!!
Albert Oparrah Mensah Mr. Albert Oparrah Mensah, affectionately called Opah is a blind Sound Engineer and probably the only blind Sound Engineer in West Africa. He had his formal education at the Akropong-Akuapem School for the Blind where he took special interest in music with great emphasis on keyboard.
After school, he joined various musical groups as an organist and had the chance to perform both in Ghana and outside. Among the groups he featured for were the JJ?s Band and the Adom Professionals, a group of blind musicians who toured Ghana and Europe.
His dexterity on the keyboard and his rich stock of experience acquired over the years, Oparrah decided to venture into another level in music ? which is the art of Sound Engineering. He started working with some renowned sound engineers and notwithstanding the challenges that such a work posed to him as a blind man and also the nature of equipment which was very difficult for the blind to operate, he quickly gained the mastery of this art and became the marvel of all those who saw his ingenuity.
Although blind, Oparrah had the eyes, the visions and the ambition to excel in this field and to break the myth surrounding this profession, which hither to had been monopolized by those who were not blind. With this motivation, he established the Oparrah Digital Studio in 1994.
He started with a four-track Taskan Recorder and in 1995, Oparrah successfully programmed and engineered the Album ?Ade Akye, Ade Akye Anopa Hema Yi? by Rev.Emmanuel Awuah of the ?Yesu Anaa? fame. This was Oparrah?s maiden work as an independent engineer. In fact the programming, the arrangement and the sound quality of that album was so perfect that one could hardly believe that it was done with just a four-track recorder, but behind that wonderful work was such a skilful and talented blind engineer. The album became a hit and really caught up with a lot of people.
This success story undoubtedly motivated Oparrah and spurred him on. He realized that he could match the giants in the engineering profession even without any sophisticated equipment. As he always says ?the effectiveness of any piece of equipment does not lay in the equipment itself, but the man behind the equipment.? Thus in the same year, 1995, Oparrah assisted Mohammed Jaloh, a blind Sierra Leonean to release the album ?Fabome? which also became a hit in Sierra Leone. Also, in 1998 he engineered the album ?Makwantuo Yi? by Oko Sakyi Asamoah, another blind musician.
According to Oparrah, his joy in these achievements lies not only in the good quality of work but particularly in the fact he was able to assist his fellow blind men produce these albums.
It marked the beginning of his most cherished dream to assist people with disabilities, especially the blind to explore their potentials.
He has since recorded a library of albums with some of the country?s most popular artistes including the Blind Messiahs [by Mark Awotwe Quainoo] who in 2001 released the album ?Awurade Di Masem Ye Ma Me? It also proved to be one of Oparrah?s most successful recordings in recent times.
Today, Oparrah is in the class of his own. He is unarguably one of the best Sound Engineers in West Africa. His Studio now boasts of modern and sophisticated recording equipment.
In addition to his immense talents, great skills and exceptional creativity, Oparrah possesses a high sense of understanding, patience and maturity. In fact his excellent interpersonal relationship always wins him the heart of all those who come into contact with this genius sound engineer. He is married with six children and spends most of his leisure time with the family.
As a model of dignity and success to the blind, Oparrah has the vision to assist people with disabilities; especially the blind to unearth, nurture and develop their potential to the benefit of the society and also to enable them lead a decent life.
He even told Ghana Music.Com during an interview that there are many disables out there who can do more than he is doing now but just that the opportunity is not there. People underrate them in so many ways and this makes them fail to bring whatever is in them out.
His last message to every body out there is "Stay Blessed and be kind to all". If a blind man should rise to this level in life then I think is time you know that you have the ability but what is needed of you now is your availability. Mr. Albert Oparrah Mensah is indeed the Blind man with eyes!!!
