Jewel Ackah goes home, August 4

The final funeral rites for late highlife gem, Jewel Kofi Ackah, have been slated for Friday, August 3, to Sunday, August 5, according to the family of the deceased.

Aged 73, Ackah will be interred on Saturday, August 4, but that will be preceded the night before with a Wake Keeping ceremony. A special church service in honour of the singer comes off on Sunday, August 5 at the Community 11 Complex Park, Tema.

Born in 1945 at Axim in the Western Region, Ackah was discovered by veteran Ebo Taylor, and over time, also performed with such top names as Elgrand Kwofie, C.K. Mann and Jos Akins. Over a remarkable career, he recorded some 27 albums, including ‘Gyaki Mea’, ‘Asomdowoe Hene,’ ‘Abena,’ ‘I’m in the Mood,’ ‘Joyce Sane Bra,’ and ‘Me Wo Bi’, which saw him tour the US, Canada, Sweden, and other European destinations.

In the twilight of his life, Ackah battled a number of heath conditions including a ten -year spell with stroke. A 2017 report by TV3’s Owusu Worae, inspired massive public solicitude for the singer who had lamented being neglected by society.

Widely famed for composing “Arise”, the anthem for the National Democratic Party (NDC) as well as a number of Gospel & highlife hits, Ackah expired at home in the evening of Friday, April 27.