Ohemaa Mercy, Ghana’s gospel music giant

Ghana is a country that has so many talented individuals in so many fields of endeavor in specifically the arts and creative industry.

As a creative person myself, I have come to realize that having a talent in the art and creative industry does not come on a silver platter and as such anyone who is talented within the arts and creative industry needs to be recognized and given the needed support and respect .

For this week’s edition of Celebrations with Ebenezer Narh Affum, I would celebrate one of the biggest Gospel artistes in the country. Her songs are heard all over the country and even beyond the shores and boundaries of the country. My emphasis for this week’s Celebrations with Ebenezer Narh Affum would be on Ohemaa Mercy.

She was born on 7th of September 1977 and she is known in private life as Mercy Twum-Ampofo. Ohemaa Mercy is one of Ghana’s leading Contemporary Gospel Singers. Ohemaa Mercy was born to the family of Mr. and Mrs. Amoah both Fantis from Abakrapa and Elmina respectively.

Even though Ohemaa’s parents are Fantis from Abakrapa and Elmina, she was however born at Weija in Accra and lived most of her life in Koforidua. Ohemaa is married to Mr. Isaac Twum-Ampofo and they have three Boys Nyamekye, Nhyira and Aseda.

Ohemaa Mercy started her primary education at St Peter’s Anglican Primary School in Koforidua and proceeded to Ghana Secondary School where she had her secondary education.

She continued to the teachers training College at S.D.A Teachers Training College, Asokore Koforidua where she obtained her Teachers Certificate ‘A’. Apart from the fact that she does music, professionally she is a trained teacher.

Ohemaa Mercy joined the Gospel music scene in 2004 and her work in the Ministry of God is based and hinged on her vision which is to encourage and to bring hope to the down-hearted through music and her personal life, to evangelize through her songs, to change the mindset of citizens that there is hope for everyone and there is hope for Ghana and Africa and to provide support for the poor in the society through her foundation.

Ohemaa Mercy also wishes to support music excellence among gospel artists in Ghana and to inspire the youth of Africa as well as to help reform prisons inmates through prison ministry. Ohemaa Mercy released her first album later part of November 2004 and the title of the album was “Adamfo Papa”.

This album enjoyed a massive airplay after its release and this brought Ohemaa into the limelight. She got 7 Nominations at the 2006 Ghana Music Awards but couldn’t win any of the awards. She later won the Discovery of the year for the Gospel Music Awards the same year.

In 2007, the gospel minister released her second album titled “Edin Jesus”. Ohemaa Mercy sold 875,000 copies 6 months after releasing the second album making it the most purchased album in the year within six months. The “Edin Jesus” album gave Ohemaa Mercy 10 nominations for the 2008 Ghana Music Awards. This was the highest Nominations so far in the history of the Awards Scheme.

Ohemaa Mercy got nominated in the Artiste of the Year Category alongside other artistes such as Shasha Marley, Kwaw Kesse, Becca, Ofori Amponsah and Rev. Lenny Akpadie. For the Song of the Year Category, Ohemaa Mercy ‘s Edin Jesus received great competition from Cee’s Ewurade Asem, 5five’s African Girl, Lenny Akpadie’s Most High God Ofori Amponsah’s Odwo and Kwaw Kese’s Odiem. For the Album of the Year Category, Ohemaa Mercy’s Edin Jesus came up against Lost & Found from Shasha Marley, Tokrom from Daddy Lumba, 6 O’clock from K. K. Fosu, Abodam 2007 from Kwaw Kesse, Setee from Daasebre Dwamena and Osaberimah by Cee.

Ohemaa Mercy also competed for the category Female Vocal Performance of the Year against the likes of Cee, Irene & Jane, Becca and Diana Hamilton Antwi. For the Gospel Artiste of the Year category, Ohemaa Mercy had the likes of Josh Laryea, Cee, Rev. Lenny Akpadie, Ernest Opoku Jnr., Grace Ashy, Moses O.K and Evang. Diana Asamoah to compete with.

Ohemaa Mercy was also in contention for the Gospel Song of the Year with her song Edin Jesus as against Onyame a otease – Ernest Opoku Jnr, Most High God Pastor Lenny Akpadie, Osoro be kasa – Diana Hamilton Antwi, Ewurade asem – Cee and Meda w’asi – Moses O.K.

Ohemaa was also in contention for the Gospel Album of the Year award and apart from that her collaboration with Nacee on the song Mewo Biom earned her a nomination in the Best Collaboration of the Year category. She managed to take home three awards; Gospel Artiste of the Year, Album of the Year and Gospel Album of The Year awards during the event.

In the same year Ohemaa Mercy Won a Grand Medal during the National Honours Award from the Ex-President of Ghana, John Agyekum Kufour.

She won the Gospel Artiste of the year and repeated same in Canada the same year with Gospel Artiste of the Year-Canada. She was nominated the Best Female Artiste West Africa the same year for the Africa Gospel Music awards in London.

Ohemaa Mercy has performed on major platforms with electrifying performances which has given her a huge fun base not only for the love of her music but also for her stage performances. Ohemaa has shared stage with renowned international Artistes such as Andrae Crouch, Israel Houton, Don Moen, Darwin Hobbs, Juanita Bynum, Kirk Franklin, Fred Hammond just to mention a few.

With her latest album “Aforebo”, Ohemaa Mercy has six successful albums to her credit. Her studio albums include Adamfo Papa, Edin Jesus, Wobeye Kese, Prophecy, His Word and Aforebo. Some of her hit singles also include Aseda, We Praise You, Yesu Mogya, Wofiri Mu, Obeye Ama Wo and Biribi Besi.