President John Dramani Mahama has called on the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Ablah Dzifa Gomashie, to organise a national ceremony in honour of Ghana’s legendary ‘Palmwine Highlife’ musician, Agya Koo Nimo.
Speaking on May 1, 2025, during the launch of the ‘Black Star Experience’ at the Black Stars Square in Accra, President Mahama made an appeal for the living legend to be celebrated while he is still alive.
“Honour the king of Palm wine Music, Agya Koo Nimo before he dies. He shouldn’t die before we go and cry at his funeral. We need to honour Agya Koo Nimo before he passes away. Dzifa, let’s organize a ceremony to honour him. I know he has been honoured before, but let’s honour him again before God calls him,” Mahama stated.
John Mahama further emphasised that the government plans to establish a trust fund for ageing artistes.
This initiative, according to him, aims at supporting the welfare of older creatives and will be part of the broader Black Star Experience.
The plea from the president drew applause from guests and stakeholders gathered for the launch of the initiative, which aims to promote Ghanaian heritage, music, and tourism on a global scale.
Kwabena Boa-Amponsem popularly known as Agya Koo Nimo is one of Ghana’s most respected musical icons and a pioneer of the palm wine highlife in Ghana.
Agya Koo Nimo has a career spanning several decades and has entertained several generations of Ghanaians.
He has carried Ghanaian culture beyond the shores of the country through his unique storytelling, acoustic guitar mastery, and traditional wisdom.
The legendary highlife artiste is often described as a “living library of Ghanaian oral tradition,” because his music is rooted in Akan proverbs, folk tales, and values.
AK/EB
