Veteran Ghanaian gospel musician Yaw Sarpong
Veteran Ghanaian gospel musician Yaw Sarpong will be remembered as one of the most iconic figures in the genre. Many credit him as an inspiration, and his songs continue to resonate as household favorites across the country.
But who is Yaw Sarpong, and what is his story?
Born Osomafo Yaw Sarpong in Accra to a former Member of Parliament during the Kwame Nkrumah era, his early life was marked by tragedy.
His father died in 1966 after being imprisoned following the overthrow of Dr Kwame Nkrumah, an event that plunged the family into economic hardship.
As a result, his mother relocated with him to Akyease in Kumasi.
Yaw Sarpong’s passion for music emerged early. He joined a Methodist singing group at Asuofua in the Ashanti Region, where his talent began to attract attention.
In 1971, he was discovered by a medical doctor who sought to form a music group, performing mainly in churches and event centres.
During one such performance in Asuase, Kumasi, a pastor offered to care for him, an opportunity Yaw Sarpong accepted.
He was later spotted at a church event by renowned music academic Professor Kofi Abraham, who took him under his wing and supported him until 1984.
Gospel icon Yaw Sarpong is dead
Under Prof Abraham’s mentorship, Yaw Sarpong released his first album, ‘Adesrede’ in 1981, followed by a second album between 1983 and 1984.
In search of new opportunities, Yaw Sarpong relocated to Accra, where he worked as a taxi driver between 1984 and 1986.
He later moved to Liberia, where he founded Yaw Sarpong and the Asomafo Band in 1986.
The group was unique for its diverse membership, comprising Ghanaians, Liberians, and Sierra Leoneans, and remains active to this day.
The name ‘Asomafo’, meaning ‘Messengers,’ reflects Yaw Sarpong’s belief that he and his band members are merely vessels conveying God’s word through music.
Today, he boasts 25 albums and over 100 songs, with classics such as “Oko Yi” (Yaw Sarpong and the Asomafo ft. All Stars).
His contributions have earned him numerous accolades, including an Honorary Doctorate in Sacred Music from the Ecclesiastical Bishop Leaders Conference of Africa (EBLCA) in 2017, a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Ghana Music Awards UK in 2019 and another Lifetime Achievement Award at the Telecel Ghana Music Awards (TGMA) in 2025.
He marked over four decades in gospel music with the Praiz Reloaded 2017 concert at the Accra International Conference Centre and has been actively involved in humanitarian initiatives, including “The Prison Project,” launched in 2017 to transform lives within prison communities under a six-year MoU with the Ghana Prisons Service Board.
Yaw Sarpong has collaborated with top artistes such as Sunny Ade, Samini, Shatta Wale, Kofi Arthur, Sonny Badu, Obaapa Christy, Obrafour, Joe Mettle, and the Winneba Youth Choir.
On the personal front, he is married to Tiwah, who often performs alongside him, and has children, one of whom he affectionately nicknamed “Shatta Wale” due to his admiration for the dancehall star.
In 2023, Yaw Sarpong suffered a stroke, keeping him away from the limelight until his sad passing in January 2026.
ID/EB
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