TNR Files
Gospel musician Ohemaa Mercy has shared the deeply emotional story of how former President John Agyekum Kufuor honored her contribution to Ghanaian music, an experience that left her in tears of joy.
Speaking in an interview with George Quaye on Joy Prime, the singer recounted receiving an unexpected invitation to the Castle around 2009, shortly after releasing her third album, Wobeye Kesi.
Rather than excitement, the invitation brought immense anxiety. Ohemaa Mercy admitted she was so nervous that she feared something bad had happened. “When I was going, I was shivering. I didn’t even know why I had been invited to the Castle,” she recalled.
Her confusion peaked during the event when her mother called to tell her that then-President Kufuor had recognized her among the nation’s outstanding musicians. Disbelieving, Ohemaa Mercy was convinced her name had been mentioned by mistake.
She deliberately held back, waiting until almost everyone else had collected their awards before finally stepping forward. It was only when broadcaster Kwame Sefa called her name that the reality of the honor finally sank in, triggering an emotional outpouring.
“I cried the whole day. It was tears of joy. Honestly, I can’t tell you how I was feeling,” she said.
The gravity of the moment was amplified by the grandeur of the ceremony—being saluted by soldiers and standing directly before the President. “Seeing President Kufuor holding my hands and giving me the award… Jesus Christ is something else,” she exclaimed.
Looking back, Ohemaa Mercy described the presidential recognition as a defining milestone in her career. It provided her with renewed encouragement and served as a powerful reminder that her musical impact was being felt and appreciated far beyond the gospel music community.