President John Dramani Mahama has commended Osei Kwame Korankye, founder of the Seperewa Cultural Tradition, for mentoring younger musicians to carry on his craft, and has pledged support towards preserving the centuries-old instrument.
The President’s words of appreciation came after the veteran musician delivered a captivating performance at the launch of the Bank of Ghana’s (BoG) Heritage Series banknotes at Bank Square, Accra, on Thursday, November 13, 2025.
Korankye, a lecturer at the Department of Music, University of Ghana, Legon, is a master of the seperewa (also known as the sanku) — a stringed instrument widely regarded as a precursor to the guitar in West Africa. He has dedicated his life to preserving, playing and teaching the indigenous instrument.
A Public Appeal
Accompanied by a young female protégé — also playing the seperewa — Korankye opened the stage for the President’s keynote address. But he used the moment to make a heartfelt appeal.
It was not the first time.
The elderly artiste, who has performed at several high-profile national events — including a similar BoG ceremony last year — had earlier tried, without success, to secure a meeting with the President.
At that event, Mahama invited him to come for a visit, but that meeting never materialised.
Taking the microphone after the duet, Korankye reminded the President of his frustration and made a passionate case for state support, saying the instruments are centuries old and must not be allowed to die.
“The reason behind all these things is preservation — we want to preserve it. But we cannot do it without you. So I plead with you,” he said. “It is left with about five, so I think about it. It was discovered around sixteen hundred (1600) — about four to five hundred years ago. My grandfather dreamt in 1964. I need your support.”
Mahama’s Response: “I Have Looked for You for Long”
Responding before his address, President Mahama praised Korankye for his dedication, consistency and commitment to preserving his musical heritage, singling out his effort to train the young lady who performed alongside him.
“I have looked for you for long. I am happy to see you training the young girl to take over from you,” the President said. “It is the reason why we are losing most of our instruments to modernisation — because we are not training our kids to continue our culture.”
President Mahama further disclosed that the Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr Johnson Pandit Asiama, has accepted to provide support for the preservation effort.
“The governor has assured me that you should come and see him; he will work out a plan to preserve our seperewa for us,” he said.
A Fitting Backdrop
The appeal added a poignant human moment to what was otherwise a landmark occasion.
The Heritage Series launch marked 68 years since the cedi was first issued on July 14, 1958, with President Mahama unveiling new GH¢200, GH¢100 and GH¢20 banknotes celebrating Ghana’s founding fathers.
For Korankye, the hope is that the centuries-old voice of the seperewa will now have institutional backing to sound for generations to come.
By Gifty Boateng