Bernice Offei
Ghana’s gospel music fraternity is mourning the death of veteran gospel musician Bernice Offei, who has passed away at the age of 63.
The respected gospel singer reportedly died on Saturday, September 12, 2026, according to reports from multiple Ghanaian media outlets. Her death was also announced on social media by fellow gospel personalities, including gospel musician Nii Noi and producer Kwesi Ernest.
Bernice Offei’s death comes just days after she became the subject of a nationwide search after she was reported missing in Accra.
The musician was last seen on September 1 around Nyaho-Tamakloe Street in Agbogba, prompting her family and members of the gospel community to appeal publicly for information about her whereabouts. Fellow musicians, including Diana Hamilton and Fiifi Folson, joined the appeal for help.
She was subsequently found safe within 24 hours, bringing relief to her family, friends, colleagues and fans. The circumstances surrounding her disappearance and where she was found were not publicly disclosed.
However, her death so soon after the incident has left many fans and colleagues shocked.
The cause of Bernice Offei’s death has not been officially confirmed.
Reports circulating online have not established that her recent disappearance was connected to her death, and there is currently no verified medical or family statement attributing her passing to a particular illness or condition.
Some reports noted that photographs circulated after she was found had raised concerns about her health, but no credible source has confirmed what, if anything, was medically wrong with her at the time.
Bernice Offei was one of the established voices of Ghanaian gospel music, with a career spanning several decades. She was particularly known for songs such as ‘Hold On’, ‘Life Is Short’, ‘Kaashe Gbeyi’, ‘Odo A Wodo Mi Nti’, ‘Nyame Kokroko’ and ‘N’adom Ara’.
She released several albums, including Hold On, By Grace, Life, Grateful and Me Ko So. Her 2007 album, Life, earned her Best Female Vocal Performance and Songwriter of the Year honours at the 2009 Ghana Music Awards.
Beyond music, reports say Offei also worked in the banking sector, including a period with Standard Chartered Bank, and had academic qualifications in Crop Science and Information Technology.
Her passing is a major loss to Ghana’s gospel music community, with tributes beginning to pour in for a singer whose music reflected faith, perseverance and the realities of life.