Gospel singer Nicholas Omane Acheampong has been honoured with the lifetime title ‘Gospel General’ at the 2016 Gospel Music Awards.
The title was bestowed on Nicholas Omane Acheampong last Sunday at the ceremony which seeks to celebrate and award outstanding Ghanaian gospel musicians whose works have influenced the advancement and promotion of the Kingdom of God.
“Our aim is to transform gospel music in Ghana by bringing the most powerful and outstanding gospel musician across the country under one umbrella while rewarding the best and most outstanding among them during the year under review. The awards would honour outstanding achievements and excellence in Christian and gospel music. Our aim is to make the programme one of the most anticipated music events of the year,” Pastor Kofi Ashia Boateng, Head Pastor of Restoration Christian Church, organisers of the event, told NEWS-ONE.
He explained that the organisers and board settled on Nicholas Omane Acheampong for the honour this year because of his continuous attitude of separating ministry work from his career as a gospel musician.
According to Pastor Boateng, Christian leaders across the country can testify that Omane Acheampong is one of the few musicians who do not charge commercial rates when he is invited to Christian events and there are many times he ministers for free.
“Omane Acheampong sees his career as a gospel musician to be a divine calling more than a business venture. There are countless of times he has driven his own car from one region to another just to minister to the Christian community for free. There are some musicians who would charge you full commercial rate and even demand advance payment before they come. But Omane is not like that.
“Secondly, there is no one who can say he or she is in Ghana but has not been blessed by the works and music of Oname Acheampong during the last fifteen years. This is one person who is not only a minister of the gospel but his songs attract a lot of people to the body of Christ. It is befitting that he is honoured with the title of ‘Gospel General’ and that is what exactly we have done,” Pastor Boateng added.
Omane Acheampong, on his part, told NEWS-ONE he is humbled by the honour and encouraged to give out his very best to support God’s work and the gospel music industry.
“I thank God for this honour done me but I would not let it get into my head so I become proud and forget that I am just a mere mortal and a tool in the hands of God. I dedicate the award to my father, Prophet Emmanuel Badu Kobi of the Glorious Wave Ministries, and the entire congregation,” Omane Acheampong mentioned.