…as massive crowd had a time!!!
Multiple award-winning gospel musician, ACP Kofi Sarpong, has praised organisers of the MTN Stands In Worship (SIW) for the foresight to send the event to Kumasi for the first time.
ACP Sarpong, who spoke to the media after his performance on the night, said he was overwhelmed by the massive turnout and the patrons’ passion for gospel music. “The crowd was awesome and energetic. It was great to have the event in Kumasi on Easter day and we are looking forward to more of such in coming days,” he stated.
The 2024 MTN SIW came off at the Golden Bean Hotel in Kumasi on Sunday which saw a capacity-filled auditorium as hundreds of people turned out for the event.
According to ACP Sarpong, the death of Christ and his resurrection was meant for salvation and must be recognised in a Godly manner. “The funfair is becoming too much and people must rather look into Christ’s death and resurrection and what it brought to mankind, and it would help all of us,” he stated.
Consequently, he said the SIW gives the opportunity for people to pour out their heart and say ‘Thank You’ to God for how far he has brought them. It is a laudable idea that MTN has ensured that everyone gathered to acknowledge God. I have enjoyed myself and I appreciate the opportunity to sing and see the massive crowd with me,” he stressed.
“The joy of the Lord is my strength and when we get the opportunity to mount the stage, we cannot do anything mediocre,” he said.
The MTN SIW in Kumasi also featured Obaapa Christy, Bra Sammy, Kwaku Gyasi and the Kumasi Evangel Choir. It was a charged atmosphere of great performances from some of the best musicians in the country.
At 5 pm (the scheduled time for the show), most of the audience was seated, with DJ Carcious warming up the auditorium with some ‘welcoming’ melodies for the anxious fans who were looking forward to a memorable evening. The night officially started with a grand entrance by MC Abena Kay, who ensured that the audience settled in with her amazing command and blend of the twi and English languages.
The excited kids, the dapper youth, the elegant oldies and radiant royal folks adorned in rich Kente fabrics were ready to be emersed into powerful ministrations. Starting with the Kumasi Evengel Choir, patrons were treated to over half an hour renditions of local chorals, including ‘Just by the Power of God’, ‘God You’re Good’ by Francis Agyei,’Yedi Nkunim’ and ‘Watua M’aka’ by Tagoe Sisters, among others.
Apostle Dr. Nana Sarpong, then, delivered his words of exhortation titled ‘Consider’ and urged Christians to take advantage of such programmes to praise God for his mercy and sacrifices. He said it was important to celebrate the victory of Christ in a very decent and godly manner while urging the youth to desist from violence during the upcoming December general elections.
His message paved way for the classic man in the Ghanaian gospel music industry, ACP Kofi Sarpong, who set the roof on fire with his outstanding energy and stage craft. Starting with ‘Amen’ and then Esther Piesie’s ‘Ewuradi Mo’, followed by ‘Agyenkwa’ and his usual Presbyterian hymns, the crowd went agog and practically joined him on stage to sing and dance along. He charged the atmosphere with his jumps and great dance moves which got the youth to defy orders and dance in front of the ‘royal bench.”
The city’s favourite Bra Sammy’s performance which followed was nothing short of spectacular, with his soothing and spirit-filled voice to bring the crowd into worship mood. Beginning with his remarkable rendition of local worship, ‘the Nation’s Worshipper’ as affectionately called, switched into some powerful praises to bring back ACP’s energy.
The night, however, was far from over as one of Ghana’s greatest vocalists and live band performer, Obaapa Christy, took over for another spectacle, serving the audience with a mocktail of old, recent and new songs like ‘Ebeyeyie’, ‘Hyebre Sesafo’, ‘Aseda’ and ‘Wagye Me’.
Afterward, she perfectly introduced the icing on the cake, Kweku Gyasi, with their song ‘Mesuafre Awurade’ to crown the night with another memorable performance. Patrons did not waste time as they joined the evergreen performer on stage with his high-powered display to dance the night away in what many described as the best gospel event to ever happen in Kumasi in recent times.
