Help! Gospel events on ‘life support’ —Ohemaa Mercy cries to Corporate Ghana

AWARD-winning Gospel musician Ohemaa Mercy has sounded an alarm on the dire state of gospel events in the country and is urging corporate Ghana to come to the rescue.

She likens the desperate situation to a sick person on a life support machine and that until corporate Ghana lends a hand, the only option might be to pull the plug which will lead to the death of gospel events.

In a conversation with Graphic Showbiz on the sidelines of the official launch of this year’s Tehillah Experience, Ohemaa Mercy attributed their struggles to poor corporate sponsorship.

She disclosed that lack of financial support from corporate bodies was threatening the very survival of gospel events which she believes play a crucial role in promoting spiritual growth and moral values.

The artiste known for songs such as Ote Me Mu, Edin Jesus and Wobeye Kese said gospel artistes faced difficulties soliciting corporate backing for their events due to the lack of understanding from companies that tended to perceive religion in a different light.

“For me, I think corporate institutions don’t really understand the business of gospel music. Oftentimes, they believe they shouldn't meddle in religious activities. So it’s not even about it being a Christian event.”

“However, the situation is really dire because a lot goes into getting a good production for an event and here is the case where we mostly struggle to get corporate sponsorship.”

“Meanwhile, the few that are probably willing to come on board may not be able to do so because certain brands cannot be associated with God’s business.”

“There are restrictions and all these are working against us, putting most gospel events on ‘life support’ because of huge financial burdens. Whereas our colleague secular artistes are grabbing all the big sponsorships even though we sometimes put together better shows,” the Fefeefe singer said.

Ohemaa Mercy is not alone with her concerns. A number of prominent gospel artistes, including Joe Mettle, have also lamented the inadequate sponsorship of gospel events.

Prior to his Praiz Reloaded in June this year, Joe Mettle disclosed he had on a number of occasions emptied his bank account to finance the event.

Although Ohemaa Mercy has successfully and consistently hosted her Tehillah Experience concert for the past 11 years, she admits it has not been easy without adequate financial support, especially from the country’s corporate sector.

She pointed out that the financial constraints have left many gospel event organiser’s struggling to stay afloat, with some even forced to cancel or postpone events.

She, however, offered words of encouragement to emerging artistes, acknowledging the difficulties they faced when hosting events.

“Embracing your calling is crucial as an up-and-coming artiste. When you understand your purpose and God's plan for you, you'll recognise that challenges are a natural part of the journey. These challenges foster maturity and growth.”

“Instead of resisting them, accept them as opportunities for self-improvement, whether financial or otherwise. Remember, God's intention is to refine and elevate you, not to hinder or embarrass you so keep going even without sponsorship,” she said.

Ohemaa Mercy also extended her heartfelt appreciation to all who have consistently supported the Tehillah concert since its inception.

“We're thrilled to have Frytol and Telecel on board this year as sponsors, along with several generous individuals who are also supporting us”, Ohemaa added.

This year’s Tehillah Experience concert, themed "Tehillah The Bethel Experience," comes off on Saturday, September 8, 2024, at the Oil Dome, Royal House Chapel International in Accra.