When NPP went gospel dancing in Kumasi
Thousands of gospel music fans and political campaigners flocked to the Jubilee Park in Kumasi on Sunday night in a special gospel concert in support of Presidential hopeful, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as well as celebrate the 16th birthday of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
The political concert, which featured top gospel music artistes, had been organised by the NPP to whip up support for the party.
It was on the theme, “To God Be the Glory” as it afforded the NPP the opportunity to say "thank you to God" for staying with their party in the last 16years in a peaceful atmosphere.
Over 15 top gospel music artistes mounted the stage at the Jubilee Park to entertain fans and supporters of the NPP in what could go for one of the biggest gospel shows to be witnessed in Kumasi in recent times as the crowd was indeed thick.
The concert started on a beautiful note, starting at a time Kumasi Asante Kotoko had just qualified into the money zone of the CAF Confederation Cup. Fans from the stadium together with the gospel music fans and political campaigners trooped to the Jubilee Park in their numbers to have fun.
The show got underway at about 7pm on the arrival of Nana Addo who had pulled out all the stops in his effort to appeal to religious voters and uniting top gospel artists on his campaign trail.
Pastor Josh Laryea, who led the organising team, Africa Media Core Promotion set the ball rolling with an opening prayer after which MCs for the night, James Oberko of Luv FM and Akosua Ago Banahene of Hello FM took over.
Their message was simple and clear, a night of good music where music was going to be used to preach peace before, during and after the December polls.
With many political stalwarts present at the event, the night was indeed a radical departure from the usual gathering of political campaigners amidst political talks.
“We have come here to listen to good music and give praises to God and not to be making speeches” was what Nana Addo said when he took the microphone.
Gifty Osei warmed the stage with Aseda, followed by Lady Prempeh, Noble Nketia and Danny Nettey.
When Kwaku Gyasi took his turn and he unleashed “Onyame Aseda ye bebree”, Nana Addo was kicked off his seat unto the dancing floor. He was joined by Alan Kyerematen, Dr Konadu Apraku, Kan Dapaah and many others as the place went agog.
Joe Beechem and Moses OK followed up, but Moses OK was indeed a delight to watch as he jumped and waved the crowd on. He humbly sung a rendition from the song, “This is how far you have brought me”, which was a special request from Nana Addo to usher him on the stage to give a terse speech.
After Nana Addo’s speech, the place was set agog with the NPP’s campaign soundtrack - Go High – by Phillipa Baafi. The song was rendered by Phillipa Baafi in a manner that moved the entire arena to resort to the “kangaroo dance”, which has come to be noted with the song and the NPP.
Joined by party stalwarts in the persons of Peter Mac Manu, Nana Ohene Ntow, Alan Kyerematen, Kan Dapaah, Hajia Alima Mahama, Boniface Abubakar Saddique, Isaac Osei, Gloria Akufo, Sheik I. C. Quaye, Dr Konadu Apraku, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto and many others, Nana Addo danced the kangaroo dance with excitement as Phillipa Baafi rolled out the song.
When she took her turn on the stage, Christiana Love was a delight to watch. She first took off her high hill shoes, hopped and jumped into a dancing mood.
She invited Nana Addo and Mr Kyerematen once again to the dancing floor and did her own thing with them with the song, “We are moving forward through Jesus Christ”.
As if that was not enough, she moved closer to Mr Kyerematen after the duo had taken their seats, boogied by squatting amidst twisting her waist in front of the “fine gentleman” as she shouted “Alan Cash eeeiii”.
Christiana Love indeed shook the place with her moves and as if she was lobbying for Alan Cash for the position of the vacant Vice Presidential slot in the NPP, she kept mentioning Alan Cash’s name in the song anytime she mentioned that of Nana Addo.
This indeed went down well with the crowd, who also cheered in appreciation of her performance.
The night was indeed full of excitement as other musicians in the persons of Fred Oware Junior, No Tribe, OJ, Soul Winners and Ohemaa Mercy took their turns.
