In the heart of Ghana’s Western Region, an event took place that brought together the country’s leadership, its youth, and one of its celebrated gospel artists in a memorable moment of recognition and inspiration.
It was at a specially convened awards ceremony, organised under the auspices of the Government of John Evans Atta Mills ( President of Ghana) and his administration’s youth-motivation initiative, that the gospel musician Noble Nketsiah received a lifetime-style award of honour. The impetus behind the ceremony was clear: youth in various industries, arts, music, enterprise, were to be encouraged, celebrated and elevated, as part of the President’s broader agenda of empowering young Ghanaians to excel.
At the ceremony, President Atta Mills took the stage, praising the spirit of Ghana’s youth and emphasising that this was his government’s “Action Year” for job creation, skills development and social innovation. He noted that one important way to motivate the next generation was through public recognition of excellence in diverse fields, including gospel music, where creativity meets faith and community impact.
President Atta Mills then turned to Noble Nketsiah, describing him as a fine example of Ghana’s young creative talent, whose songs had ministered hope and joy across the country. He formally presented to Noble Nketsiah a specially designed award plaque, acknowledging his outstanding skill, his body of music (his “hits”), and the manner in which he had used his art to uplift others. Applause filled the hall as the distinguished guest accepted the award, thanked the President, and spoke briefly about his journey in gospel music.
In his acceptance speech, Noble Nketsiah traced his musical path: from the release of his debut album Yesu Do, a collection which included songs like “He Is My God” and “Yesu Wo Do” – to his second album Gye Me with tracks such as “Big No” and “Mensiden”. He mentioned further songs that had become part of Ghana’s gospel repertoire. “Se Me tease”, “Barima Yesu”, “Mmofra Yi”, “Masei Memre”, and “Mmere Pa Beba”. He noted that each of these works was conceived with the purpose of lifting the listener’s spirit, drawing them into gratitude, worship and social good.
The President, in his reply, emphasised that the arts, and especially gospel music, play a powerful role in shaping values among Ghana’s youth: discipline, creativity, faith and service. By awarding Noble Nketsiah, the government sought to show that excelling in one’s craft, staying true to one’s faith, and contributing to community upliftment would not go unnoticed.
Later in the evening, a short film highlighted the government’s initiative to promote youth across industries; the arts was one pillar, enterprise another. Speeches by young entrepreneurs, musicians and sketched examples of government-supported youth workshops reinforced the theme: “Be the talent that transforms.” The Western Region venue was decorated with colourful banners and a sense of optimism; for many of the young attendees it became a night to remember.
As the event drew to a close, Noble Nketsiah performed a medley of his classic songs, bringing the hall to its feet, and concluded by dedicating the award to the young people of Ghana. The President shook his hand, the applause echoed through the venue, and the image of a gospel star honoured under the auspices of the national youth agenda was etched into memory.
