Empress Gifty

Empress Gifty, born Gifty Osei and now known as Gifty Empress Oppong Adorye, is a Ghanaian gospel singer and songwriter from Tema. She won Gospel Artiste of the Year at the 2012 Vodafone Ghana Music Awards, and in 2025 she was named Artiste of the Year at the Ghana Music Awards USA, ahead of nominees including Stonebwoy, King Promise, Shatta Wale and Diana Hamilton.

Tema beginnings

She attended Mantey Din Primary School and Oninku Junior Secondary School in Tema, then trained at a fashion school in the city. She later opened a fashion school of her own, and fashion has stayed part of her public image: she was named Most Stylish Artist at the 2017 Fashion and Lifestyle Awards.

Albums and songs

Her debut album, Aseda, came out in 2007. The follow-up, Fefeefe (2012), won Gospel Album of the Year at the VGMAs and made her that year's Gospel Artiste of the Year. Since then she has released Jesus Be Too Much (2014), Ebenezer (2017), Jesus Over Do (2020), Odiyompo and Eye Woaa (both 2021), Awieye Pa (2023) and Watch Me (2024). Her best-known songs include Aseda, Fefeefe, Adom, Adensiedie, Jesus Over Do and Odiyompo.

Other honours include Best Female Gospel Musician at the 2015 Gospel Music Awards in Italy, Artiste of the Year at the 2018 National Gospel Music Awards, and Digital Act of the Year at the 2021 3Music Awards. She was the first Ghanaian gospel artist to pass one million Instagram followers.

Ghana Music Awards USA 2025

At the sixth Ghana Music Awards USA, held at ACX1 Studios in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on 16 August 2025, she won both Artiste of the Year and Gospel Song of the Year.

Concerts, film and endorsements

She hosts an annual concert, The Resurrection Effect, and toured Europe in 2019. She appeared in the 2024 film 1957. On 23 September 2026 Twellium Industrial Company unveiled her as brand ambassador for Verna Natural Mineral Water.

Family and the Agradaa lawsuit

She is married to Hopeson Adorye, a politician, and they have two children. In May 2025 she sued the self-styled evangelist Nana Agradaa for defamation over social media attacks on her husband, claiming GH₵20 million in damages.