Helen Yawson

Helen Yawson (née Obadagbonyi, born 3 July 1967) is a gospel singer, songwriter and pastor based in Ghana. A former choir director at Kingsway International Christian Centre (KICC) in London, she moved to Accra in 2002 and was ordained a minister the same year.

Early life

She was born in London, moved to Lagos, Nigeria, at five and returned to London at 19. Soon after, in 1986, she joined Matthew Ashimolowo's ministry. She sang with the Kingsway Foursquare Church Band from 1988 and became a lead singer in the church choir in 1989, touring Nigeria, Canada and the UK with its praise and worship team.

Music

She led vocals on the KICC Choir albums Set Me Free (1992), You're My Everything (1993) and Joy (1995), and wrote songs for two of them. In 1997 she became music coordinator at KICC's church in Tottenham, and in January 1999 she released her debut solo album, Blessed and Highly Favoured. She was appointed director of the KICC Mass Choir in January 2000 and released Forever Grateful in 2001. Her later releases include the single Anyday (2006) and the album My God and I (2012).

Ministry in Ghana

After moving to Accra in 2002 she was ordained a Reverend Minister by Matthew Ashimolowo and became music director of KICC Ghana. She heads the church's Winning Women Ministries and founded Voicemania, which trains singers and speakers through its annual Worship Master Class and The Voice Academy. She has shared stages with Mary Mary, Ron Kenoly, Alvin Slaughter and Andrae Crouch. She is married to Andrew Yawson, and they have two daughters.