Jewel Ackah

Jewel Ackah was a Ghanaian highlife and gospel singer known as the "Prince of Highlife". Over more than fifty years he recorded over 27 albums, and he wrote "Arise Arise", the campaign anthem of the National Democratic Congress.

Early life

He was born around 1945 in Axim, in the Western Region, to Emmanuel Ackah and Cecilia Dye.

Bands

He started in 1965 with The Pick-Ups and went on to sing with C. K. Mann's Carousel Seven, the Eldoradoes and the Medican Lantics. From 1975 to 1979 he was with Sweet Talks, one of the leading highlife bands of the time, and later led S.T. Express, the Great Pilsner's Band and Butterfly Six.

Music

In 1974 he released "Gyaki Mea" and recorded "False Lover" with Pat Thomas. His albums include Asomdwee Hene and Yeridi a Wu (1980), London Connection and Supa Pawa (1984), Electric Highlife (1986) and Butu Sela (1993). He also worked with Ebo Taylor. In his later years he recorded gospel music.

Death

He died in Tema on 27 April 2018. After a memorial service on 5 August 2018 at Joshua Generation International Ministries in Taifa, a tribute concert at the Community 11 Complex Park in Tema drew former President Jerry John Rawlings and musicians including Rex Omar and A. B. Crentsil. Sources differ on whether he had five or eleven children.