By: Franklin Asare-Donkoh
Legendary Ghanaian gospel musician and founder of the Asomafo gospel group, Yaw Sarpong, has died.
He passed into eternity on January 20, 2026, at the age of 66, after battling ill health for years, having been active in music for nearly five decades and receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2025.
The news of his passing was confirmed by Nana Poku Ashis, his manager, to MyJoyOnline.com. Further details surrounding his death are yet to be officially disclosed.
His death comes barely a month after the passing of Maame Tiwa, a key pillar of Yaw Sarpong’s Asomafo music group, a loss that deeply affected the gospel music fraternity.
Yaw Sarpong had, for some years, been battling ill health, occasionally stepping back from public performances as he focused on treatment and recovery.
Widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in Ghana’s gospel music history, Yaw Sarpong rose to national prominence as the leader of Yaw Sarpong and Asomafo, a group that shaped the sound and structure of modern Akan gospel music.
The group became known for its strong lyrical content and disciplined musical style rooted in Christian doctrine.
Over the decades, Yaw Sarpong and Asomafo produced several iconic gospel songs, including Wo Haw Ne Hwan, Tie Obiaa, Aduro Yesu, and Awurade Kasa, many of which remain staples in churches across Ghana.
In 2025, Yaw Sarpong was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Telecel Ghana Music Awards.
