Omanghana
Ghanaian highlife musician Samuel Ofori Amponsah has opened up about the personal difficulties that influenced his controversial decision to leave secular music for gospel ministry at the height of his career.
The “Otoolege” hitmaker said the transition was necessary for his emotional and spiritual survival, although many fans did not understand his decision at the time.
Speaking to Nana Romeo on UTV’s Atuu, Ofori Amponsah acknowledged that his departure from highlife, and his subsequent return to love songs left some supporters confused and disappointed.
He appealed for forgiveness while explaining that the public did not know everything he was experiencing behind the scenes.
Gospel Switch Was About Survival
Ofori Amponsah said he was confronting intense personal difficulties when he decided to move closer to God and concentrate on gospel music.
“That time, the things that were happening to me, I had to get closer to God more,” he explained.
“If I didn’t take that decision then, I wouldn’t have been alive by now.”
The singer did not disclose the full nature of the experiences that placed him under such pressure. He indicated that some aspects of that period remain too private or complicated to discuss publicly.
His decision, he maintained, was not a publicity stunt or an attempt to mislead his audience. It was a response to circumstances he believed threatened his well-being.
Fame Came With Hidden Pressure
The highlife veteran also spoke about the psychological and emotional demands associated with celebrity status.
Although successful musicians are often viewed through the lens of fame, wealth and public admiration, he said performers may endure serious personal struggles away from the spotlight.
“Musicians go through a lot, and if you don’t take care, you wouldn’t know what to do with your life because of the pressure of fame,” he stated.
At the height of his popularity, Ofori Amponsah was one of Ghana’s most commercially successful highlife musicians, with several hit songs and major industry awards.
That success brought increased expectations, public scrutiny and pressure to continue producing popular music.
He suggested that turning towards gospel music and prayer gave him a way to cope with what he was experiencing.
Singer Apologizes to Fans
Ofori Amponsah admitted that some of his career choices disappointed people who had followed him for years.
“One of the disappointments was when I decided to switch from highlife to gospel, and people didn’t really understand why,” he said.
His later return to commercial highlife intensified the criticism, with some people questioning the sincerity of his spiritual journey.
The musician asked fans to forgive him, saying every major decision he made during that period had a reason.
“They should forgive me, but it’s not everything that I could explain,” he said.
“Every decision I took back then had a meaning, so you all should forgive me.”
Faith Goes Beyond Church Attendance
Ofori Amponsah maintained that his relationship with God remains strong despite his return to secular highlife music.
He explained that he prays regularly and considers Christianity to be fundamentally about a personal relationship with God rather than church attendance alone.
“I do pray a lot. Christianity is a relationship with God, but not necessarily me going to church,” he said.
“With me, the connection with God is still there.”
According to the singer, maintaining a sincere spiritual life is more important than creating a public image of religiosity.
“The way things are among us humans, being close to God is far better, and it’s the most important thing that I think we should do,” he added.
His remarks suggest that he does not view highlife and personal faith as mutually exclusive. He continues to sing love songs while maintaining that prayer and spirituality remain central to his life.
Controversial Move From Highlife to Ministry
Ofori Amponsah’s career change became one of the most debated episodes in Ghana’s entertainment industry.
Around 2012, he stepped away from secular highlife and established the Family of Faith and Love Ministries. He subsequently released gospel material and became widely known as a pastor.
However, Ofori Amponsah later clarified that he had not been formally ordained and described himself as the figurehead of a fellowship rather than an ordained minister.
His religious transition surprised fans because it came during a successful career built on romantic highlife songs such as “Otoolege,” “Emmanuella,” “Cinderella” and “Asew.”
Many listeners believed his announcement meant he had permanently abandoned secular music.
Return With ‘Alewa’ Sparks Criticism
In 2015, Ofori Amponsah returned to mainstream highlife with “Alewa,” a collaboration with Ghanaian rapper Sarkodie.
The comeback generated widespread public debate. Some critics accused him of abandoning his religious calling, while others questioned whether his earlier move into gospel ministry had been genuine.
The controversy led to the nickname “Pastor Alewa,” which followed him during the early years of his highlife return.
Ofori Amponsah has nevertheless continued recording and performing love songs while speaking openly about his Christian beliefs.
His latest explanation presents the gospel period as part of a personal struggle rather than a calculated attempt to reinvent his career.
Ofori Amponsah Plans Autobiographical Book
The musician disclosed that he intends to document his life and the circumstances surrounding his most controversial decisions in a book.
“One day, I will write everything in a book so that people will understand,” he said.
The proposed autobiography is expected to provide a fuller account of the personal pressures he experienced, the reasons he turned to gospel music and the events that eventually led him back to highlife.
For now, Ofori Amponsah is asking the public to recognize that the choices visible to fans were shaped by private battles they could not see.
His message is that the temporary departure from highlife was not meaningless. He believes it brought him closer to God and helped him survive one of the most difficult periods of his life.
Source: Omanghana
