Ghana’s gospel music community is in mourning following the death of veteran gospel musician and choir leader Yaw Sarpong, founder of the renowned Asomafo gospel group. He passed away on 20th January 2026 in Kumasi at the age of 66.
The news was confirmed by his manager, Nana Poku Ashis, bringing an outpouring of tributes from musicians, church leaders, and fans across the country who credit Yaw Sarpong with shaping modern Ghanaian gospel music.
His passing comes barely a month after the death of Maame Tiwa, a central pillar of the Asomafo music group. The back-to-back losses have dealt a heavy blow to Ghana’s gospel music fraternity.
Yaw Sarpong had battled ill health for several years, a condition that gradually forced him to scale back public appearances while undergoing treatment and recovery. His health struggles became widely known after a series of events that kept him away from active performance.
In October 2020, he survived a ghastly motor accident on the Accra–Kumasi highway, alongside family members and members of his music team. Although several people sustained injuries, all involved survived the crash.
His condition later worsened. In 2024, a video of Maame Tiwaa, his long-time colleague and close friend, passionately praying for his healing went viral on social media. It was subsequently disclosed that Yaw Sarpong had suffered a stroke and had been ill since 2023.
Despite his declining health, Yaw Sarpong’s immense contribution to gospel music was formally recognised in 2025, when he received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Telecel Ghana Music Awards. The honour was received on his behalf by Maame Tiwa.
Over several decades, Yaw Sarpong and Asomafo produced timeless gospel classics such as Wo Haw Ne Hwan, Tie Obiaa, Aduro Yesu, and Awurade Kasa. These songs remain widely sung in churches and continue to influence contemporary gospel music in Ghana.
