New album, untold funny story - DSP Sarpong

Just about when the domestic music scene began to feel for his comeback, DSP Kofi Sarpong has done just that in grand style – dropping another fantastic album that goes to further enrich his credential as a talented musician.

The new album, titled "Saviour", is the second release by the sensational policeman-cum-singer since his debut two years ago, which effort was crowned with the enviable ‘Gospel Song of the Year’ Award at the Ghana Music Awards (GMA).

That award was for his song Aseda-Ndwuom’, which dominated the gospel music arena at the time. The Saviour also promises to follow suit in the coming days, given the uniqueness of the traditional cadence it has adopted.

Already, not only some songs on the album enjoying massive rotation on radio stations in the capital city, but also on some television networks. Many disc-jockeys (DJs) in accra are also smitten, as they continue to sample some of the tracks back and front, day and night.

A particular song on the album, titled 'Borbor medley’, is indeed a must-listen-to and another potential award-winning masterpiece. It is lased on a traditional  rhythm called 'Gomme’ that blends the beat of drums with modern-day technological sound engineering.

The video clip of the’ Borbor medley’, currently showing some TV stations, is also riveting art work as the DSP himself occasionally launches to his usual ‘Adowa’ dance. Gospel songbird, Celestine Donkor (Mrs), is also in there.

And that is not all’, the entire album is an incredible ‘magnum opus’(masterwork). It has nine songs, all presented differently. Some of the songs include ‘Saviour’ (the title track), Aseda, Osom Me’bo’ and two worship songs, unrecorded live.

DSP Sarpong explain to The Spectator Agoro’ his motivation for coming out with the album. ‘On my first album, I did a new thing by going traditional which was embraced by nusic- lovers. This one is too different.

‘’I always want to do a new thing differently. So this new one is also different with a traditional ‘’gomme’’ highlife flavour’’, he explained on Wednesday, expressing the optimism that, hopefully music-lovers would ‘’also like this new one’’ .

‘’Everything I sing and do is about giving praise and adoration to God, because the Bible even says that we should give thanks to him at all times and situations, whether good or bad. Naturally, I am somebody who doesn’t like singing songs of lamentations and request, so these shapes the songs I do‘,’ he said.

The new album, with most of the songs recorded by Sha at Kwashieman and Nacy, features Celestine Donkor and Francis Amoh. ‘’ I thank God for how far he has brought me his servant, say thank you to everybody who enjoys my music’’ he added.

Born at Berekum in the Brong Ahafo Region to the late Chief Inspector Kofi Sarpong and Madam comfort Yeboah, DSP (Deputy Superintendent of Police) Sarpong is the third of the four siblings.

With a little over 13 years in the Ghana Police Service, he currently the 31C (3rd in Command) at the Police Headquarters in Accra, in charge of Logistics Supply and Quartermaster Stores. He has a wife, Salomey and two kids, Nana Nketia Sarpong,10, and Maame Afua Yeaboah, 6.

His becoming a musician is both a funny story and a miracle. As a singer who started singing from infancy, DSP Sarpong became the Chaplain and choir master when he was recruited into the police service at Koforidua.

When he was posted to Accra he joined the Kanda Presbyterian Church he continue singing at church services. It was after one of those songs ministration that his manager, Ernest Kwasi Aning (the Greater Regional Chairman of the musicians union of Ghana), approach him and requested to record him.

"I turn it down completely because I was thought my proffesion as a policeman wouldn’t permit that. But he would not stop pestering me calling me on phone and occasionally coming to my office, ‘he said.

"Sometime I decided to give it a try though relunctantly, hoping that my boss will not allow it for Ernest to stop petering me so I wrote letter to the current deputy inspector General of Polic(IGP), Mr. Mohammed Alhassan, who was then the Director General in charge of Welfare,’’ he said.

As fate would have, Mr. Alhassan had also noticed the musical talent in DSP Sarpong, so immediately minuted the letter to the IGP, Mr. Paul Tawiah Quaye, who gave the approval. ;’left to me, I had never thought of going to the studio to record.

DSP Sarpong attended the Berekum Methodist, Obuasi Methodist and Berekum Secondary schools, before reading Purchasing and supply in the United Kingdom.