As tributes continue to pour in for gospel legend Yaw Sarpong, the Musicians Union of Ghana is pushing for the country to mark his passing with national distinction.
MUSIGA President Bessa Simons has revealed that the union has petitioned the government to consider a state or state-assisted funeral for the revered musician. In an interview with TV3’s Giovanni Caleb, he explained that formal proposals have already been submitted to ensure Sarpong’s legacy is honoured at the highest level.
“We do so many things behind the scenes. We write to the government when we know the person has contributed to the industry to see if the government can give them proper honour, like a state-assisted burial.
“It’s only the president who can say yes. But we can propose. That’s what we’ve done,” Simons said.
According to Simons, the union has not limited its efforts to correspondence alone. MUSIGA has also engaged key government officials and facilitated meetings between Sarpong’s family representatives and sector ministers as part of efforts to secure official backing for the funeral arrangements.
Yaw Sarpong passed away on January 20, 2026, at the age of 66 after a prolonged illness. Over the course of his career, he became a towering figure in Ghana’s gospel scene, particularly within the Akan tradition. Through decades of recordings, stage performances and mentorship, he helped define the sound and direction of contemporary gospel music in the country.
