Veteran Ghanaian gospel singer Bernice Offei had been living with dementia for about four to five years before her death, her former manager, Kwasi Ernest, has disclosed.
The revelation has provided more insight into the circumstances surrounding the singer’s disappearance shortly before her death, with Kwasi Ernest explaining that her health condition had gradually affected her memory, orientation and ability to manage some routine activities on her own.
Bernice Offei, who was 63, reportedly went missing from her home before her family launched a search for her. The initial efforts to locate her did not yield the expected results, prompting the family to make the situation public and seek help from the wider community.
Speaking in an interview on Max TV to confirm the gospel singer’s death, Kwasi Ernest said her battle with dementia had reached a stage where she could become confused about her surroundings and struggle to remember familiar places, including her own residence.
“For four to five years, she had been battling dementia that affected her brain. When someone is sick with dementia, it affects the daily life of the person,” he explained.
According to the former manager, Bernice Offei left home at a time when her condition had become particularly difficult to manage. Her inability to properly orient herself reportedly contributed to the difficulty in finding her way back home.
“She left home, and the ailment was triggered, so she couldn’t locate her house. After the initial search by the family wasn’t yielding results, they made the search public, and they later found her,” he added.
The singer was eventually found and taken to a hospital by her family for medical attention. However, her health reportedly worsened after she was found, and despite efforts to provide her with care, she died on Saturday, September 12, 2026.
Her death has brought renewed attention to the health challenges she had been quietly facing for several years, particularly as many of her admirers may not have been aware of the extent of her condition.
Kwasi Ernest, who managed Bernice Offei during a period of her music career, also used the opportunity to remember the late singer beyond her work in gospel music.
He described her as a disciplined, humble and God-fearing woman whose Christian faith was evident in her conduct and interactions with people around her.
According to him, Bernice Offei was not simply an artiste who sang about Christianity or preached the word of God through her music. She was someone who genuinely tried to live according to the values she professed.
Her contribution to Ghana’s gospel music scene earned her recognition among music lovers and fellow artistes, with her work becoming part of the body of gospel music that has shaped the country’s Christian music landscape over the years.
News of her passing has since triggered an outpouring of tributes from colleagues, friends and admirers, many of whom have been reflecting on her music, personality and commitment to her faith.
Watch Kwasi Ernest’s disclosure below.
@maxtv_gh Kwesi Ernest, former manager of Bernice Offei, confirms the late gospel musician was suffering from dementia. #MaxTV #MaxOnline #BerniceOffei #dementia ♬ original sound – MaxTV_GH
