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The Okine family dazzles gospel world with soothing music
Mr Patrick Richard Okine is an experienced professional with varied interests, but his appetite for music and poetry seems to outweigh the rest.
Apart from writing poems of local and international appeal, he has composed and recorded a number of songs, releasing his debut album in the early 90s.
He went on a long break but has returned to the scene; this time around, with his wife and four children as backing vocalists on an Extended Play (EP) dubbed: ‘Afore’ (sacrifice).
The Media and Communications Lead at the Institute of Democratic Governance (IDEG) recently interacted with The Spectator touching on his life and career, musical journey and the prospects of the new family music group.
He says formation of the group “is an expression of a strong desire to serve God, touch and bless lives through the God-given musical talents of his family.”
Recordings
Tracing his passion for music and art to his ‘sixth form’ days at Accra High School, Mr Okine said he used to write plays and songs for a campus theatre group known as the ‘Live Youth’.
“We had drama, poetry, cultural and contemporary music section and through this, I came out with my first cassette album titled ‘Mama’ in 1994, which was a major hit,” he recalled.
In 1995, he travelled to the United Kingdom (UK) after completing secondary and tertiary education to pursue other professional interests and returned to Ghana in 2009 to set up his own media consultancy.
Although he had recorded other albums during the sojourn, the gospel artiste had wanted to retire from music but decided to form the group considering the creativity and unique potentials of his wife and children.
Group
In December 2017, Mr Okine recorded an album titled: ‘Gratification or His Sanctification’ with backing vocals by his wife and four children. Following this release, he maintained the group which he now calls the “Patrick Richard Okine and Family Music Ministry.”
The musical group comprises Mrs Roberta Okine, Head of the Music Department at International Central Gospel Church (ICGC) Eagles Temple, Gbawe, and children: Duke, Marianne, Zimran, and Henrietta.
Duke is a Pastor set to release his own songs soon. Marianne is a graduate of the University of Professional Studies (UPS), while Zimran and Henrietta are both graduates of University of Ghana.
The ‘Afore’ EP was released in February 2021, with two other tracks titled ‘How Excellent Is Thy Name’ and ‘Majie Eyi’ (I’ll Praise Him). The music video, released in October 2021, continues to receive good feedback on YouTube and other music streaming platforms.
Prospects
Expressing confidence in his new studio project, Mr Okine said the family would continue to release impactful songs as long as they were accepted in the music industry.
“We are recording ‘Aseda’ a mid-tempo track to be released in collaboration with ICGC Eagles Temple Choir. The fact that we have our music on international streaming platforms is an indication that we want our music to go international.
“We have already had requests from some churches in the US and UK to minister anytime we visit and I think the future looks promising as God pours his blessings on us,” he said.
Challenges
He identifies difficulty in getting recording deals and lack of capital for promoting music as a major setback to young and old music talents in the country.
“Music is a precarious industry where you can come out with a song with the best voice and instrumentation but it will not go far.
“Lot of talents have to manage their own music when they bring it out. Even the older ones are falling out because they cannot be their own managers and produce the music at the same time,” he said.
Education
Mr Okine attended Wesley Grammar School for his Ordinary Level (O-level) and continued at Accra High School from 1983-1985 for his Advanced Level.
He has a certificate in Public Relations, Advertising and Marketing and Master of Arts Degree in Development Communication from the Ghana Institute of Journalism.
He completed Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in 1990 with Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Art and English (minor).
Awards/recognition
While at KNUST in 1989, he won gold in three categories when he joined the National Squad of Dramatists to represent Ghana at the 13th World Festival of Youth and Students in Pyongyang, North Korea, and received also an Honourary Creativity in Literature Award.
In 1991, he composed and recorded the official anthem of the KNUST University Hall (Katanga) when he was the Entertainment Chair.
In 2015, Mr Okine, co-wrote, sang and coordinated the production of the song ‘Be the Voice’ (Oh say yeah) when IDEG nominated musicians including, Okyeame Kwame, Amandzeba, Gyedu Blay Ambolley, among others, as African Union Campaign Ambassadors.
In 2016 and 2020, he recited the poems ‘Toy Soldier’ and ‘Love Ghana’ respectively at Peace Pact Ceremonies in Accra where presidential candidates of various political parties pledged their commitment to peace before, during and after the general election.
Other Engagement
Mr Okine is a trained broadcast journalist and has written poems and plays for Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) radio and television, where he was exposed to the rudiments of broadcast journalism.
He has written two books titled: ‘Deep Thoughts from Within’ and ’Fruits of a Harvest’ — a collection of poems he had recited and performed on radio from 1983 to 2010.”
As an Elocution Expert, he holds workshops for Radio and TV presenters in correct pronunciation of English words and has contributed articles to local and international journals.
He advises young artistes to produce timeless music, be mindful of lyrics and take advice from professionals in the industry.
By Ernest Nutsugah
The Member of Parliament for Nsawam Adoagyiri, Frank Annoh Dompreh, has expressed concern over delays in the release of the District Assemblies Common Fund, warning that the situation is stalling development across the country.
On his facebook page, he described as a matter of urgent national importance, the Minority Chief Whip pointed to what he sees as a growing crisis of unpaid contractors, abandoned projects, and halted infrastructure works in many districts.
He noted that several communities are grappling with half completed schools, unfinished health facilities, abandoned markets, deteriorating roads, and stalled sanitation projects.
According to him, many contractors who have executed projects for district assemblies have not been paid, forcing some construction firms to demobilise from sites while workers lose their jobs.
He stressed that the District Assemblies Common Fund is not a discretionary allocation but a constitutional requirement under Article 252 of the 1992 Constitution, intended to support development at the local level.
In his view, years of delayed releases and accumulated arrears have weakened district development financing and disrupted projects meant to improve living conditions in communities.
He further argued that some payments made in recent years were largely the settlement of old debts rather than funding for new or ongoing projects, a situation he believes has affected contractor confidence and local economic activity.
He described the issue as more than a budgetary challenge, characterising it as a development emergency and a governance concern.
He therefore urged the appropriate authorities to pay outstanding DACF arrears, settle contractors who have completed their work, and ensure that transfers to districts are automatic and predictable.
He maintained that decentralisation can only succeed when district assemblies receive adequate and timely funding to carry out development projects.
He emphasised that stalled projects directly affect ordinary citizens, since they rely on such infrastructure for education, healthcare, transportation, sanitation, and economic activities.
He called for renewed attention to grassroots development, insisting that national progress should not be concentrated only in major cities but extended to all communities.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Richard Appiah, the footballer who killed two children and stored part of their bodies in a fridge at Abesim in the Bono Region in 2021 has been handed a lifetime sentence.
This was after a five member panel of judges at the Accra High Court returned a verdict of guilty against the convict.
Appiah, 32, also a draughtsman would spend the rest of his life in prison after he was convicted of murder.
More more more
BY MALIK SULLEMANA
