Afia Owusu-Forfie launches“Ngosra No Bubu Nkonnua”
US-based Ghanaian singer, composer and vocalist Afia Owusu-Forfie, last Friday outdoored “Ngosra No Bubu Nkonnua” the Twi version of an earlier album, “The Anointing Breaks The Yoke” released in November 2022.
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The event, streamed online, saw Ms Owusu-Forfie and other experts and guests delve into the issue of mental health.
Ms Owusu-Forfie, who is known for the philanthropic work she does with Coders Who Travel Inc. and Women Who Code- Accra, opened up about her journey and how God, through the Holy Spirit, saved her at the brink of death.
This wasn’t the first time she was opening up about this sensitive issue as she had already shared her journey at her first album launch.
The focus this time was to communicate and also share resources in Twi, her native language to reach more people.
The event was interspersed with song ministrations, Bible reading, poetry, statistics on mental health and how to support people living with different mental health conditions.
For Ms Owusu-Forfie, worshipping God and sharing her journey as testimony is to help empower people, particularly those going through different mental health conditions.
In her opening Psalm, she expressed gratitude to God for the grace to share her journey, while encouraging people with similar challenges.
“On June 23, 2018, God spoke the phrase: The Anointing breaks the yoke to me. And through the ministration of songs by His Holy Spirit and through the reading of His word and His Son Jesus Christ, I began singing new original songs beyond that day. In the beginning, I did not realise His power at work in me. But something told me to record these snippets of new songs on my phone if I was out and, on my laptop, if I was home.
“My prayer is that if there is anyone struggling with mental health issues or any manner of disease at all, that they would know the God of All Comfort,” she said.
In different presentations, mental health experts and advocates at the event explained that millions of people across the world were affected by mental illness each year with depression being the commonest.
They advised that family, friends and society must provide the needed support for people who showed signs of mental illness rather than stigmatising them or calling them names.
It was also highlighted that mental health challenges present in different forms and advised people to seek medical help.
The album is available on her website, theanointingbreakstheyoke.com and music streaming platforms.
Songs on the album are Ngosra No Bubu Nkonnua, Anka NyƐ Nyame!, Ɛhann No A ƐbayƐ No YƐ Nyame, Habakuk Eti MmeƐnsa: Kanyan W'Adwuma No Wɔ YƐn BerƐ Yi Mu, Luka Eti Dunnum: Adamfo Bi Nni Hɔ KyƐn Wo Yesu and Akoa Nnso NkyƐn Ne Wura.
Others are ƐdƐn Na Memfa Nyi W'AyƐ M'Awurade?, Adom MmerƐ No Aduru!, Yesu Reba Oo!, Sankubɔni Nnwom, Mateo Eti DummeƐnsa: Otwa BerƐ No So A and Mmɔho Mmɔho Mmienu.
Ms Owusu-Forfie is a Data Analytics Senior Consultant Practitioner at Deloitte Consulting LLP.
She is a trained Statistician, Operations Researcher and Computer Scientist and the founder of Coder’s Who Travel Inc. and Women Who Code- Accra.
She previously served as an Instructor and Adjunct Faculty at Coursera and the George Mason University. In July 2019, the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation invited and sponsored Ms Owusu-Forfie to be a panellist at the World Manufacturing Forum in Cernobbio, Italy.