Akesse Brempong
Akesse Brempong, also known by his stage name Phil Evans Akesse-Brempong, is a young, talented worship leader, songwriter, preacher, and gospel recording artist who specializes in a distinctive fusion of traditional and modern musical genres.
Akesse, the second of four children born to Ghanaian parents Gina and Peter Opoku Ababio in 1984, has three other siblings named Ruth, Anita, and Manuel. He remembers his early years in Kumasi’s suburb of Ahinsan with nostalgia. He recalls receiving thunderous ovation when singing “While the deer pants for the water” in church on children’s day.
Through his time in high school at Kumasi High School, where he experienced a conversion, Akesse’s passion in music and the arts maintained. The young Akesse dedicated himself to the study of the word and to music, anxious to learn what God had placed inside of him. He quickly progressed to become the music director of Shalom Singers, the music ministry of the Scripture Union – KUHIS Chapter, as well as the president of the Pentecost Students and Associates (Pensa-KUHIS).
After finishing high school, Akesse joined Voice of the Spirit, a group of young music ministers, because he was passionate about discovering more of what God had placed within of him. Atta Boafo, the then-music director, taught Akesse how to perform (now an award-winning gospel recording artist based in the UK). He took over from Atta Boafo as the group’s music director and oversaw the recording of the group’s debut album, “Soro Nyansa,” which is translated as celestial wisdom.
The youngest praise and worship leader at his church, Pentecost International Worship Centre-Kumasi, at the time was Akesse. He was also the deputy music director of “Heavenly Gems,” the youth ministry’s music department. Then, he began composing, orchestrating, and instructing songs for his home church.
As the music director of King’s Praise the Music ministry of PENSA-KNUST, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in communication design, Akesse again pioneered the production of the group’s debut album, “Mensuro,” which included some of his own writings.
Collaborations between Akesse and artists like Atta Boafo and Mathew Sarpong have taken place. Songs like Yesore wo, “Cant ever stop praising,” “Mensuro,” “Closer Walk,” and his most recent single, “Crazy Love,” are among his accomplishments. Songs in the Night, his debut album, is currently being recorded by him.
Bebe Winans, Deitrick Haddon, the late Danny Nettey, Josh Laryeah, Nii Okai, and many others influenced him greatly. Akesse now fellowships at the Pentecost International Worship Center Kaneshie – Accra, where he continues to lead worship and direct music. “My passion is to see the presence of God break loose in our church services and have a direct impact on our way of life,” he says.
Benedicta Akesse-Brempong is Akesse’s wife. He wishes to remain a carrier of God’s presence and a mouthpiece for God. “I am a soldier of the cross and a truck headed for God’s ‘where-house,'” he says.