Renowned Ghanaian songstress and patriotic Black Stars cheer songs composer, Grace Ashley, affectionately known as Obaa Yaa, has laid bare her long standing worry over lack of appreciation and recognition by the then Ghana Football Association (GFA) for her contributions to the Black Stars, which has left her and would-be composers demotivated.
The veteran gospel singer lamented over the fact that, contrary to what the public usually think, she did not get any support, materially or financially from the GFA for the production and promotion of the songs she composed for the national teams, even when she was promised of getting one.
According to her, she received virtually no support, recognition or appreciation of any kind from the FA [under the Kwasi Nyantakyi administration] despite prior assurances given by the FA. Grace Ashley noted, that she is still a patriotic citizen of the country and will always do what she can for the nation whereby her label and talent would be recognized. She stressed, that she could even train upcoming artistes to replace her even as she is nearing the end of her music career, but the lack of motivation, support and recognition has been a repelling force hindering others to get involved.
“We are still Ghanaians”, Grace Ashley started, speaking in exclusive interview with ghanasportspage.com. “We are still good patriotic people you used to know, but it is due to what is happened that is making what is happening happen”, she said, when asked whether she is ready to compose new songs for the Black Stars should the GFA come calling.
Grace Ashley continued by assuring of her readiness to do more for her country when the needed motivations are made available. “Even if it doesn’t happen to be me Obaa Yaa and assuming our patriotic citizens, if they are being appreciated for what they do to help, I’m sure by now, let’s assume that even Obaa Yaa is now old, so would have had more people she’s trained to be doing same today, but because of the bitterness aspect of it, the people are unable to come forward to do it”, she revealed.
In her submissions, the “Black Stars Mmere Nie”, Black Stars Fire, “Welcome Africa”, “Yene Black Stars Beko” composer maintained however, that she doesn’t want to be the only face of Black Stars cheer songs and wishes to have lots of upcoming artistes to train for her replacement for the future, but the lack of recognition, motivation and support from the GFA is making people discouraged from devoting themselves for it.
“I don’t want to be the face of it all, I don’t want to be the one doing it every time, but those who will devote themselves to do that thing, my dear, they are not available. So as for me, if they (the GFA) realize today that, we’ve seen that you can do the job so come and do it, why not? That is what I said from the beginning that, it is something we are expecting them to tell us to do, unlike previously when we killed ourselves so much [for nothing], that is what we have stopped. Whereby they will recognize our label, whereby they will recognize the talent, whereby they will recognize the motivation spirit that rests in us, we are always ready”, she concluded.
Touching on the new GFA president, Mr. Kurt Edwin Simeon Okraku’s “Bringkbackthelove” campaign, the melodious and passion ignition football cheer songs composure revealed her readiness to compose an impactful song to support the vision, but she was never contacted by any GFA front line official, and she had to revert back to her shelves back in Germany where she’s based.
Stick to ghanasportspage.com for later publication of the full exclusive interview with Grace Ashley.
