Alvin M. Keeling 
Minister of Works and Housing, Francis Asenso-Boakye
The Minister of Works and Housing, Francis Asenso-Boakye, hinted that his membership in a youth choir was terminated due to a bad voice sung in his youth.
Singing in a choir was a dream he had always hoped to come true, according to Asenso-Boakye. However, after successfully joining one, his membership was short-lived.
“As a member of the Methodist Church, I have always enjoyed watching the choirs sing, especially when the choir members work in the chapel.
“As I continued to enjoy this since my childhood, I tried to be part of the choir, but one day the conductor told me not to come back to rehearse because my voice was not good for it. to sing.
“I knew I didn’t have a good voice, so I succumbed to his instructions,” he said.
The minister, who is also a member of parliament for Bantama constituency in Ashanti region, noted that his dismissal from the choir had not stifled his interest in choral music.
However, with his interest still in it, Mr. Asenso-Boakye said he was motivated to create the Bantama Youth Choir to “engage the youth of the constituency in worthwhile activities”.
He made the revelation during the inauguration of the Bantama Youth Choir on the sidelines of a festival of nine lessons and songs, a program which was held on Saturday, December 11, 2021, at the AT Nartey assembly in the Church of Pentecost in Bantama.
The MP believes the good training he received in Sunday School and the Methodist Church Boys’ Brigade as a child and youth has helped shape his life better for the challenges and responsibilities of his career and his entire life today.
In light of this, he founded the Bantama Youth Choir to transform the singing talents of young people into skills and train them to be resourceful so that they can contribute to national development as well as uphold strong Christian values among young people.
He said he wanted to make the Bantama Youth Choir a vibrant and internationally recognized vocal group that will perform on global stages like the Soweto Choir and the Winneba Youth Choir do.
The program was honored with the presence of the second lady of Ghana, Samira Bawumia, as guest of honor. She was accompanied by the Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah; Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Kessben Group, Mr. Kwabena Kesse and Member of Parliament for Asokwa, Patricia Appiagyei.
Ghana’s Second Lady Samira Bawumia speaking at the event
Others were the CEO of Jeshop Construction, Mr. James Osei Brown and the Kumasi Metro Manager of Urban Ing. Nana Poku Agyeman; Nzema chief and businessman, Nana Nkansah Boadu; Philanthropist and CEO of Beauty Queen Hotels, Nana Adwoa Dokuaa and former Ghanaian Ambassador to China, Edward Edward Boateng.
The others were the CEO of Prefos Ltd, Mr. Alex Kwasi Fosu; Secretary General – Ghana Commission for UNESCO, Ama S. Nerquaye –Tetteh; Head of Legal CIB-Stanbic Bank Ghana Ltd., Chairman of the Board of Exim Bank and businessman, Mr. Boateng Gyamfi among a host of others.
The Bantama Youth Choir and a guest group, Celestial Evangel Choir, put on incredible performances that wowed and thrilled audiences on the program.
Audiences of the inauguration and the nine lessons and songs
A stunning performance by award-winning British Ghanaian singer, actress, producer and entrepreneur Dentaa Amoateng made you feel like you were listening to an opera singer at New York’s Beacon Theater.
