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50 years as a singing group is a very laudable achievement. And it hasn’t been only singing. They have travelled all over Ghana to schools, churches and communities, singing and sharing the word of God. They have ministered in the West African sub-region, parts of Europe and the USA with streams of spirit-filled songs laced with the word of God. They are the Joyful Way Incorporated. Their joyful songs have brought smiles upon millions and millions of faces, led people to Christ and changed lives.
“It all began around October 1971 with a thought that was deeply impressed on the heart of Rev Prof Emmanuel Lartey to form a contemporary gospel music group, while he was praying in the Lower Dormitory Prefects room of Balmer-Acquaah House in Mfantsipim School,” said Mr Samuel Ewool, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Joyful Way Incorporated. This thought brought a
group of teenage students together to establish, “Noise of Joy” involving students from Mfantsipim and Wesley Girls High School. “Around the same time, The Evangels, The Hopefuls and Calvary Victory Voices had also begun as separate gospel music groups involving other students from Mfantsipim, Adisadel College and Wesley Girls High School,” said Mr Ewool. The four groups eventually merged on the 15th January, 1972, to form what we know today as the Joyful Way Incorporated.
Speaking at a media launch of the 50th anniversary celebrations of the group on the 26th January, 2022, in Accra, Mr Ewool said that “guided by a single-minded mission to proclaim the gospel of salvation through the redemptive work of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Group used and continues to use contemporary music as its major tool of evangelism.”
The Group has visited several Senior High Schools, churches and villages preaching Christ and impacting several lives. Theirs has been a story of watering the lands with streams of songs, sharing the Word and the goodness of the Lord by engaging in counseling and offering humanitarian activities such as health screening, medical services, donations and financial support.
Joyful Way Incorporated has over the past 50 years produced 15 albums with over 120 songs recorded on these albums. “Many of these songs, such as Jesus Thank You, Osee Yie, Begye Wo Ayeyi, Osabarima, Wonjie Oyi, I’ve Found It, Never Give Up, Barima Yesu, W’ahenni To Rentwa and Guanhwefo, have become part of the traditional praise and worship repertoire of the Church in Ghana,” said Mr Ewool. He noted with joy that the lyrics of these songs had brought hope, restoration and joy to many hearts here in Ghana and abroad.
The Chairman of the Board announced that an array of activities had been planned throughout the year to mark the 50th milestone which has been themed: JOYFUL WAY AT 50 – OUR STORY, IMPACT AND LEGACY.
He said that there would be internal and external conferences as well as discussions on issues that border on the gospel music ministry. He said that there would be school concerts, crusades, the launch of a history book, song book, video documentaries and the launch of a 50th Anniversary Music Album. Other activities lined up are the commissioning of legacy projects, a Thanksgiving and Fundraising Dinner, a Thanksgiving Service and their flagship programme “Explosion of Joy” concert on the 26th of December 2022.
The Chief Executive Officer of Citi FM and TV, Mr Samuel Attah-Mensah, who was the MC for the occasion, asked the youth to keep the fire of Joyful Way Incorporated, burning so that the next 50 years can also be celebrated in grand style.
