The Life and Journey of Gospel...
September 14, 2026
Stories and facts
Bernice Offei (25 February 1963 - 12 September 2026) was a Ghanaian gospel singer, banker, and academic whose career spanned over three decades.
Born in Accra and an alumna of Achimota School, she held an MPhil in Crop Science from the University of Ghana and an MSc in Information Technology from the UK. She began singing in 1979 while building a senior career at Standard Chartered Bank, releasing her debut album We Are Victors in 1991, followed by her breakthrough album Hold On that same year.
She went on to release six studio albums, known for songs like Hold On, Life Is Short, and Kaa She Gbeyei. She won Best Female Vocal Performance and Songwriter of the Year at the 2009 Ghana Music Awards for Life Is Short, and resigned from banking in 2016 to focus full-time on her ministry.
She was married to Prof. Samuel Kwame Offei, former Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, with whom she had two children. Her final days drew public attention when she was reported missing in Accra on 1 September 2026 and found safe 24 hours later, before passing on 12 September 2026 at age 63.
Key moments from her life and career are captured in the timeline below:
