When Hannah Marfo launched her musical career in 1993 with her maiden album ‘Gye Gye me’, she was instantly proclaimed the ‘Discovery of the Year’ by then Entertainment Critics and Reviewers Association of Ghana (ECRAG). She has not looked back since and continues to make waves in her chosen field.

Barely a decade after this prestigious recognition, Hannah’s tireless and rentless pursuits have earned her place in the top bracket in the national gospel realm. She has been consistent in her work and has shown a tremendous zest for hardwork. As of now she has released five albums.

At the moment, Hannah is in the studio putting finishing touches to her new album, ‘Adom’, which will be released next month.

Last Wednesday, she granted audience to The Mirror and was emphatic about her mission and vision in her musical career, “I am determined to carve a niche for myself and leave an indelible imprint on the minds of my admirers and all who listen to my songs,” she declared.

The Kumawu-born songstress, who was largely influenced by her late father’s role as the band manager of the Kumawu Catholic Band, started singing at the tender age of three.

She says she made an improvised microphone with corncob with a long thread attached to it and that was how she caught the attention of her father and other members of the group.

Her innovation proved worthy and by the age of six, she was opted into the Kumawu Catholic Band as one of the lead singers.

Hannah continued to sing with the group till she completed her basic education at the Kumawu Roman Catholic School in 1987.

Even though she relocated to Kumasi on completion of her education, she did not give up her dream to sing. Occasionally, she went home to perform with the Catholic Band as well as join other singing groups in Kumasi while pursing a vocational course.

Things started going bad for Hannah, and she had to withdraw from the vocational institute, as a result of serious financial constraints.

She opted to start afresh, and enrolled as an apprentice seamstress with a successful Kumasi dressmaker and completed her three-year apprenticeship.

While undergoing apprenticeship, she combined her work with singing and it was no wonder that just after she completed her apprenticeship she came out came out with her first album ‘Gye Me gye me’.

Hannah claimed the dressmaking business did not go the way she expected. She therefore had to abandon it and put all her energy and time into music.

She put her problems before the Almighty Father, through ceaseless prayers, and each time she prayed to God, He revealed the lyrics of her songs to her.

“Anytime I am about to come out with an album I pray and fast for thirty days and the results are overwhelming”.

She came out with her second album, ‘Yesu nti menka akyiri’, with the hit songs ‘Ahinta’. It was after the release of this album, produced by Despite Music that Hannah met her husband, then working with Kwame Despite.

Things started going well for the young woman who said Helena Rables, Naana Dan as well as Diana Akiwumi-Botchwey, were her contemporaries.

In 1996, she got married to Stephen Dwomoh who has since assumed the role of her manager.

Hannah believes God is using her to transform lives and sees herself as one of the soul-inspiring gospel musicians the country can boast of. She is one of the few gospel musicians who insist that her colleagues should not just sing for money but their lifestyles must harmonise with the ministry.

The 1994 ECRAG award winner said being a star is not an easy accomplishment but with the help of her husband, who has shown tremendous support for her, she is able to satisfactorily play the role of musician, a wife and mother.

Apart from music, Hannah and her husband have a shop in the heart of the capital where they sell Christian cassettes and compact disks.

Hannah is the fifth of 10 children born to Madam Theresa Dwira and the late Yaw Marfo, both farmers.

She was born on May 1, 1971 and maintains that music takes centre stage in everything she does.

She revealed that in the near future she hopes to open a studio to assist budding gospel musicians.

Hannah said Esther Nyamkye is her role model because of her God-fearing nature.

She has two children. Even though she was born a Catholic she now worships at the Holy Ghost Assemblies of God Church at Odorkor, Accra.

…And Husband, Stephen Dwomoh

Stephen Dwomoh is the husband and manager/producer of Hannah Marfo, the prolific gospel musician.

After their marriage in 1996, Stephen was entrusted with the responsibility to be the manager/producer of Hannah because of his vast experience in music producer of Hannah because of his vast experience in music production. He is in charge of his wife’s recording, programmes and promotion of her work. Since he was entrusted with that responsibility, he had performed creditably.

Stephen believes God is in control in all they do and that explains why the blessings keep flowing in their direction.

He was born on March 10, 1970 at Kwadaso, Kumasi, and taught briefly at the SEA Preparatory School in Kumasi before joining Despite Music. He was one of the pioneers who started work with Despite Music in Accra.

At the moment, he is the boss of Stena Music Production, located at UTC, Accra. He is the proud father of two children.