The rise in divorce among ministers of God is gradually getting rampant in the local gospel industry.
Though, it is believed that God does not favor divorce, viewing marriage as a permanent, divinely-sanctioned bond, divorce is fast rising among gospel musicians who are preaching Christ through music.
This has made many to question whether their divorce is due to fame or their unwillingness to submit to their spouses.
Below are the Gospel singers in Ghana who are divorced:
1. Selina Boateng
Selina is the latest musician who has joined the list of gospel musicians who are divorced. Though, she did not reveal the reason for her break up with her husband but her recent interviews suggest that she married without knowing her husband well.
She stated that she married Isaac Berchie through recommendation from her mother who is in the same church with her ex in December 2019. The couple recently broke up and Selina had confirmed that in a recent interview.
2. Ohemaa Mercy
Ohemaa was married to Isaac Twum Ampofo, who was also her manager while they were married. She revealed that her decision to divorce her husband, was guided by divine confirmation from God to fully embrace her calling in ministry. This sparked debate among Ghanaians with critics condemning her stance.
The couple were married in October 2002 and had been together for several years before deciding to part ways.
3. Joyce Blessing
She was happily married to her former manager, Dave Joy and released many hit tracks under his management. But, it did not rain nor shine when social media went haywire following their divorce in 2020.
Joyce Blessing and her husband’s marriage hit the rocks following reports of infidelity among the two, on her part with her gym instructor and on Dave’s part with Joyce Blessing’s publicist. Their marriage, which produced three children, ended amid public discussions and controversies, including allegations of affairs and social media account theft.
4. Empress Gifty
Formerly known as Gifty Osei, she divorced her former husband, Prophet Elisha Osei, after more than a decade of marriage, a separation she stated was finalized in 2016.
She initially resisted the divorce because she had portrayed her marriage as perfect to friends and family, but ultimately agreed after her husband threatened her. Empress Gifty is now happily married to Hopeson Adorye, a politician and deemed her divorce as a blessing since she has had many career opportunities including hosting the United Showbiz and U Cook.
5. Obaapa Christy
Obaapa Christy’s marriage to Pastor Love Kweku Hammond collapsed in the late 2000s, with their divorce being finalised in 2011.
The public split was marked by allegations of infidelity from Pastor Love, irreconcilable differences and claims of physical and emotional abuse from Obaapa Christy.
Pastor Love at a point cursed his ex-wife and claimed she failed to give him due recognition for writing songs for her, an allegation Obaapa who was formerly known as Christina Love debunked.
6. Ernest Opoku
The journey between Ernest Opoku Jnr. and his ex-wife Hadassah, began in 2014, when both exchanged their marital vows. However, the marriage hit a rocky patch three years later.
This unfortunate turn of events was believed to be the result of Hadassah’s decision to heed the influence of gossip, as disclosed by the gospel musician.
They have a full grown daughter who is above 20 years old. Though Hadassah resides in the US with their daughter, Ernest has a cordial relationship with her.
7. Diana Hopeson
Born Diana Botchway, the former Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) president made a name for herself as Diana Akiwumi after releasing her first album If Jesus Says Yes in 1991.
She married Reverend Samuel Akiwumi, an Assemblies of God pastor, in 1990 when she was barely 21 years old and took his name. Seven years after their marriage, the couple divorced.
Diana, who is now married to Reverend Emmanuel Hopeson, shared in an interview that her first husband had bipolar disorder, which affected their union.
8. Esther Smith
In 2008, Esther Smith divorced her former husband, Rev. Ahenkan Bonsu, after four years of marriage. She controversially claimed he was having an affair with their house help and accused him of beating her.
At the time of the divorce, she was reportedly in Germany to deliver their third child and has been living abroad for the last decade.
9. Agnes Opoku Agyemang
Agnes Opoku Agyemang was once married to Pastor Cudjoe of Fire Chapel in Kumasi. After their marriage ended unceremoniously, she remarried in 2019, nine years later.
She revealed that her then-husband married another woman while still married to her, leading to their divorce.
10. Abena Serwaa Ophelia
Formerly known in the music industry as Ophelia Nyantakyi, the gospel singer was married to Collins Nyantakyi. The stylish artiste changed her name after their marriage ended.
She confirmed her divorce while unveiling her new name ahead of her 20th-anniversary celebration as a musician in 2017.
