Kojo Donkoh to be buried June 4

Veteran composer, music producer, arranger and keyboardist, Kojo Donkoh who died in Accra early last month after a short illness, will be buried tomorrow, June 4 at the Gethsemane Memorial Gardens at Shiashie in Accra. He was 81.

An accomplished producer, Kojo Donkoh was responsible for the famous Time for Highlife song which became a virtual highlife anthem across the country.

He went on to produce the Walatu Walasa and Mibe Shi Din albums for the Wulomei in 1975 and 1978 in addition to Dzadzeloi’s epic album Napoliata which had hits like Two Paddy Follow One Girl in 1978.

He also recorded the highlife classic Yefrefre which was the signature tune of the Ogyantana Show Band he founded in 1971. The group worked with Pat Thomas on songs like Mmbrowa and Yaa Amponsah.

Kojo Donkoh also worked with great Ghanaian acts like Ray Ellis, Ebo Taylor and the Uhuru Dance Band in addition to recording many choirs and brass bands. 

He was a member of the erstwhile Ghana Union of Producers and operated for many years under his own label, Agoro Records. 

According to MUSIGA’s First Vice President and Ghana Music Rights Organisation (GHAMRO) board member, Bessa Simons, Kojo Donkoh who was a diplomat before entering the music industry,  was a virtuoso keyboardist who had a unique style  hard to imitate. 

The late octogenarian was still working on music productions up till the time of his death and was in the process of recording a collection of hymns with Bessa Simons. 

In addition to the various highlife songs Kojo Donkoh produced, he also recorded numerous Presbyterian hymns.

The late veteran musician’s burial will be preceded by a service from 8.00am at the Accra Ridge Church. A thanksgiving service will be held for him on Sunday, June 5 at the same venue.

He is survived by a wife, Mrs. Victoria Donkoh and five children.