Enter Ernestina With ?Mesi Wo Hen?

For someone who is in charge of the music department of Latter Rain Family Chapel International at Anaji, a suburb of Takoradi, it does not come as surprise that Ernestina Akosua Koney has released her debut album.

To think that her role model is top gospel songstress Amy Newman whom she calls ?mummy? only to confirms that Ernestina has all the backing she needs in the field she has chosen.

She told this reporter that though she has been singing for about 10 years, she was waiting on the Lord to come out with her own album.

Listening to the songs, this reporter understood what Ernestina meant what she said, ?I don?t just sing, I quote scriptures,? as this reflects in almost all her songs.

In a powerful reggae vein, she opens the album which has 10songs on CD and eight on cassette with ?Jehovah Jireh? singing praises to the almighty ...?Lord you reign form the east to west, Lord you reign from the north to south, Lord you reign forever, forever? and fades out with the chorus ?May your Kingdom be established in our hearts.?

?Train My Soul? follows a very appropriate song for anyone in distress. Ernestina?s voice and those of her backing vocalists are very soothing and stand a good chance of lifting the downhearted.

The praises continue in ?Magnify?, the third song on Side A of the album which has the potential of rubbing shoulders with the big names in the industry. Ernestina sings with so much passion and it is obvious that it comes from deep within her as she magnifies her maker.

Ernestina switches from English and comes in with ?Osor Ntokura? meaning heavenly windows in Fanti. With this typical Fanti song which is an old piece and very popular she calls on the Heavenly Father, to send forth His Blessing from above. In an expectant mood she asks, ?when are you coming? We are expecting you.?

It is dancing time when the flipside opens with ?Me Nyame?. This song has great instrumentation making it quite difficult to listen to it without moving one?s body. She encourages all not to despair as Christ fought and finished it all on the cross, ?we are all victorious as a result of the blood that was shed.?

The pace is slowed once again in ?Ebesi Me Yie? which can be summarized, ?If God be for us who can be against us?? Here Ernestina really pours herself out and encourages all to be steadfast in the lord saying she believes that it will be well for everyone, out and encourages all to be steadfast in the Lord saying she believes that it will be well for everyone.

Praise, honour and adoration are all poured onto God in ?Me Si Wo Hen?. The beautiful songstress sings her heart out as she makes God the king of her heart. Listening to the lyrics one cannot help but agree with Ernestina that indeed the Lord should be king of everyone?s heart considering his faithfulness to mankind.

Ernestina aptly closes the album with another very popular song ?Jesus Me Gyefo?.

Is Ernestina shaken by the fact that there are too many gospel artistes in the country? ?Not in the least, it is God who raises man, the competition maybe keen but I am not shaken?.

She called on all Ghanaians to encourage gospel artistes and urged all Christians to be word based to make us established in the Lord so we may not go astray, ?it possible for us to be ruptured.?

Ernestina, who is also a business woman with Nextwave Ltd, comes from Ashanti Region and Ahanta in the Western Region. She is married to Eric Abam Koney and they are blessed with two children.

Her husband, she says preaches the word and is in charge of instruments and general sound at Latter Rain, making him very supportive of her.

To the many gospel music enthusiasts who have fallen in love with music already, Ernestina says the best is yet to come as another one is already.