Veteran Ghanaian gospel musician Bernice Offei is scheduled to be laid to rest on Saturday, November 14, 2026, at the Legon Interdenominational Church (LIC) in Legon, Accra, where her funeral activities will be held. The funeral programme will begin with a remembrance night on Wednesday, November 11, ahead of the burial service and final funeral rites on Saturday, November 14.
The remembrance night is scheduled to begin at 7:00 pm, with guests expected to be seated by 6:30 pm. On Saturday, the filing past will take place from 7:00 am to 9:00 am, followed by the burial service from 9:00 am to 11:00 am. The interment will be held privately, while the final funeral rites will take place at the church after the burial service. A thanksgiving service will follow on Sunday, November 15, at 10:30 am at the same venue. The funeral announcement also states that there will be no sitting after the memorial service.
Background
Bernice Offei passed away on Saturday, September 12, 2026, aged 63, after spending several decades making significant contributions to Ghana’s gospel music industry. Her death was announced by fellow gospel musician Nii Okai and subsequently confirmed by music producer and former manager Kwasi Ernest. Her passing came less than two weeks after she was reported missing in Accra on September 1. She was later found, bringing relief to her family and members of the public who had joined efforts to locate her.
Kwasi Ernest disclosed that the veteran musician had been living with dementia for approximately five years before her death. According to him, the condition affected her memory and her ability to perform everyday activities. Offei earned widespread recognition for gospel songs such as Life Is Short, Hold On and Kaa She Gbeyei, which endeared her to audiences across Ghana and beyond.
Her contributions to the country’s gospel music scene received national recognition at the 2009 Ghana Music Awards, where she won Best Female Vocal Performance and Songwriter of the Year. She leaves behind a lasting musical legacy, with songs and contributions that touched lives and inspired generations of gospel music lovers in Ghana and beyond.
