His daughter, Hillary Yankson has shared a heartfelt and emotional tribute, reflecting on the profound impact of his death and her journey of healing since that tragic day.

She vividly recalls the Thursday when her father passed on, the same day her WASSCE results were released.

Excited by her success, she eagerly anticipated sharing the news with her father, who had promised her a surprise.

However, she delayed her visit, preoccupied with discussing the results with her friends, a mistake that cost her from witnessing her father’s final moments.

“”It was a Thursday, I remember. Our WASSCE results had just been released, and I realized I had passed. He had promised me a surprise if I passed, so I was very excited. That day, I was supposed to visit him at 10 am because he wasn’t feeling well, but I delayed. Around noon, I heard my mum and brother screaming my name. I ran out to meet them, only to hear that my dad was gone.”

Hillary, in series of tweets, revealed the shock and grief were immediate and overwhelming, causing her to feel as though she was losing her mind.

The physical pain of the loss was intense, and she remembers wanting to run into the streets.

The days following his death were filled with unbearable agony as she couldn’t eat, talk, or function normally because she struggled to accept the reality of her father’s passing.

“It was physical pain. I could feel my body shutting down. I wanted to tear my dress and run into the streets. I was going mad. I remember hitting my head against the wall and saying it wasn’t true. Because he was popular, I started receiving calls. At that point, my phone, which I was eagerly pressing before I heard about his death, looked like trash to me. I threw it away. I felt sick instantly, started throwing up, my temperature went up, and I started shaking terribly. My family had to hold me down because if they didn’t, I could have run into the streets and followed him.”

Hillary added that, she went through the stages of grief—denial, anger, bargaining, and depression and even now, seven years later, she is still working through acceptance.

However, with time, the support of her family and friends, and her faith, she has made progress in her healing journey.

“I had dreams with my father. A lot of them. They all didn’t happen. I was angry – a lot. I was angry at God. I kept asking why. I kept asking if my prayers really did anything. Now that I look back, I see how God held me close. If you’ve lost someone before, I want to tell you that it gets better. I promise you. The pain doesn’t go away. Every now and then, something will remind you of that person, and you’d feel that gap they left in you. But it gets better.”

Though she still experiences moments of intense grief, she finds solace in believing her father is in a better place and would want her to move forward with her life.

Benjamin Akono Kofi Yankson,, affectionately known as Paapa Yankson, was destined for greatness from the moment he drew his first breath.

Raised in a household filled with the melodious tunes of his father’s trumpet and his mother’s angelic voice, young Paapa’s love for music blossomed from an early age.

He often joined his mother in song during her household chores when he was barely a child.

He was the perfect descendant to continue his family’s musical genealogy, after his father, Benjamin Akono Yankson, who was a respected trumpeter with the Apam Brass Band, and his mother, Akua Doma, a trader by profession with sheer love for music as a member of the Christ Little Band of the Methodist Church.

Education

Like every child, Paapa Yankson’s parents wanted him to excel academically hence enrolled him into the Takoradi Methodist School for his primary education. Subsequently, he enrolled at the Ahantaman Secondary Commercial School where he honed his skills in stenography.

Despite his parents’ hopes for him to pursue a career in business, Paapa’s heart belonged to the world of music. This led him into the gates of the National Academy of Music, Winneba in 1975, where he read a diploma programme in music.

Career

Following his graduation, Paapa embarked on a journey into the working world, first as a stenographer at Kingsway Chemist for five years before landing another job at the African Timber and Plywood Company, a subsidiary of the United African Company (UAC), at Samreboi. At UAC, Paapa Yankson worked as a stenographer for the company for four years. Later, he took up a job as the music organizer at the Garrisons Education Unit, Burma Camp in Accra, where he worked for nine years- from 1982 to 1991.

Music life

While working at the plywood company, Paapa Yankson joined the internal band – The Big Sound Band – where he performed regularly after work.

During the solemn moment of his mother’s funeral, Paapa overcame his grief and performed a final tribute in her honour, a gesture that was the turning point of his life and musical greatness.

His musical talents caught the attention of C. K. Mann, a regional band leader, who recognized Paapa’s potential and invited him to join his band, which he gladly accepted.

After finding his feet in the music job in 1991, he received an invitation from businessman Mr Ebo Coker to help form the Western Diamonds Band in Takoradi. Paapa was put in charge of singing and directing. When the band became solid after two years, he left.

Afterwards, The Chief Executive Officer of the then Ashanti Goldfields Limited, Mr Sam Jonah, invited Paapa over to Obuasi to help form a band for the company. With his support, the Golden Nuggets Band was born and upon his request the band was moved from Obuasi to Accra. He played for the Nuggets till 1995 when he decided to go solo.

Breakthrough and award-winning songs

Ever heard the melodious Tena Men Kyen, Okukuseku and Otan Hunu, they are the classic albums that became a deal breaker in Paapa Yankson’s career in year 2002.

Paapa Yankson recorded two dozen albums during his career. His hit songs included Yaaba, Wiase Mu Nsem, Show Your Love, Woara Akofa Aba, Kokrokoo, Gyae Saa Ye, Mensu Medofo, Jealousy, Ebei and a tall list of other timeless soul-stirring songs.

These songs, he taught and performed in many countries across the world, including the United States, Canada, Belgium, United Kingdom, Germany, and Holland, Cote D’Ivoire, Nigeria and Benin.

Awards

In 1997 Yaaba won Best Composition at the Komkomba Awards

Paapa Yankson was awarded the Grand Medal of Ghana during the 2006 National Honours and Awards Ceremony by President John Agyekum Kufour, in recognition of his contribution to Ghanaian music

He was among the first recipients of the NHAC award after the ceremony was revamped in 2006.

He also won the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2017 Vodafone Ghana Music Awards.

Final years                                

Throughout his final years, Paapa Yankson continued to inspire with his music, even as his health declined. In 2016, he grew weaker and was confined to a wheelchair.

Despite his physical limitations, he remained a beacon of hope and resilience, performing from a wheelchair at events across the country.

He performed in a wheelchair at the Exclusive Men of The Year Awards in June and at the Bottles & Bands Festival in November 2016.

His last known performance was at the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards in 2017 where he was also awarded for his contribution to the Highlife genre and music industry as a whole.

Death

It is appointed unto man to die, and the last hour for the legend was on Friday, July 21, 2017. He reportedly died peacefully in his sleep at his home in Dansoman, Accra. He succumbed to his prolonged health battle at the age of 73.

He was survived by a wife, Mary Yankson, and five children (two daughters and three sons).

His passing marked the end of an era in Ghanaian music, but Paapa’s legacy lives on in the hearts of all who were touched by his melodies.

Burial

Paapa Yankson was honoured with a state funeral on Saturday, October 21.

Some dignitaries include President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo; Catherine Afeku, fornmer Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture; past presidents of the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA), Bice Osei Kuffour (Obour) and Sidiku Buari, Asiedu Nketia of the National Democratic Party (NDC) and Ahuma Bosco Ocansey (Daddy Bosco), an administrator at MUSIGA.

Some musicians at the event include Pat Thomas, Rex Omar, Yaw Sarpong, Daughters of Glorious Jesus, AB Crentsil.

Legacy

In the annals of Ghanaian music history, Paapa Yankson will forever be remembered as a trailblazer, a visionary, and a true ambassador of Ghanaian culture. His music transcended boundaries, his spirit soared above adversity, and his legacy will continue to inspire generations to come. The curtains may have closed on his remarkable life, but his music will echo through the ages.

Ghana Month on Adom is sponsored by Nkulenu Industries, Tasty Tom, Franko Trading Enterprise, and Obuase Bitters.

Countless number of people from the music fraternity, the arts industry, members of the general public, were there in their numbers to say bye to the high life legend.

As people file past the casket, not a lot of tears are shed nonetheless, perhaps an indication of a full life well lived by Paapa Yankson.

He will be remembered for contributing to the edification of souls with his voice and his music especially his impact on the current crop of new artistes in our music scene.

‘I am sad I couldn’t have an opportunity to work with him or make an acquaintance with him. The last time I saw him was at the VGMA’s this year. He pulled an amazing performance though in a wheel chair and said he was gonna do his last album but that couldn’t happen sadly.’ eShun shared sorrowful.

eShun mounted the stage with Veteran Musician Paulina Oduro and performed Papa Yankson’s ‘Tena Mekyen’ with Bessa Simone playing the Keyboard and Dan aka Shabo playing the Bass Guitar.

‘I couldn’t go cos I think he wasn’t my age mate. If it was a new artiste, I’m sure I would have been present,’ B4Bonah said when George Quaye asked him on Pundit on GHOne.

“I didn’t even know anything like that was going on; I’m being honest”, King Promise said. “I got the date missed up.” Was Nana Yaa’s responds to George Quaye’s question.

Some of the known faces at the funeral includes : President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo; Catherine Afeku, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture; Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) president, Bice Osei Kuffour (Obour); past President Sidiku Buari, Asiedu Nketia of the National Democratic Party (NDC) and Ahuma Bosco Ocansey (Daddy Bosco), an administrator at MUSIGA.

Some musicians at the event includes: Pat Thomas,Nana Fynn, Rex Omar, Yaw Sarpong, Daughters of Glorious Jesus,Abrantie Amakye Dede,Bessa Simone, AB Crentsil and others.

The late Paapa Yankson passed away after a short illness on July 21, 2017. He was 78.

On the day of the funeral, it was discussed on Peace 104.3 Fm’s entertainment show dubbed Entertainment review that, apart from Kofi Kinaata, no other young artiste was spotted at the funeral ground. The information that the young artistes didn’t show up was not entirely true. Aside Kofi Kinaata, High life musicians: eShun, Yaw Stone, Assanqoma and many others were also there to pay last respect to the legend.