Biography Of Obour
Bice Osei Kuffour (born November 17, 1981) is a Ghanaian hiplife musician better known as Obour, which means “stone” in Akan. He is the immediate past president of the Musicians Union of Ghana, an umbrella organization that represents all musicians in Ghana, regardless of genre. Bice Osei Kuffour ran as a parliamentary candidate in the NPP primaries for the Asante Akyem South Constituency.
He was later appointed secretary of the NPP 2020 Campaign Ashanti Region Advertising Committee. Obour graduated from the University of Ghana, the US International Visitor Leadership Program, the Aspen Global Leadership Network, and the African Leadership Initiative of West Africa.
In 2008, President J. A Kufuor awarded him the State Grand Medal of Honour, making him the youngest recipient. He is a social activist who also serves as the National Road Safety Ambassador, the World Health Organization Tuberculosis Ambassador, and the British Council and Forest Commission of Ghana Climate Change Ambassador. He is the president and founder of the Christiana Addo Memorial Foundation in Asante Akyem, which promotes education, sanitation, personal cleanliness, and youth development. He was appointed Acting Managing Director of Ghana Post by President Nana Akufo-Addo on December 22, 2021.
Life and Career
Obour was born on November 7, 1981, in “Braha Bebu Me” (Dekyemenso), Ashanti Region, to Christiana Addo and Reverend B. O. Kuffour. Obour began playing several drums, particularly the Atumpan, in the Juaso-Ashanti Akyem chief’s palace, where his father presided, when he was six years old. Obour attended several schools, including the State Experimental School in Kumasi, the Soul Clinic School in Accra, Garison Junior Secondary School in Burma Camp, and Mfantsipim School in Cape Coast.
After finishing secondary school, Obour sought assistance from his London-based cousin, J. Amano, who connected him with his own Soul Records label. He then released Atentenben, which received three Soul Records honors at the Ghana Music honors in 2002, including Video of the Year. This, along with other label songs, earned Soul Records Record Label of the Year honors. In 2002, the same video received Best of Our Music Awards (OMA).
He was already a celebrity when he enrolled at the University of Ghana in 2002 to study Sociology and Music as a member of Commonwealth Hall (Vandal City). [10] [11] The single “Nana Obour” from his second album, Dondo, had previously appeared on Soul Records’ Adakamo compilation album. Dondo also included iconic songs like “Mesoodae” and “Palm Wine”. “Nana Obour” won Best Video at both the Ghana Music Awards and the Ghana Music Awards UK in 2003.
In 2005, he opened a tavern in Osu and a music production firm named Family Tree Entertainment.
Obour has spearheaded various national initiatives due to his positive and educational lyrics. He received five awards at the 2005 Ghana Music Awards. His discography includes Atentenben, Akademua, Dondo, Atumpan, President Obour, and Fontomfrom. He recorded a duet CD with A. B. Crentsil titled The Best of the Lifes. Obour’s 2004 album Obour.com[13] included the smash single “Konkontiba”. [14] He released a socially aware record and project, One Ghana Peace Project/Obour for President, in advance of the 2008 general election. He went on to launch a nationwide peace campaign. The African Leadership Initiative chose Obour and 12 other young leaders to train with the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
The British Council designated him as its climate change ambassador, and he served in that role from 2008 to 2010.
He is the Musicians Union of Ghana’s immediate past president, Ghana’s National Tuberculosis Ambassador, Road Safety Ambassador, Executive Icon of Youth Icons Africa, and the British Council’s Climate Change Champion. He serves on a number of executive and advisory boards, including the International Federation of Musicians’ executive committee, the University of Ghana School of Performing Arts advisory board, the National Commission on Culture, the National Folklore board, and the Ghana Music Rights Organisation board. He served as executive director of the Ghana Tourism Booster Project from 2016 to 2017.
Obour and his siblings founded the Christiana Addo Memorial Foundation in 2017 to support residents of the Ashanti Region’s Asante Akyem South constituency. He became increasingly interested in the constituency’s activities when Chiefs and many youth groups approached him about representing them as a Member of Parliament.
In January 2021, he cut off his dreadlocks, which he had grown for nearly two decades. The dreadlocks, which were longer than waist length, were removed since he was taking a hiatus from music and needed a fresh appearance to relaunch himself.
Political Career
Obour’s political ambitions began in January 2020, when he formally declared his candidacy for the New Patriotic Party’s parliamentary primary (NPP). He ran as the NPP candidate for the Asante Akim South constituency, but was defeated by the incumbent MP, Kwaku Asante Boateng. Obour received 32.86% (280 votes), while Mr. Boateng won with 61.27% (522 votes).
In the 2024 NPP parliamentary primaries, incumbent MP Kwaku Asante Boateng defeated the former president of MUSIGA.
Managing Director at GhanaPost
Bice Osei Kuffour (Obour) was appointed by the President of Ghana Nana Akufo-Addo on December 22, 2021, as the Acting Managing Director of GhanaPost.
Kindly listen to the music and download it from here.
- ADANSEFOƆ MMERƐ NO NIE – EPISODE 119
- ONENESS TO ETERNITY – Episode 88
- ADANSEFOƆ MMERƐ NO NIE – EPISODE 118
- ADANSEFOƆ MMERƐ NO NIE – EPISODE 117
- ADANSEFOƆ MMERƐ NO NIE – EPISODE 116
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