Obaa Yaa Grace Ashly, simply called Grace Ashly, has spoken about some of the behind-the-scenes moments for her legendary cheer songs for the Black Stars.
“Whenever we received the list of players to play, we would pray against casualties, chaos, disabling injuries, and those things.
"At the end of the day, our deep desire was for the team’s victory,” the star singer revealed, having noted she and her team used to add fasting to their prayer routines for Ghana’s national senior male football team.
Speaking to Nana Romeo on Accra 100.5 FM’s Ayekoo Ayekoo, Grace Ashly said her “witness” was Roland Ackah, alias Roro Buddy, “the [sound] engineer”.
She admitted the Black Stars did not win a cup during her stint recording cheer songs for them.
“We were not disgracing ourselves by poor performances on the field as it is today, however,” she added.
While she was active, it was normal, she indicated, for pastors to call her amidst a congregation, using her “as a point of contact” while supplicating for the success of the Black Stars.
“[Apostle Francis] Amoako Attah, [Rev Yaw] Owusu-Ansah and others were fond of that – and we saw positive results,” the Gospel star noted. “They’d pray to God against injuries and for victory for the Black Stars players.”
Obaa Yaa Grace Ashly intimated this was one of the secrets behind the past glorious performances of the Black Stars.
“They were receiving strength to perform from all these spiritual interventions but relying on your own strength will fail you,” she said.
She recalled Gospel music mates such as “Minister OJ, Great Ampong, and others, were all in my first music video [cheering on the Black Stars – it fostered unity.
“I always say, supporting the Black Stars is the only thing in this country that does not discriminate on any grounds.”