Highlife legend Ofori Amponsah has shared fresh insight into the moment that transformed his music career and pushed him toward his unforgettable success at the 2006 Vodafone Ghana Music Awards. That year, he dominated the event with seven wins, including the top honour of Artiste of the Year — a feat that remains one of the biggest award show highlights in Ghanaian music.
Speaking on Hitz FM, the musician reflected on the difficult path that led him there. He noted that breaking through in an era dominated by celebrated icons such as Daddy Lumba and Kojo Antwi was far from easy. Even when his hit track “Asew” earned six nominations at the 2001 VGMAs, he left the ceremony without a single trophy. What should have been a celebratory night instead became a harsh reminder of how competitive the industry was.
Rather than allowing the disappointment to hold him back, the experience pushed him into a new level of determination. He went back to refine his craft, writing and recording more music that would eventually reshape his career trajectory.
That renewed effort paid off years later when “Otoolege” emerged as the song that swept the awards in 2006. Although “Asew” remains the track he personally considers his greatest and deserving of accolades, he acknowledged that the heartbreak from losing earlier motivated even greater success — proving that setbacks can sometimes lead to bigger rewards.
