Award-winning Ghanaian gospel musician Obaapa Christy has called on Ghanaians to celebrate and appreciate her contributions while she is still alive rather than waiting until after her death.

Speaking at the launch of her maiden headline concert, Royal Praise, at the Alisa Hotel in Accra, the veteran singer emphasized that recognition should come in real time and not be reserved for posthumous tributes.

According to her, many musicians dedicate their lives to inspiring and serving people through their craft, yet their efforts often go unnoticed until they pass away.

“People should celebrate me now. They shouldn’t wait until I retire or leave this world before appreciating what I have done,” she stated.

Obaapa Christy also addressed what she described as a common perception in the music industry that veteran artistes should step aside after many years of service. She rejected that notion, stressing that gospel music is a divine calling rather than a profession with an expiration date.

The gospel star argued that experienced musicians deserve to be honoured and celebrated while they are still active and able to enjoy the recognition they have earned.

Her remarks come as she prepares for the Royal Praise concert, an event she hopes will bring believers together in worship while marking another significant milestone in her over two-decade career in gospel ministry.

Although she acknowledged that headlining such a major event has come later than expected, Obaapa Christy said she remains grateful and believes the timing is part of God’s plan.

She explained that the idea for the concert was conceived years ago and was initially intended to be launched shortly after her 20th anniversary celebrations. However, she believes God’s timing ultimately prevailed.

“As Christians, we believe in God’s timing. Even though we had planned this long ago, God has made a way for us to launch and host Royal Praise this year,” she said.