Ghanaian artiste and philanthropist, Kwame Nsiah-Apau, popularly known as “Okyeame Kwame” has received a United States Presidential Volunteer Service Award for outstanding humanitarian effort. The award was given to the Ghanaian rapper in recognition of his humanitarian efforts in Ghana through the Okyeame Kwame Hepatitis B campaign.
Kwame Nsiah-Apau received the prestigious award from the immediate past American president, Barrack Obama, on Sunday 19th March, 2017 in the city of Ohio, USA. The Award which is a plaque with an inscription, “Outstanding Humanitarian Service in Ghana”, was presented to him by Dr. Pauline Key, on behalf of the former president.
Since 2009, Okyeame Kwame has spearheaded and funded the screening, vaccination and sensitisation of over 7,000 beneficiaries against the deadly Hepatitis B disease in Ghana. This he did in partnership with MDS-Lancet Laboratories.
The artiste expressed his appreciation to President Obama for the honor and pledged to intensify his campaign towards ridding Africa of Hepatitis. Earlier this year, the OK management announced that plans were advanced to extend their Hepatitis activations to West African countries in the coming months.
The Presidential Service Award, the highest civilian honour is granted to US citizens and permanent residents for their voluntary community service towards development.
This is however, not the first time Okyeame Kwame has been honored in the US for his Hepatitis B campaign and humanitarian works. On 21th November 2016, he was given a key to the city of Cincinnati for this same cause. He also received an appointment as an iconic figure by the World Hepatitis Alliance.
Okyeame Kwame, born Kwame Nsiah Apau and nicknamed the Rap Doctor, is a 41-year-old multiple award winning Ghanaian musician, songwriter, creative director and entrepreneur. In music, Kwame specialized in Hiplife, Rap and Afro pop. He started his career in 1997 – 20 years ago.
Okyeame Kwame raps and sings mostly in Twi, a dialect of the Akan language of Ghana. His stage name ‘Okyeame’ which means “linguist (of the royal court)” in his native Akan, was actually meant to reflect his lyrical flow and smoothness. After winning Ghana Music Awards Artist of the Year in 2009, he declared himself “Best Rapper Alive”; sparking controversy with Obrafour, another Ghanaian rapper who feels he is better off.
Kwame developed interest in music right from childhood, ditching his parents choice for him to become a doctor and studying music and classical guitar and linguistics at the Kwame Nkrumah University; graduating with a BSc. in modern languages (Akan option). In 2015, he proceeded to the University of Ghana Business School where he grabbed a Master’s degree in Marketing Strategy.
In business, Okyeame Kwame owns a record label, One Mic Entertainment as well as Firm Bridges Communications, co-founded with his wife, Annica Nsiah-Apau. He is also a partner of Horseman Shoes, a shoe manufacturing company in Ghana.
He got married to Annica in 2009, and the marriage has produced two lovely kids – Sir and Sante, who have also fallen into line in their father’s rap business despite their young age.
Okyeame has really made a mark both in the field of entertainment and that of education as some of his rap lyrics are currently being studied in some tertiary institutions in Ghana.
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