Diana Hamilton, a renowned Ghanaian gospel musician, has opened up on the inspiration behind her decision to establish a school project in Dodo-Tamale.
Diana recounted how a social media post by Adom FM presenter Afia Amankwah Tamakloe sparked her desire to make a difference in the lives of pupils in the community.
“One time I was scrolling through social media, Afia Amankwah Tamakloe had on her Instagram that there were some kids lying on the floor in school and they were writing on the floor and there wasn’t a classroom.”
Diana Hamilton
Moved by what she saw in Afia’s post, Diana asked for details of the location and later embarked on the project.
“I think they had an uncompleted building, and they were lying on the floor, no chairs, it wasn’t covered, and it was actually an attached building. It wasn’t completed, and I was really moved. So I called her, and I said, where is this? And she said to me, it’s somewhere in the Oti Region.”
Diana Hamilton
Diana’s team, although small, was determined to make a difference. She believed that it was time to focus on the people who truly needed support, particularly in the hinterlands.
Diana further stated that although she had done charity work in the past, they were in the cities, so going to a deprived community was a big inspiration.
Diana Hamilton commissioned a five-unit classroom block at the Dodo-Tamale Basic School in the Kadjebi District of the Oti Region a few days ago.
The sod-cutting took place in January 2022, and after nearly three years of development, the school building was completed in December 2024.
The Dodo-Tamale Basic School faced numerous challenges, including a lack of proper infrastructure, which hindered the learning experience for many children.
With the new classrooms, the school can now accommodate more students and reduce the teacher-to-student ratio, fostering a better educational atmosphere.
As a symbol of appreciation, the chiefs and people of Dodo-Tamale honored Diana Hamilton by enstooling her as the Nkosuohemaa (Development Queen Mother) for her dedication to community growth.
She has been given the stool name Nana Hemaa Adwoa Amponsah I.
Diana Hamilton on Music
The Ghanaian gospel musician shared her thoughts on the importance of authenticity in Gospel music, emphasizing that both the message and the messenger must align.
Diana Hamilton said in the world of gospel music, the person singing the song cannot be separated from the lyrics of the song. “With Gospel, the message and messenger have to be in sync,” Diana Hamilton said.
She also addressed the topic of secular musicians transitioning to gospel music, highlighting the need for genuine faith and conviction.
When asked if she had ever worked with secular artists on songwriting, Diana Hamilton replied in the negative.
“No, I haven’t been faced with that. God has gifted me with songwriting, and when you bring me a song, it has to sit well with me. It has to really hit me for me to say that these are mature Christians.”
Diana Hamilton
This comes on the back of conversations regarding Telecel Ghana Music Awards’ rule to make its gospel categories exclusive to mainstream gospel musicians. She said in religion, people would always want to guard their territories.
Diana Hamilton also spoke about her unique approach to songwriting, revealing that she often draws inspiration from her past experiences and songs. “God gives me those lines that I can fall back on another time,” she said.
In the meantime, Diana Hamilton is set for the Awake Experience 2025 at the ICGC Christ Temple on the 16th of February, 2025 at 4 pm. Tickets are selling for GHS 250 double, GHS 500 for a family of five, and GHS 120 for regular.
Other gospel ministers performing are Kwaku Tei, Team Eternity, and Kofi Owusu Preprah, among others. Subsequently, similar events will be held at Kumasi and Sunyani.
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