Kwesi Ernest, CEO of Media Excel and former manager of gospel veteran Bernice Offei, has revealed that the singer lived with dementia for nearly five years before her passing.
In a phone interview with Max TV on Monday, September 14, 2026, Kwesi Ernest explained that the degenerative disorder slowly unravelled her sense of place and contributed to the 63 year old singer’s disappearance, a week before news of her death.
“For about four or five years now, our mother had some challenges in terms of dementia. We all know that if someone is battling dementia, he or she becomes disoriented,” he said. “She left home for a while, and it became difficult for her to find her way back.”
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The music executive explained that a search for Bernice Offei proved futile, prompting the family to issue a public notice to raise awareness.
“So the family decided to put out the missing alert to seek help in locating her after their search did not yield success. That is why the news of her disappearance emerged on social media,” he added.
Bernice Offei was eventually found and taken straight to the hospital. He recalled that she appeared in good condition at first, but her health collapsed during the medical checkup. By Saturday morning, the voice that had carried gospel music into countless homes was gone.
“She was found in good health. They didn’t take her home. They took her directly to the hospital for a medical check-up, but it was during that time that her condition worsened and led to her death,” Ernest said.
Recounting his work routine, Kwesi Ernest, who has managed leading gospel acts such as Stella Dugan, DSP Kofi Sarpong and Joyce Blessing, paid tribute to Bernice Offei. He described the late musician as a woman of discipline and deep faith who lived according to the values expressed in her songs.
He noted that the late Bernice Offei established herself as a central figure in Ghanaian gospel music over several decades, earning respect from fellow artists and admiration from fans. Her voice and ministry influenced a generation of worshippers in Ghana and extended her impact across the wider African gospel community.