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Former President Jerry John Rawlings has paid glowing tribute to the deceased veteran Ghanaian musician Jewel Ackah who passed on Friday evening.

Rawlings in a tweet on Saturday acknowledge Jewel Ackah for the popularity of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the country through his musical compositions.

“You made a significant contribution to the Ghanaian music industry,” the former president and founder of the NDC said. “Your danceable tunes are immortalised in the NDC, helping to catapult its name across the country. Ghana has indeed lost a jewel. Fare thee well Jewel Ackah. Sincere sympathies to the family,” he added.

The famed highlife artiste suffered a stroke among other sicknesses for the past ten years but died on Friday evening. Jewel Ackah was one of the many musicians who popularized highlife music in the 1980’s and 199’0s. His sweet voice and enticing Fante Lyrics made him an exceptional artist. After years in the highlife scene, he found Christ and shifted to gospel music in the late 1990’s.

Some of his songs include ‘Asomdwoe Hene,’ ‘Jesus’, ‘Manye Yie,’ among others.

He is credited with the composition of the NDC’s anthem which is considered as a symbol of unity for the party.

Mr Ackah had also been very instrumental in the composition of other songs for the party especially in the run-up to elections.