Ghanaian gospel artist Esther Smith recently opened up about a deeply personal and emotional chapter of her life during an interview with Nana Romeo on Accra FM on August 29, 2024.
She revealed that her life nearly ended before it began, as her mother, then a young schoolgirl, had initially planned to terminate her pregnancy.
This difficult decision was influenced by the challenging circumstances surrounding Esther’s conception.
Esther recounted how her grandmother grew suspicious of her mother’s behavior on the day she intended to visit Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) for the abortion.
“My mother wanted to abort me,” she said. “On the day, she was going to KATH for the abortion. Her mother suspected something and asked where she was headed and started following her around.”
Following her instincts, the grandmother trailed her daughter and confronted her about her plans. Faced with the truth, Esther’s mother admitted her intentions.
Despite initially not wanting the child, Esther’s father stepped in when he learned of the planned abortion, putting a stop to it.
“Even my father who didn’t even want me, when he realised that my mother wanted to abort me, he stopped her.
“She had taken a lot of drugs to help with the abortion but none of them worked,” she added.
Esther also shared that her mother had resorted to various methods in an attempt to end the pregnancy, but none were successful.
During this time of uncertainty, a pastor prophesied that the unborn child would go on to make a significant impact on the country.
Reflecting on her journey, Esther recognized the divine intervention that ultimately saved her life, allowing her to rise as a celebrated figure in Ghanaian gospel music.
She also reminisced about her early experiences in music, revealing that the first song she ever wrote was titled “Ewurade Wo Din No Hyeren” (LORD, Your Name is Glorious).
At the age of 14, she joined the Methodist Church Choir in Kumasi and later, at 16, became part of the Voices of Faith choir at House of Faith Ministries.
It was during this time that she began to write her own songs, marking the start of her successful career in gospel music.