George Darko

He was widely considered to be one of the pioneers of burger-highlife with his first hit "Ako Te Brofo" ("The Parrots Speak/Understand English") which was released in 1983. The song remains popular among Ghanaians both at home and abroad, and is still played at funerals and parties. Son of a paramount chief, George Darko was educated at the Presbyterian School at Akropong. After playing for an army band entertaining troops in the Middle East, Darko returned to Ghana and formed the Golden Stool Band. In the late 1970s the band moved to Germany, where Darko went solo and formed the Bus Stop band in 1982. Returning to Akropong in 1988, he was made Tufuhene of Akropong-Akuapim in 1991 with the stool (throne) name of Nana Yaw Ampem Darko. In January 2010, he demanded and received apologies from a newspaper which had reported sex allegations in connection with him. He was the biological Father of the German Rapper and Singer Manuellsen.

• Name — George Darko • Alias — Nana Yaw Ampem Darko (Tufuhene of Akropong-Akuapim) • Born — 12 January 1951 • Birthplace — Akropong, Gold Coast • Origin — Ghana • Died — 20 March 2024 • Place of death — Akuapim-Mampong, Ghana • Genre — Burger-highlife • Occupation — Musician • Instrument — Vocal, guitar

George Darko was a royal native of Akropong, Akuapem in the Eastern Region of Ghana. He began his musical as instrumentalist. His mastery of playing guitar made him fit for any band. His musical exploit started at a young age when he started making his own guitar from materials like wood, thread, wires and others. He later learned how to play guitar and passion took him to far places.

George Darko died on 20 March 2024, at the age of 73. He had been in palliative care at Tetteh Quarshie Memorial Hospital in Akuapim-Mampong for three months before his death.