<<Print>>

News One caught up with gospel singer Herty Borngreat, the reigning Gospel Artiste of the Year, and engaged her in a rather interesting off the cuff interview that touched on her life, upbringing, career, marriage and home. Interestingly, Herty did not hold back but rather opened up and said a few things she had never told anyone. She revealed that though the media reported that she has five children, she actually has more than five. She also narrated how she was born in a mission house while her mother was preparing to leave for a maternity home. She also revealed that her husband and Executive Producer, Reverend Daniel Ofori Borngreat, General Overseer of the Great Kingdom Family Chapel, headquartered in Adenta, a suburb of Accra, was the one who broke her virginity. Below are excerpts of the interview: NEWS-ONE: What is your secret? You are always trendy. Herty: I am sure it is the grace of God. NEWS-ONE: God tells you to look trendy? Herty: Yeah. When you have God you have everything and even when you are poor, you have it in your mind that you are rich and before you realize, the richness has caught up with you. NEWS-ONE: I won�t let you dodge the question; where from your taste for trendy fashion? Herty: It all started after I got married. Before then, I had not even worn a weave-on or synthetic hair. I was just a very simple girl doing my own thing in my own small way. It could be because I was born and raised in a mission house and it was not easy for me to wear jeans trousers and such things. I never wore them until I got married and my husband said I should start wearing them because he wants me to look very nice for him. He even had to force me to go to the salon to do my hair. I was a university graduate but I was not really into fashion. Hope you get me? NEWS-ONE: Let�s roll back a bit? Were your parents pastors for you to have been born in a mission house? Herty: I was born to Madam Faustina Boatemaa, currently in the UK but you know that in those days when you get married and you are pregnant, you went to your parents� house to deliver. My grandparents were both reverend ministers staying in a mission house so that explains it. When it was time for her to give birth to me, I came out before she left for the hospital. I just dropped out right in the mission house. I did not wait to get to the hospital. And my dad says that�s why he named me �Henrietta� meaning home ruler, ready to take over wherever I step foot. NEWS-ONE: Which mission house was this? Herty: They were in the Methodist Church. NEWS-ONE: I hope you won�t say you attended mission schools as well. Herty: Well, I had my early schooling at Peters Educational Centre until I was about five or so when my parents divorced. My mum left me for my grandparents and travelled outside to work. Growing up was not very easy but God saw me through big-time. NEWS-ONE: What is your educational background? Herty: I climbed all the way to the university. I graduated from the Aston University in Birmingham, UK and I am currently doing my Masters at the Colombia University through an online programme. NEWS-ONE: When did you start singing? Herty: Right from the mission house. I was always at church so I joined the choir and the acting group. Once you are in a mission house, you learn all sorts of things. So I learnt to play the piano, the drums, to sing. I was going to be a musician because I loved music. My grandparents actually paid people to teach us how to play the instruments. But I did not plan to be a gospel musician; I thought I would end up as an inspirational musician. NEWS-ONE: How long ago and where did you meet your husband? Herty: Ten years ago. I first came to Ghana to attend an engagement ceremony with my mum and that was when I first saw him there. That was in Kumasi. He was just staring at me.