MOG’s New Wine Concert, a prominent gospel event in Ghana, recently held its “Back to the Basics” edition in Accra. While the concert has generally maintained a high organizational standard, the 2025 Accra edition revealed several critical areas needing improvement. Despite a lineup featuring renowned gospel artists like Quame Gyedu, Obaapa Christy, and Joe Mettle, the event suffered from several organizational and logistical shortcomings that impacted attendance and overall audience experience.
One of the most glaring issues was the disregard for punctuality. Scheduled to begin at 5 pm, the concert commenced an hour later, a recurring problem that likely contributed to lower attendance. This habitual lateness fosters a culture of tardiness among attendees, discouraging them from arriving on time. Promptness is crucial for any event, especially one aimed at fostering a spiritual atmosphere, and organizers must prioritize starting and transitioning between segments on schedule to cultivate a culture of respect for time among both organizers and attendees.
Furthermore, the attendance at the Accra edition was significantly lower than in previous years and compared to the Kumasi edition, despite Accra being the event’s home base. While some might attribute this to heavy rainfall, the downpour occurred after the delayed start time, suggesting other underlying factors contributed to the low turnout. One such factor could be the change of venue. Moving from the usual Oil Dome at Royalhouse Chapel International to the First Love Church behind Trinity Theological School, while understandable given reported booking delays, likely impacted regular attendees who may have been accustomed to the previous venue. The smaller capacity of the new auditorium further highlighted the reduced attendance, with numerous empty seats throughout the event. Venue changes should be carefully considered, taking into account capacity and accessibility for the target audience. A thorough assessment of potential venues, including their capacity and location, is critical to ensure a suitable setting for the anticipated audience.
The ushering arrangements further compounded the attendance issues. A lack of coordination between the ushers and the production team resulted in a disorganized seating arrangement. Numerous empty seats were observed in prime locations while attendees were seated in less desirable areas. This inefficient use of space created a visually unappealing impression and detracted from the overall atmosphere. Ushers play a crucial role in enhancing audience experience and should be adequately briefed and coordinated with the production team to ensure smooth and efficient seating arrangements that maximize both audience comfort and visual impact.
Moreover, the frequent changes of bands between artist performances disrupted the flow of the event and dampened the spiritual momentum. These transitions, often lengthy and disruptive, broke the immersive worship experience and created a disjointed atmosphere. Ideally, artists should collaborate with the house band to minimize these interruptions, ensuring a seamless and immersive experience for the audience. Maintaining a continuous flow of music and minimizing breaks is crucial for fostering a spirit of worship and engagement throughout the event. This requires careful planning and coordination between the artists, the band, and the technical crew.
Finally, in evaluating the success of a gospel event, multiple factors must be considered. Attendance is certainly one metric, but equally important are the production quality, the smooth flow of the event, and the impact on attendees’ spiritual lives. The organizers of the New Wine Concert should critically examine these aspects in their post-event analysis, focusing on improvements in time management, venue selection, ushering coordination, and performance transitions.
To address these challenges, the organizers must prioritize planning and communication. A clear timeline for each segment of the event should be established and adhered to strictly. Venue selection should involve a comprehensive assessment of capacity, location, and accessibility. The ushering team should be thoroughly trained and briefed on seating arrangements, prioritizing audience comfort and efficient space utilization. Technical aspects, such as sound and lighting, should be meticulously planned and executed to ensure a seamless and immersive experience. Finally, a strong emphasis on communication and coordination between all teams involved – artists, production, technical, and ushering – is essential for a successful and impactful event.
The future success of the New Wine Concert hinges on addressing these critical areas. By returning to the basics of event planning and execution, prioritizing punctuality, selecting appropriate venues, improving ushering coordination, streamlining performance transitions, and fostering a collaborative spirit among all stakeholders, the organizers can ensure that the event not only retains its prominence but also fulfills its spiritual purpose. This requires a commitment to continuous improvement, leveraging feedback from attendees and industry professionals to enhance the overall experience and impact of the event.
In addition to these operational improvements, the organizers should also consider strategies to boost attendance. Marketing and promotion should be targeted to reach the desired audience, utilizing both traditional and digital platforms. Pre-event engagement can generate excitement and anticipation, while offering incentives such as early bird discounts or VIP experiences can further encourage participation. Building a strong online presence through social media and email marketing can also help maintain engagement with the audience throughout the year.
Ultimately, the success of a gospel event like the New Wine Concert depends on a holistic approach that encompasses both logistical precision and a genuine commitment to fostering a spiritual atmosphere. By addressing the identified shortcomings and implementing these recommendations, the organizers can ensure that future editions of the New Wine Concert deliver a more impactful and enriching experience for all involved. This renewed focus on the fundamentals of event planning and execution, coupled with a dedication to creating a truly uplifting spiritual experience, will pave the way for the continued growth and success of this important gospel event.
