Accra, Ghana – Gospel singer-songwriter Dan Ali brought his guitar into the Sunny 88.7 FM Sunset Drive studio for a live session that mixed conversation, testimony and unplugged performance — streamed live on Sunny FM's Facebook and YouTube.
Asked to introduce himself beyond the "gospel artist" label, Dan Ali didn't lead with music.
"I am first and foremost a child of God — I think that's the most important thing for me. A writer, singer, a little computer person. A little bit of a nerd. An avid reader, producer."
Raised in Church, But Finding His Own Faith Later
Dan Ali grew up around music through his father, a retired apostle he introduced as "Apostle Dr. Bennett." As a child, he would sneak into the church to play instruments left behind after service, eventually joining choirs as he got older.
But knowing gospel music didn't mean knowing God for himself, he said. "I knew my father's God — I knew the church, I knew the dynamics, I knew the theology, but I didn't know who God was for me." At that stage, he said, music had become something closer to an idol — pursued for its own sake rather than as an expression of faith.
That changed in his second year of high school, when a gospel rock show brought preachers — including Reverend Ato, who Dan Ali now calls his spiritual father — to his school. "He really made me understand the things my parents used to tell me when I was younger... At that moment, I gave my life to Christ. From that moment on, it's been a beautiful journey."
The Sound: Acoustic, R&B, and a Little Rap
Dan Ali described his music as spanning a few genres, built primarily around acoustic guitar and vocals, with R&B and rap influences in the mix — a range he said doesn't always get acknowledged within gospel music circles.
"Falling Father" — Born From a 3am Prayer
Midway through the interview, Sunny FM played Dan Ali's song "Falling Father," which he said came out of a difficult season of trying to control outcomes in his own strength.
"I spent a lot of time trying to make things happen, and I realised I'd strayed from doing things with God," he explained. "I was saying, 'God, I'm going to do this for you' — and while that's admirable, it removes the relationship. My relationship with God is that I do things with Him."
He said the song intentionally carries an unfinished, imperfect quality. "That's how it came out, and that's the way it's supposed to be — because in our relationship with God, it's not always the nice things we should focus on, but even the difficult times, because He says, 'reason with me, come and let's talk about what's going on.'"
"Rest" — Written After an Armed Robbery
Later in the session, Dan Ali spoke about the story behind another song, "Rest," inspired by Matthew 11:28 — "Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."
He said the song followed a period of exhaustion during his National Service, when daily life had become monotonous. "I was walking, looking at the ground — I couldn't even see the sunset anymore, and I love sunsets, because they're one of the beautiful things God created. You stop paying attention to them because of the cares of the world."
That exhaustion came into sharper focus after he survived an armed robbery in which he was injured. "A lot of people were calling — 'Dan, are you okay?' And through that, I felt this odd peace, the peace that surpassed all understanding. All the baggage, all the exhaustion — it wasn't something I had to carry, because He said He'd be with me even walking through the valley of the shadow of death."
What's Next: Garden Melodies
Looking ahead, Dan Ali shared plans for Garden Melodies, a worship gathering he and his team first held last year and are planning to bring back later this year.
"The idea is a group of friends hanging out, worshipping God in a garden setting outdoors — barbecue, games, and after we worship, we go home," he said. Beyond worship, the event ties into community impact, from health screenings to giving back to orphans.
Closing Words
Before wrapping up, Dan Ali thanked his parents, Reverend Ato, and Sunny FM for the platform, before leaving listeners with a final word:
"Jesus was a prolific storyteller, and he told so many stories. That has taught me that your story matters — no matter who you are, no matter where you've been, no matter what you've been through, no matter the storm or the peace. You are important, and I love you. God loves you."
Dan Ali's music, including "Falling Father" and "Rest," is available on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Music. Follow him on Instagram and X (Twitter) @DenaliOfficial.