[1][3] Realising that a maritime career was not his calling, he left his job at the Palm Line and joined a traditional drumming group.
In 1974 Jewel recorded his first album ‘Gyaki Mea’ in his native Nzema language which was an instant hit and won him several accolades.
He had solo trips to Canada, United States, Sweden and other European countries to perform before various live audiences.
In the same year, Jewel Ackah joined up with guitarist Kwame Nkrumah to make Yeridi a Wu, a re-recording of highlife hits from the 1950s.
He continued his music career as a soloist and band vocalist in Accra, London and later relocating to Toronto, Canada, in the late 1980s.
[5][7] Jewel Ackah suffered a stroke a few years before his death and battled several undisclosed ailments in the last decade of his life.
[3][7] In 2017, a report by TV3 journalist, Owusu Worae, inspired a massive public appeal for funds for the singer who had lamented being neglected by society, after falling on hard times.
After his death, a concert was held in Jewel Ackah's memory on Saturday 21 July 2018 at the +233 Jazz Bar & Grill in Accra.
[8] Artists who performed at the memorial concert include Gyedu Blay Ambolley, Kwabena Kwabena, Trigmatic, Safohene Gyeni, Dela Botri, eSHUN, Kofi Kinaata, Akua Sika, Rex Omar, Nacee, Joyce Blessing and Akablay.
[9][13] A memorial service was held on Sunday 5 August 2018 at the Joshua Generation International Ministries at Taifa where he was a congregant.
[15][16] Upon his death Rawlings tweeted, "You made a significant contribution to the Ghanaian music industry…Your danceable tunes are immortalised in the NDC, helping to catapult its name across the country.