We woke up last Friday only to be greeted by the sad news that ace highlife musician Daasebre Dwamena had joined his ancestors in the land of “Samanfo”. I’m particularly affected by his demise because I knew him on a personal level. I’m deeply saddened by his passing.
Daasebre was my junior in Benkum Secondary School in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s. We used to perform ‘salaat’ (prayer) together in the school. Though coming from an Akan background, his dedication to salaat and devotion to Allah was unquestionable. I called him “Daddy” because he shared the same Islamic name, Abubakar Siddiq, with my late father.
Even back then, his passion for music was unquenchable. I was therefore not surprised when his “kookookoo” song with Lord Kenya became a hit in the late 1990’s. Not long after that, I chanced upon him in a mosque at Accra New Town and we re-established contact.
When he was arrested in the UK for drug trafficking, those of us who knew the real Daasebre still believed he was innocent. We therefore organized monthly intercessional Quranic recitations and supplications to seek mercy on his behalf from the Bearded Old Man above. I was in the offices of Daily Guide the very day he was acquitted and discharged. Bennet Akuaku, then an investigative journalist with the Daily Guide, wondered why I was so elated. If only he knew!
My information is that he had been ill since the beginning of the year. The last time I saw him was about two months ago. He assured me that his condition was improving but his looks said otherwise. It is an understatement to say we are saddened by his death. But we are consoled by the fact that he lived a decent life and was never afflicted by the “kpokpogbligbli” syndrome before embarking on the journey to “Samanfoland”. May his soul have peace with its Maker!
Talking about kpokpogbligbli brings to mind the judgment of the Supreme Court (SC) on the “Muntie 3” saga. To refresh your mind, one of the contemnors claimed he was afflicted by kpokpogbligbli, an unknown disease that takes over a person’s body and controls what he says and does. Fortunately, the SC has finally found a cure for the kpokpogbligbli disease. The cure is a four-month jail term for each of the contemnors and a total fine of GH¢ 30,000.
Interestingly, Zu-za has condemned the cure saying it was harsh. The party is also calling for a repeal of criminal contempt. The party further argues that contempt tends to stifle free speech.
Ironically, this is the very party that used contempt to imprison perceived political enemies. Was Kwaku Baako not jailed for contempt for 30 days and Western Publications, publishers of “The Guide” (now The Daily Guide), fined 10 million old Cedis in 1998? Was Baby Ansaba not jailed for 21 days for contempt after failing to pay a fine of 5 million old Cedis while working with the Free Press?
I laugh anytime I hear the argument that the Muntie 3 sentence was harsh. They were handed down a four-month sentence out of a maximum of 3 years for criminal contempt. How could this be harsh? For threatening the lives of judges and a veiled threat of rape on the Chief Justice, I believe the SC was very lenient.
There is also the argument that the contempt charges were criminalizing free speech. I will be a hypocrite to say I do not cherish the free speech we are enjoying under the fourth Republican Constitution. I do criticize others in this very column, sometimes very harshly. But I’m also very careful not to go beyond accepted limits.
Indeed, criticizing a SC ruling does not amount to crime. But verbal threat, which is also speech, amounts to a crime. One can therefore not hide behind free speech and threaten the lives of others. That is unacceptable!
Having failed to deceive the SC with their “fun-fool” apology, the contemnors and their party are now press-ganging the President to invoke “Article 72” of the Constitution and pardon the convicted trio. It is worth noting that Tony Lithur, the President’s lawyer during the election petition hearing at the SC, does not subscribe to the call. Of course, a pardon for Mugabe and his “partners-in-crime” would mean promoting recklessness in the media and undermining the authority of the judiciary.
As our rabbit-like ears eagerly await Mr Ogwanfunu’s response on the matter, I sincerely believe this is the time the dead-goat syndrome should be activated. Well, let’s keep our fingers crossed!
I conclude by professing my love for Shatta Wale’s “Biegya” song. But being conscious of Osibisa’s “Fire” lyrics which admonishes us not to play with fire lest we get burnt, I’m careful where and when to open fire. If only the Muntie 3 had heeded Osibisa’s wise counsel!
See you next week for another interesting konkonsa, Deo volente!