Veteran Ghanaian actor/comedian, Asonaba Kwaku Darko, popularly known as Super OD, of Osofo Dadzie fame is dead.
The popular entertainer died yesterday at the Agona Swedru Government Hospital in the Central Region after a short illness. He was 82.
Simon Darko, son of the veteran actor, who confirmed the sad news said his late father “wasn’t feeling that well” and was rushed to the hospital on Saturday, February 10 but was confirmed dead on Tuesday morning.
Until his death, a number of personalities, including Kennedy Agyepong (Kempong), Alhaji Choco and a few others were supporting him financially.
Super OD, who had a blissful acting career spanning from the 1970s to the late 90s, was very popular for his roles in local Ghanaian series, Akan Drama on GTV.
Acting with the Oppong Drama Group which later became known as Osofo Dadzie Group, Super OD gained nationwide popularity for his rib cracking jokes.
The Osofo Dadzie Group was made up of S.K Oppong, Frimpong Manso, Fred Addae, Akua Boahemaa, Bea Kissi and himself.
Before he joined the Osofo Dadzie Group, Super OD had worked with a number of local music groups such as Akwasi Effah’s Band, Happy Stars, Akomanyi’s Guitar Band, Oppong Kyekyeku Guitar Band and Oppong Drama Group, which enacted plays wherever African Brothers Band played.
The veteran actor, who left behind at least 13 children, has performed in Stuttgart, Frankfurt and Bremen all in Germany; Holland, Belgium, Canada, London, Washington DC and New York.
In November last year, former President Mahama, after the ‘Unity Walk’ by National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Cape Coast, visited his ‘friend’ to check up on him. He presented an undisclosed amount of money to the veteran actor.
In July last year, before former President Mahama’s visit, the leadership of Ghana Actors’ Guild paid a visit to the actor and presented a mobile phone and an undisclosed amount of money to him.
By George Clifford Owusu