Ghanaian musician cum politician, Kwame Asare Obeng known widely as A Plus has recounted the hardships he suffered before becoming a popular figure.
The vocal musician in an emotional tone revealed that he once used to sleep with an empty stomach.
In a lengthy writeup on Facebook, Kuami A Plus narrated how he walked from his hometown, Gomoa Asebu to Winneba to board a car to Accra in 1998.
After coming to Accra to record a music demo at Slim Buster’s recording studio, A Plus said he had to sleep in the studios because at the time the money he had on him was equivalent to only GHS50 which can not be used to rent a hotel room of feed for longer days.
During that period, A Plus said, he saw “hardship up close and personal,” adding, “I know hunger by name and face. I know how it feels to be so scared you can’t breathe. I can draw depression in 3D.”
But “Today, the homeless boy has a bachelor’s degree in public administration. By June next year, he will have a masters in International relations and diplomacy, and very soon, he will have a bachelor’s in law from a school in the same area where he used to sleep in a shop.”
“To all of you out there working hard to achieve your dreams, you will make it,” he passed a word of encouragement to the youths who are still struggling to make ends meet.
Read his full writeup below:
“In 1998, I walked from Gomoa Asebu to Winneba Junction, where I got on board a “trotro to Accra. Darkuman Junction, to be precise. My mission here was to record a demo at Slim Buster’s studio.
I didn’t have a place to spend the night or money to pay for a hotel. I had five hundred thousand (500.000) old Ghana cedis, equivalent to 50 cedis today, to pay for my studio time.
My first year in this city was hell. I was homeless for a very long period and sometimes spent nights in the voice room at Slim Buster’s studio or with friends. Occasionally, Tic Tac picked me up, and we will walk from Darkoman Junction to Nana King’s studio at Dansoman last stop. In 2022, I completed Gimpa with second-class upper.
Though it would have been easy to enroll in the Gimpa law faculty as a continuing student, I opted for Kaff University College, two blocks from where Slim Buster’s studio used to be.
Apart from the fact that most of the students from Kaff University make it to Makola, one other reason why I chose Kaff is that it is situated in an area that reminds me of where I came from, what I’ve been through, where I’m going, and what others are going through now. It reminds me that I’ve been like that homeless person before. I see myself in every young hustler shouting “Kaneshie Odokor Kaanesh,” or Darkoman Nyameky?.”
That area reminds me that I’ve gone to bed hungry so many times. It reminds me that I’ve been like that young guy who has been trying to make music before. Anytime I drive to campus, I remember the nights when Agyengo would wake me up in the middle of the night to wait outside on the veranda because someone was there to record.
I remember those early mornings when I had to walk to a car dealership at Kaneshie First Light to wash cars for the late Bra Sammy and Oboy Yankee to get some coins for food. (There is a tree ? at the car dealership at Kaneshie First Light, locally known as Abrofo Nkati. I planted it).
The road from First Light to Darkoman Junction reminds me that nobody is useless and nobody is even ugly; with a few notes in your pocket, the most unattractive person can automatically transform to look like the fresh prince of Bellaire ? My mates think I don’t talk much.
They don’t feel the “Kwame A Plus” they expected to be in class with. One lady said, “Bra Kwame, it’s like you are very calm in person.” No!! I’m not. I get emotional anytime I’m on campus.
I’ve seen hardship up close and personal. I know hunger by name and face. I know how it feels to be so scared you can’t breathe. I can draw depression in 3D. Today, the homeless boy has a bachelors degree in public administration.
By June next year, he will have a masters in International relations and diplomacy, and very soon, he will have a bachelor’s in law from a school in the same area where he used to sleep in a shop. To all of you out there working hard to achieve your dreams, you will make it.
Though I may never meet you in this short life, wherever you are, remember that I’ll continue praying for you. If I get the opportunity to help you, I’ll not hesitate.
Always remember that there is an opportunity for every willing heart and that if we have the strength to continue knocking harder and harder at the door ? we will surely wake someone up who will open it and let us in.
If you are passionate about something, keep working hard towards it, and when you get fed up and feel like giving up, remember that success comes when you dare to continue doing what you are fed up with doing.
To everyone out there, especially my mates who came down for this photo and all those who didn’t come down because you were busy “tuuing last minute apor,” ? anytime you feel like giving up, remember that I used to sleep in a shop two blocks away from campus.
It shall be well with everyone. Like I said, I will pray for and with you. Keep your heads up. Your time is coming. Obiaa b? y? yie!! #Nyametease! Last, last, na everybody go chop breakfast!!! God dey, we dey!! ??????”
Source: Modern Ghana
