Prison “was by God” - Daasebre Dwamena

“Sometimes God puts you in a position or in a place for you to realise what he’s capable of doing and to me, my conscience tells me that this was by God.” This was how Daasebre Dwamena chose to sum up his eventful sojourn to the United Kingdom.

Throughout his year-long detention in jail, one piece which seemed to have gone missing in Daasebre’s jigsaw puzzle was what he was doing or he was going to do in the United Kingdom before his arrest. Most media reports focused only on his trial by the Isleworth Crown Court without explanations being offered for how he got to the UK in the first place.

Speaking to Daasebre on his return to Ghana, he explained to JIVE that he was in the UK to “do extra recording for my album (A Friend In Need). I didn’t even enter London before I was arrested. I was arrested at the Heathrow airport soon after we disembarked.”

He was arrested for allegedly importing 100kg of cocaine into the UK. But throughout his trial, Daasebre maintained his innocence and pleaded “not guilty” to the charges against him. True to his plea, the 12-member jury hearing his case returned a no guilty verdict on Friday May 11, 2007.

According to the highlife giant, he anticipated something good was in store for him that particular Friday, the day which was to either make or break him. “On Thursday early in the morning, I found a dove at the back of my window so I sat down and prayed to God that he shouldn't let Friday be a bad day for me, it shouldn't be a day for me to remember and cry but a day for me to remember and give thanks to him. So I knew that something better will be coming my way on Friday.”

Like a gallant soldier Daasebre “Ahoofe” Dwamena returned home to an ecstatic crowd comprising family, friends and fans. The fans had come from far and near to the Kotoka International Airport, just to catch a glimpse of their star. But unfortunately, the curiosity of the crowd was not satisfied.

The anxious crowd waiting in front of the arrival hall had to undergo a bit of an endurance exercise. As soon as he emerged in the arrival hall, the crowd went nuts screaming and jumping. Sensing danger, perhaps, security men at the arrival hall changed Daasebre’s route. He finally emerged close to the VIP hall and sneaked into a waiting Nissan 4x4 car. His first stop from the airport was the house of his in-laws at Ashaiman to show his gratitude to them for their support and prayers. He also made a stop-over at his father’s residence at Kokomlemle where he met an unexpectedly large crowd. After a brief in-door session with his father, Daasebre came out to thank his numerous fans who were waiting for him outside before leaving finally for his own residence.

Daasebre believes his jail time (close to one year) was not wasted. According to him he returned from jail with a diploma in Information Technology (IT) and mathematics --qualifications he got at no cost to him. Not only did he obtain two diplomas but he also composed 1,500 songs which he says are a must-listen for all his funs.

“You know that without Daasebre there is no music,” he says. “Ghanaians should expect what is called experience and in fact if they don’t rush for my album which is coming out this year they (will) miss a lot.” He says he will not disappoint his fans and promised that “they should expect something great from Daasebre.”