Tuesday, April 15, 2014

In 1995, I was a foolish man and I did foolish things - Geeman

The name Nana Agyeman popularly known as Geeman will not easily ring a bell to the younger generation but to the old folks, he was arguably one of Ghana's biggest musical exports.

A national dance champion in the late 1970s and a world dance Champion then, he had toured the world in private jets as a Michael Jackson look-alike; Geeman was on top of the world but that glamorous world of celebrity would come tumbling down tragically on January 9, 1995.

On that fateful day, Geeman, now known as G'Love Gemann, shot and killed a taxi driver at Dome in a scuffle over 2,000 cedis. This is 20 pesewas in today's currency.

He was tried and convicted of murder. He spent 14 years in prison half of which was on death row. He was released nn January 9, 2009 on presidential pardon from former President, John Agyekum Kufuor.



Gemann, speaking in an interview with Myjoyonline.com at ''A Night With G'Love Gemann'' (The Dancing Man of God) at the Ebenezer Presby Hall, Osu, said he never imagined that his life could take such a dramatic turn.

"How could one anticipate evil, nobody wakes up in the morning and say I am going to spend 14 years in prison," he said.

The 'Highlife in G Major' hit singer said he found himself in the unfortunate predicament because he "wasn't wise then and that if one did not have the fear of the Lord in him, that one was a foolish man. I was foolish and I did foolish things."

If he had to do things all over again, Gemann said he "would have preferred to pack more sand in that taxi for the driver other than a gun."

A very religious Nana Agyeman, who is now a full time Pastor based in the US, believes that it was God's way of choosing him to do His work. ".... once you are chosen as a vessel of the Lord, it doesn't matter where you run, God will make a way for you to come back. It was God's way of getting my attention. He permitted it for a reason."

According to him, he owes his freedom to the family of the taxi driver since "it was through the family [of the taxi driver] that I was released. They were the ones who petitioned the court on my behalf."

The event was also used to re-launch, his album, 'G14', which was aimed at supporting inmates of the country's prisons. It was attended by several personalities, including ace Sports Journalist Kwabena Yeboah and Ahuma Bosco Ocansey (Daddy Bosco).

The event also witnessed some exciting performances from Gemann and the Tagoe Sisters.

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