Over the years some top musicians in the country have been suspected of dealing in hard drugs and those whose names have come out of the rumour mill have openly denied ever buying or selling narcotics.
Indeed, such rumours always come with names. Those whose names have floated on the rumour waters include big time contemporary highlife singers, Amakye Dede and Daddy Lumba, who, at one time, composed a song, Sese Wo Se, in apparent reply to gossips that he had been arrested abroad for smuggling banned drugs.
Information available at the Narcotics Control Board indicate that a top Ghanaian musician has, indeed, been arrested in Frankfurt, Germany, following his attempt to sneak six kilogrammes of cocaine out of that country to England.
The Executive Secretary of the Board, Col. Isaac K. Akuoku told The Mirror that the musician, who was arrested in May, travelled with the drugs from Accra to Germany.
He, however, declined to mention the name of the suspected drug dealer for security reasons. ?Now the war against drugs is not targeted at the couriers and users alone but all other persons in the distribution chain?, he said.
Therefore, he said, the name was being withheld until full scale investigations had been completed and key actors in the deal rounded up ? including the suppliers and distributors. He however promised to provide the name of the top musician as soon as investigations are completed.
He, however, promised to provide the name of the top musician as soon as investigations are completed.
He cautioned the public and musicians who use banned drugs and/or explicitly promote the use of drugs in their lyrics to desist from the act or face the full rigours of the law.
Col Akuoku expressed concern about a new development among some musicians and other members of the public who subtly promote the use of marijuana and advised them to rather use their influence in society to preach against drug abuse.
He said at present, the Board is undertaking a programme under which marijuana growers in the country will be counselled to stop cultivating the drug and assisted to plant crops such as cassava.
?There are about 325 farmers involved in the programme in the Eastern Region. It will be extended to other parts of the country and all cannabis farmers are invited to join the programme?, he said.
Many musicians and entertainers around the world use narcotic drugs as stress beaters and many of them have died from drug-related ailments while others have totally ruined their flowery careers.
Examples of fine artistes who were negatively affected by drug abuse include the deceased Brenda Fassie of South Africa and the late Kiki Gyan of Osibisa fame.
