I was raised as a Jehovah’s Witness – A Plus

The Member of Parliament for Gomoa Central Constituency Kwame Asare Obeng, popularly known as A-Plus, has revealed that he was raised as a Jehovah’s Witness, describing his life story as raw, contradictory and deeply shaped by his religious upbringing.

Speaking in an interview with George Quaye on Prime Time on Joy Prime, the musician, activist and political figure said his journey to prominence has been far from polished. He credits much of his worldview to his early years preaching and distributing Awake pamphlets as a Jehovah’s Witness.

Before the fame and headlines, he said, he was a “nobody”. Born into a relatively comfortable home, A-Plus explained that while survival was not a daily struggle, his position as the second of five children shaped his independence and desire to assert himself.

Determined to stand out, he often chose a different path. In a household of Asante Kotoko supporters, he aligned himself with Hearts of Oak simply to be distinct.

His move to Accra in the late 1990s marked a turning point. He was brought to the capital by a man he identified as Chico. On arrival, he said he sometimes told people his parents were not around, not out of deceit, but to create a psychological boundary and avoid certain influences. Chico later died from drug abuse, an experience A-Plus said reinforced his complex views on life, destiny and consequence.

Recounting the beginnings of his music career, A-Plus said his first demo was produced by Mensah Ansah of FOKN Bois. His breakthrough, however, came with “Mesuro Mpo Na Merekeka Yi O”, produced by Big Ben. According to him, the song was driven by hunger for success and a desire to stand apart, even at the risk of controversy.

He recorded at Slim Buster’s studio between 1998 and 1999, where he sometimes slept, while many members of his family did not know his whereabouts. He also witnessed defining moments in the industry, including when Slim Buster produced “Philomena” for Tic Tac.

From those experiences, he developed a belief that breaking into the mainstream required confrontation, what he famously describes as “holding someone’s throat”.

That approach, he admitted, came at a cost. His rise sparked backlash to the extent that his father reportedly visited radio stations to plead with DJs to stop playing his music. Court cases followed. In one instance, journalist Kojo Danquah invited him for a meal, only to inform him afterwards that people were searching for him to serve a court order.

In distress, A-Plus contacted his uncle, veteran journalist Kwesi Pratt, who advised him not to flee and assured him of legal support. Still unconvinced, he said he chose to settle some matters quietly behind closed doors, exposing a vulnerability rarely seen in his public persona.

On faith, A-Plus described himself as deeply reflective. He said he believes God is real and accessible to all, claiming to have encountered God one on one. Yet, he admitted he is uncertain about attaining paradise after death.

Politically, he said he admires Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as a person but disagrees with his style of politics, arguing that the former president lost direction at some point. Through The People’s Project, he ventured into politics, describing his campaign as smooth and asserting that the day his presidential posters appear will be the day he wins. He also clarified that he has never called on John Mahama to seek a third term.

In his closing remarks, A-Plus unapologetically described himself as a professional and experienced attention seeker, joking that anyone in Ghana who dislikes him must be a witch.

Love him or loathe him, A-Plus remains difficult to ignore: a man shaped by faith, driven by difference and fully conscious of the attention he commands