The Akyena Brantuo files: Ebony was innocent

A de facto gag order appears to be enforced since Ebony's sorry death.

The late singer cannot be cited for her scanty dressing and sexually suggestive lyrics anymore.

Culprits are cited as taking the place of God and sitting in the judgment seat of Moses. Ebony suddenly has attained sainthood in death.

This rebranding of the then 90's bad girl to now 'Saint Ebony', which is being championed by Bullet, the manager of the songstress and Mr. Poku Kwarteng, Father of Ebony, for which 'Konkonsa Police' has been released after her death, to champion the rebranding efforts and to silence her critics, has only one defect. Just one. It is belated. Especially coming after her death.

What is the use of a good name for the dead?

It does appear to be an afterthought hatched by persons who have finished milking the bad girl brand side of the 20 year old youth while she was alive, and in her death, wants to flip her over and see what they can profit from branding her saintly.

May the records reflect that Ebony, blessed by God as one of the most beautiful and talented singers who ever lived was destroyed by the very people who owed her a duty of care.

As management and parents, they were solely responsible for her character formulation, good grooming, discipline, moral values, respect for culture, self-worth and dignity. But they traded these for money.

Speaking to the graphic showbiz,

Nana Poke Kwarteng Ebony's father indicated:

“What people see out there is what we want them to see and that is because she is an artiste and needs a brand that will SELL."

He further indicated:

"I am supportive of anything my daughter does and anything she wears. I am not ashamed as a father, the truth is that I choose what she wears and I bless her before she goes out to perform. Some Ghanaians are hypocrites and I am sorry but I am not one of them.”

Indeed, to back his words with action, he actually stirred as the sugar daddy in her daughter's profanely laced song 'sponsor'.

Hmmm! So the young girl was made to walk nude in the streets of Accra and glorify vulgarity on national TV and radio for the sake of money?

Ebony was not prepared for life but the market. For the sake of money and fame, they branded her a bad girl and scared her body with tattoos as if sold to the devil. They sold the innocent lady for money after failing to give her even basic education.

Indeed for her talent and beauty, Ebony deserved a good name. Unfortunately, her handlers gave it to her only in death. Even that is accentuated by profit motives (as her managers have released a song in her name after her death which is selling hot).

The young girl needed help. Little wonder, according to Nana Appiah Mensah, director of Zylofon Media, Ebony wanted to be free from the hands of her handlers. But her manager publicly threatened to crush her if she dared.

The story of Ebony is a sad one and it is the story of many young girls in our country. In their innocence, they are being abused and exploited by the same people who owe them a duty of care.

Akyena Brantuo Benjamin

Broadcast Journalist