Okyeame Kwame Hits Jackpot

Okyeame Kwame

GHANA'S 'RAP DOCTOR' popularly known as , who is on a campaign trail to bring awareness of Hepatitis B to the general public, has disclosed that he has signed an endorsement deal with Coca Cola and MTN worth around GH¢200,000.

The dynamic rapper, who previously partnered Okyeame Quophi to form the Akyeame duo a decade ago, now stands alone as the best rapper in Ghana.

His last album, M'Awinsem, with the hit-song 'Woso' swept five awards at the 2009 Ghana Music Awards, including Best Music Video, Artiste of the Year and Hiphop Song of the Year.

Speaking on Radio Gold's Solid Gold Countdown about the contracts signed with the two companies, said he was contacted via phone and told to come to Accra where he did a radio commercial for Coca Cola. In relation to the MTN deal, Kwame explained that the deal came with the prize he won as Artiste of the Year at this year's edition of the Ghana Music Awards.

When asked about how he was coping with the new developments in his life and music career, Kwame said it came after 12 years of doing music and that he saw it as a reward from God.

Kwame said the deal, worth about GH¢200,000, also comes with a Toyota Fortuner.

In a related development told DJ Black on the Open House Party show on Joy FM that as part of his social responsibilities, he is paying his due to mother Ghana through his foundation, ' Foundation', to give free Hepatitis B testing and awareness to the public.

Hepatitis B is a potentially life-threatening blood-borne disease of the liver, which is transmitted primarily by sexual activity or exposure to blood. About 20 per cent of those infected progress to develop chronic liver disease.

He hinted that the awareness campaign which hopes to screen about 1,000 people in every region, would also give free medical counseling.

By George Clifford Owusu