Oh Sima!

Sima Ibrahim chief Executive officer of Exopa Modelling Agency

It is as if, in this country, every now and then, we wake up to some bad news of a sort. It is even scary when the news has to do with somebody, society or fraternity you sympathize with On Tuesday, the 8th day of September I had a phone call from a friend, just about 10am all the way from Aburi to inform me of the arrest of someone I admire so much. I was taken aback and left dumbfounded for a while. Soon I recovered from the shock and it was business as usual. I took it upon myself to call some few friends of mine in the media and inform them of this chilling and fresh news; after all that is what they feed on. Surprisingly any one I called to fill him or her in had already heard of it and was taking down some few notes. Certainly I was delivering a late news; one that had occurred the previous night and which was undergoing some form of editing and prepared to hit newstands on Wednesday just under 30 hours of laying hands on that juicy sauce and money banger headline – Ibrahim sima C.E.O. of Exopa Modeling Agency has been arrested for cocaine.

Soon I began to as usual picture in my mind's eye the suitable headline for such news so big. A few run through my head “Exopa Boss Busted”, Ibrahim Sima Busted”, “Exopa Boss Nabbed” and other funny pe-emptive headlines of mine. The newspapers proved me right on Wednesday morning with their headlines which had some resemblance to those I was pre-empting. As usual, it took me to the newsstands to check on sales and to my uthmost surprise; it was good courtesy a 39year old Ibrahim Sima, Chief Executive officer of the Exopa Modelling Agency. It didn't occur to me how big and popular Sima was until a friend vendor told me he had run short of stock and people kept asking for more of the newspapers that chose to do the story.

Huh! how are the mighty fallen. Ghanaians love their news especially when it is fresh from the barrel, juicy, Saucy, Sensational, interlaced and interspersed with shock and disbelief, strange but true.

It was not as if my friends in the media were up and doing to lay hands on Sima's arrest so fast, neither was it due to any smart and intelligent journalistic tendencies. Simple truth, it is because the news had to do with a personality so huge and famous, locally recognized and internally acclaimed. On daily basis more and more people are arrested at the various exit and entry point of this country but those stories are left uncovered. But this couldn't have come at the right time, especially when you are an arts and entertainment reporter this is the kind of story your editor will yearn and praise you for. After all news they say, sells when it is bad.

For many of as, this is certainly no surprise. That is not to say I knew it was going to happen neither am I suggesting that Sima does or deal in drugs. Far from it, I have not personally met Sima and I don't know him from Adam much less to judge him.

After every general election, I always get this funny feeling of how some bye- election might be run some what some where, I don't know. I am not a soothsayer but I always get this thought of how we might lose one Member of Parliament which will lead to a bye – election to appoint a new one. As usual, as has been my practice, I predicted that come what may, this year and the years ahead, some bad news of a sort concerning an artist or someone who directly or indirectly feeds on show business was to be announced.

Dasebre Gyamenah's saga was still fresh in my mind and this served as an indicator and to an extent influenced my strong conviction of a bad omen fast approaching

We live in a society were the fall and fall of the rich and famous is always welcomed with pomp and pageantry. Our society always has a way of ganging up against one of its own. So I was not utterly surprised that barely 8 hours of his arrest the news had hit town.

I have not personally set my eyes on cocaine but it must be some hard nut to crack to generate such uproar and disaffection anytime it is mentioned or in the news. It is always greeted with so much scorn and disdain especially when you are identified as a courier or middle man. You get all the tongue lashing especially from people whose loved ones fall prey to this deadly and disgraceful drug. Cocaine is certainly no joke today and tomorrow. Names like Amy Winehouse and Kiki Gyan readily comes to mind as persons whose lives have been wrecked by drugs. All the investment they made in their talents and creative instincts went down the drain. Kiki has since, joined his ancestors. Amy winehouse, a fine songstress and multiple award winner has ever since not been her good self. You don't need to be a courier of drugs to know how cankerous they can be. Drugs must not be entertained in any society that has the interest of its inhabitants of heart.

It is unfortunate that today I have to mention somebody I admire so much name's in this feature. I am sure Sima Ibrahim never wished that come one day his name will be roped into such a damning and jaw dropping saga. I am a young man in my 20's who crave for excellence so certainly I have a soft spot for people who are making it big be it locally or internationally,

Just recently the young man organized what has been touted by watchers as the biggest fashion show in Africa. I Google searched exopa and Ibrahim Sima on the internet and you will be amazed at the number of hits Exopa as a company and Sima Ibrahim as an individual has. Clearly his presence all over the world is not in doubt. Just before this most recent fashion week, Exopa and for that matter Sima Ibrahim had organized a couple of successful shows. His company is also into the training of young models, male and female. More so, if you are able to pull a tall list of the glitterati and privilegentia in society, like the essiens and Adebayo's then you must certainly be doing something right. It is even more on point if you are able to bring down all the way from the U.S.A an international acclaimed actor like Kodjo Borris of soul food fame to grace a show and spend a couple of days interacting with the local folks something which rarely happens.

The exopa fashion week is still fresh on our minds, so is the attempt to bring back Kodjo Borris for the second time. Sima was said to be preparing to go back to the U.S.A and come with Borris for the second time running. Just when entertainment watchers were reveling in the feat chalked by Sima Ibrahim, fashion wise, the unthinkable happens. Monday September 7, 2009, Sima Ibrahim chief Executive officer of Exopa Modelling Agency has been arrested at the kotoka International Airport (KIA) at 11: 00pm on suspicion of possessing substances alleged to be cocaine just before he boarded a Lufthansa airline. I will spare you the remaining details.

Yes, the unpredicted and never thought of had happened and for the many young Ghanaian ladies and gentlemen he provides job for, this was certainly a big shock.

Sima had succeeded in putting Ghana's fashion and modeling industry unto some spotlight of a sort and all of a sudden an otherwise dull industry had become lively and vibrant. Fashion's “uhuru” was right here thanks to Sima but this dance has been dealt a severe streak following his demise.

For those who never liked Sima and what he was doing this is certainly crucifixion time even before the law pronounces him guilty. In our law books, a person is not guilty unless otherwise proven beyond reasonable doubt. But trust Ghanaians; people have already started passing judgment.

For some perhaps this is déjà vu and it is only a matter of time that will prove his guilt or innocence. To be implicated and later on freed is always a possibility so long as your counsel is able to put forward some sound defence:

Dasebre Gyamenah's case is a typical example of a man who we all believed was heading for the downturn. All of a sudden after months of battling it out in court, he found his way back in Ghana from the UK amidst pomp and pageantry by a large crowd that the security at the airport found too hot to handle. After waiting patiently for months, fans of Dasebre poured out in their numbers to welcome a hero.

Now the aftershock. Dasebre is still battling with an image problem even after been cleared of charges pressed against him. He is a fine singer and will always be, but what he is battling now is an image that has been severely tampered and stained with courtesy cocaine. He has ever since released his LP but the Dasebre of yester years, is certainly not the Dasebre of today. Because of the victimization and to an extend stigma that associates with cocaine pals, and for that matter drugs, even after being exonerated, there is always room for hatred and rejection by society.

I foresee a similar fate befall my admirer Sima Ibrahim .Even though his fate is yet to be decided, an image redemption and public relations battle looms for him and his Exopa world.

From where I stand, the future certainly looks bleak and blurred because for the years ahead I shudder to think If Sim's name shall be greeted with loud cheers whether he is convicted or not.

The other day it was Goodies, (an executive producer) today it is Sima tomorrow I don't know whom it will be but certainly it will have one of our own. Call it the hazards of showbiz; this is one of the defects of the industry many young men like me are in love will have to contend with. After years of toil and hard work, this is how the story of a young man goes. I am pretty sure the Exopa Burg, the models, media attention, Camera, lights action!, fame will mean nothing to Sima Ibrahim as it stands. What is important to him, i want to believe, is how to clear his reputation and image that span years both home and abroad.

Only a court of competent jurisdiction can find Sima Ibrahim guilty or not. As for watchers like me and you all we can do is to write and maybe talk about it. Let's not jump unto hasty conclusions. This is just another young, vibrant, full of energy and unassuming person whose omen went bad.

These times, I guess are difficult for the families of Sima Ibrahim but the decision as to how soon they are going to see their cherished and adored son lies in the hands of the Narcotics Control Board and a competent court of jurisdiction.

I pity Sima far too well. Oh Sima!
Obed Boafo
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Ghana / Africa / U.S.A