By: Kenneth Appiah Bani
Ghanaian social media personality Daniel Amartey, popularly known as Short Prophet, has opened up about his experience at Nsawam Prison, recounting how he was sentenced to five years in prison following an operation by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) at the office of his late employer.
In an interview, Short Prophet explained that the incident occurred in 2015, shortly after the death of his boss, under whom he had been working as an apprentice. He said that after his employer’s funeral, members of the family asked him to return to the shop and continue working because the deceased’s children were still young and needed support.
According to him, he was at the shop on one occasion when EOCO officials arrived with a man he recognised as a friend of his late boss, who was in handcuffs.
Short Prophet said the officials asked about his employer, and he informed them that the man had died. To support his explanation, he reportedly showed them the obituary announcement.
However, he said the officials proceeded to search the shop, explaining that they were looking for documents connected to their investigation. During the search, they allegedly demanded the key to one of his late boss’s drawers. When he told them he did not have it, they reportedly broke it open.
Short Prophet claimed that the officials retrieved what he described as forging stamps, forged certificates and other documents before arresting him and taking him away with the items.
He alleged that he was subsequently presented before a court and accused of continuing the activities after his boss’s death.
According to him, he was surprised by the allegations because he maintained that he had no knowledge of the documents or the activities being investigated.
Five-Year Sentence and Prison Experience
Short Prophet said the court proceedings eventually resulted in a five-year prison sentence, a development he described as difficult to believe at the time.
“It was like a joke. It was like a joke, and then it landed me in Nsawam,” he recounted during the interview.
He explained that although he was sentenced to five years, he spent approximately three years and four months in prison before regaining his freedom.
The social media personality further alleged that his arrest was accompanied by troubling experiences in police custody. He claimed that he spent three days in custody without his family knowing his whereabouts after his phone was seized.
He also questioned the handling of his case, arguing that the authorities should have released him if there was insufficient evidence linking him to the alleged offences.
His account raises questions about his experience with the criminal justice process. However, the details of the court proceedings, the charges on which he was convicted and the evidence presented at trial have not been independently established in this report.
Claims of a Planned Case
During the interview, Short Prophet expressed the belief that the case against him had been deliberately orchestrated. He alleged that some individuals involved in the investigation knew he was not responsible for the activities under investigation but proceeded with the case.
To support his account, he recalled an encounter with a person he identified as an EOCO official after his release from prison.
According to Short Prophet, the individual approached him and asked whether he had returned from prison. He said that after identifying himself as someone from EOCO, the individual allegedly told him that the organisation did not know him and that the matter concerned his boss.
Short Prophet interpreted the encounter as an indication that some people involved in the case knew he was not responsible for the alleged offences.
These allegations have not been independently verified, and no response from EOCO or details from the relevant court records were available in the account provided.
Says the Experience Affected His Mental and Emotional Well-Being
Reflecting on the incident, Short Prophet said the experience affected him emotionally, particularly because he believed he had been punished for something he did not do.
He explained that after being granted bail at an earlier stage of the proceedings, he returned home and spent time thinking about the circumstances surrounding the case.
According to him, the experience left him deeply troubled, prompting him to withdraw from public life for a period.
He also criticised what he described as weaknesses in Ghana’s justice system, arguing that people accused of crimes should not be subjected to prolonged detention without sufficient evidence.
His account highlights the emotional and social consequences that criminal proceedings can have on individuals, especially when they believe they have been wrongly accused.
Legal Representation and Family Support
Short Prophet also recounted the difficulties his family faced in securing legal representation during the case.
He said some family members supported him, particularly a cousin, but financial constraints made it difficult to sustain his defence.
According to him, the family initially engaged a lawyer who reportedly demanded GH¢500 before properly taking up the case. He alleged that the lawyer subsequently failed to attend court proceedings consistently, prompting them to discontinue the arrangement.
He said they later turned to Legal Aid, which provided assistance with his case.
His account illustrates the financial challenges that individuals and their families may face when trying to secure legal representation, particularly when they have limited resources.
Prison Sentence Interrupted His Sporting Career
Beyond the legal proceedings, Short Prophet revealed that he was actively involved in sports when the incident occurred.
He said he was a member of the Black Giants national team and served as its deputy captain at the time of his arrest and subsequent imprisonment.
According to him, his involvement in the national team made the experience even more painful, as his sporting activities were interrupted by the case.
He further alleged that some people involved in the proceedings were aware of his position on the team but still proceeded with the case.
His story highlights how a prison sentence can disrupt an individual’s career, ambitions and personal development, particularly when it occurs at a critical stage of their professional journey.
Calls Attention to Fair Trial and Due Process
Short Prophet’s account has brought renewed attention to his past and the circumstances he says led to his imprisonment.
His allegations touch on important issues concerning due process, the treatment of suspects in custody, access to legal representation and the need for evidence-based criminal proceedings.
However, his recollection represents his account of the events. Establishing the full circumstances of the case would require examining the relevant court records, the charges brought against him, the evidence presented during the trial and any response from EOCO.
As he continues to share his experience publicly, further information could help clarify the events surrounding his arrest, conviction and eventual release.
