Veteran Ghanaian movie producer Socrate Safo recently weighed in on a statement made by the late gospel musician Kofi Owusu Dua Anto, also known as KODA, regarding a doctor’s misprescription that lasted eight months before KODA’s passing.
Safo highlighted the seriousness of doctors administering incorrect medication, referencing a similar case involving the late American musician Michael Jackson.
Safo emphasised that giving the wrong medication to a patient is a serious offence that should not be taken lightly.
He cited the case of Michael Jackson, where the doctor responsible for the incorrect medication was charged, found guilty, and jailed, despite the musician’s request for the medication.
“In medical terms, the offence [wrong medication prescription] is very high. You remember the trial about Michael Jackson’s death. Even though the musician asked for the injection, the doctor who did that was charged, found guilty, and even jailed.
“I have lost some people who were close to me because of some of these issues. In this particular KODA case, he should have sued [the doctor responsible for the wrong medication prescription],” said Socrate.
Speaking on Okay FM and reported by GhanaWeb, Safo expressed that KODA should have taken legal action against the doctor who gave him the wrong medication.
He stressed the gravity of such medical errors, noting personal losses due to similar issues.
Safo’s comments come in response to a viral video of KODA recounting his experience with incorrect medication for eight months, sparking questions about why the responsible doctor was not held accountable for their actions.
KODA’s health issues
KODA was battling with a condition called G6PD deficiency. While it has not been established that it was the cause of his death, the musician, in a video that has gone viral, said he took the wrong medication for eight months.
He spoke about how he had been given the wrong medication at an unnamed Takoradi-based hospital during one episode that he suffered, stressing how that incident changed him forever in terms of demanding answers on his health.
He said after he had been treated over two days and released back in 2016 thereabout, “I started developing some funny, funny symptoms here and there over time, and I noticed something was not right.
“So, I remember one day being bold enough to google the medication I was given, and I noticed that one major element that I was asked to take was a Sulphur-based medication, and immediately I told myself that I had a medical condition called G6PD.
“I know for sure that Sulphur is one of the things that I am not supposed to take. Why, the people, they want kill me or what? Because I had taken the medication for over six, close to 8 months,” he added.
About KODA
KODA was a Ghanaian gospel singer, songwriter, music producer, and multi-instrumentalist who was based in Takoradi in the Western Region of Ghana.
Celebrated as one of the definitive sounds of Ghana’s influential contemporary gospel music, KODA was a multi-award-winning artiste passionate about sharing the gospel and helping shape the sound and music direction of others through music production.
He produced music for the likes of the late Danny Nettey, Ps. Joe Beechem, Nii Okai, Halal Afrika, Eugene Zuta, and more.
KODA’s discography includes three studio albums, two live albums, and two instrumental/ jazz albums.
‘Keteke’ was his 6th vocal album.
He is well-known for popular gospel songs such as ‘Nkwaa Abodo’, ‘Nsem Pii’, ‘Adooso’ and ‘Hossana’.
Others are ‘Poma Dadaa’, ‘Amen’ and ‘Zion Song’.
Many tributes continue to flood social media platforms.