Gomoa Central MP Kwame Asare Obeng, widely known as A Plus, says he has deliberately dialled down the combative persona that once defined his public image, arguing that a deeper sense of purpose has reshaped how he responds to criticism and conflict.
In a conversation on Talkertainment with GhanaWeb’s Elsie Lamar, the musician-turned-lawmaker explained that he no longer feels compelled to trade insults or wade into public disputes. In his view, a clearer understanding of his identity and future has made that phase unnecessary.
He disclosed that a personal spiritual turning point has also influenced his restraint. Rather than reacting to provocation, he now keeps a record of those who offend him, convinced that time will eventually place him in a position of authority over them and beyond.
“I’ve gained self-actualization. I know who I am, and I know who I will become tomorrow, so my outlook on life has become very different. I’ve had a conversation with God, so these days when someone offends me, instead of attacking them, I write their names in my diary and I say, ‘one day I will tell them to sleep and they will sleep,” he declared.
“I know that one day I will tell everybody in this country to go and sleep and they will sleep,” he said.
A Plus also reflected on his earlier years in the spotlight, suggesting that his outspoken approach often served interests beyond his own. He now believes that others benefited politically while he took on the reputational cost of being seen as confrontational.
“People used us, and I know that we have been used. People were enjoying what we were doing, and it was benefiting them in a way. We were fighting with everybody, we were seen as the aggressive ones, and people were making political capital out of us,” he stated.
He added that public encouragement during moments of bravado can be misleading, noting that the same supporters may withdraw when opportunities requiring a more polished image arise.
Drawing on a biblical comparison, he argued that acceptance does not always equal selection. He pointed out that while grace may be extended widely, positions of significance are often reserved under different standards.
“God loves prostitutes, God forgives prostitutes, but when it was time for him to birth his son, he chose a virgin. The same way they would A Plus is hard guy, they would be pushing you, but when it’s time for you to get to a certain position, they would gatekeep,” A Plus stated.
