The first runner-up in the first edition of Stars of the Future competition, William Ramzy Amui, popularly known as Ramzy who served jail sentence at the Nsawam medium security prison has said he was framed.

Ramzy who was convicted on the account of robbery was handed a 10-year sentence with hard labour. However, after serving 6 years in Nsawam, he has been released.

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Speaking to Accra-based Adom TV, he said: “I am not a thief. I have never stolen even meat from soup at home before. I come from a good home so by the grace of God what I will eat and where I sleep isn’t a problem but God wanted to hide me somewhere to empower me and produce great testimonies that would encourage people today. In all, I would say it was a blessing in disguise.”

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The singer’s mother said his son was framed because of the rivalries and jealousy that pertains in the entertainment industry.

"My son’s talent is singing and usually when you enter into that industry, all eyes are on you and you even become the talk of the town. You really do not know the intention of these people, some would want to destroy you, and others plot evil against you."

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Ramzy went ahead to assure those who are in despair in prison to hold on to their faith.

"Those in prison please do not give up! You should only give up when you are dead but until that, never give up. And don’t even think about it. And it will do you a lot more good than harm."

Before his incarceration, Ramzy was a fast rising star in the Ghanaian music industry. He placed second at the Stars of the Future in 2006 and also auditioned for the M-Net West Africa Idol contest in Nigeria in 2007.

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He was arrested only a few days before the date he was scheduled to go and compete in Nigeria.

He was handed a 10-year imprisonment with hard labour by the Tema High court presided over by Justice Peter Offei for his role in robbing a complainant of her 4×4 Toyota Highlander and an amount of GH¢300 at gunpoint.

Analysis

Many in Ghana’s overcrowded prisons also claim they were set up and that have no knowledge of the crimes they are convicted of. Several others in prison have been on remand for many years without an end to their trial in sight.

Prisons in Ghana are in very poor conditions with many human rights groups describing the conditions as inhumane.