A GNA feature by Nana Kodjo Jehu-Appiah
He was known as Daniel Ngedaaku Kermah, was born on January 15, 1963, at Nzemaland, but left the world too soon at the age of 51.
A short but lethal sickness terminated his promising life on August 22, 2014, at Korle-bu Teaching Hospital.
A number of people including Jake Okanta Obetsebi- Lamptey, former Chairman of the main opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) Fritz Bafour, Member of Parliament for Ablekuma- South in Greater Accra Region, Charles Kofi Bucknor, an icon in the arts industry, and ace film producer Kwaw Ansah, captured his profile as a selfless, creative person who gave all out to the service of humanity.
He however left a mark that should have sky rocketed him to fame and as a former student of National Film and Television Institute (NAFTI), this was what the Alumni, said about him: ?One could imagine what revolution Dan and his likes would have brought into the creative arts in Ghana were not, sadly, a nation that incurably shuns creativity and upholds mediocrity, a nation that amazingly has more ?celebrities? than people who display true talent.
?All one needs to do is to put a ?song? or something together, have it played on air a couple of times, or talked about in the print media, and you become an instant celebrity. In more serious countries like the US, it takes the like of Michael Jackson, Jay Z, Beyonce, Celine Dion, etc., years of hard work and consistently to achieve celebrity status.
?Over here in Ghana, we get them a dozen a penny every month. And you see them, strutting the streets with chest high up to indicate to all that they have also arrive.?
It was touchy to hear his family members say that although Daniel worked for political parties, he took a principled stance against the use of the media for propaganda.
How could one throw away the golden opportunity to make quick money on the media landscape, by shunning mercenary journalism? Daniel decided to take this bold decision and it earned him some good friends and very fond tributes.
He rather preferred to undertake projects in West African countries including Cote d? Ivoire, Nigeria and Liberia, where he met President Ellen Sirleaf Johnson.
A tribute by Fritz Baffour said this about Daniel? What an unexpected tragedy for the world of film and television! I was gutted to use that unexpected term, when I heard that my partner in producing and directing the much loved TV comedy series; a decade ago- ?Fritz and Friends?, had passed on before his time to the great studio in the sky.?
Daniel produced the popular TV comic series together with 12 Legon students and was aimed to unearthed young comedy talents drawn from the School of Dramatic Arts at the University of Ghana, Legon.
Mr Baffour said Daniel was a gifted and extremely talented professional whom he met in the studios of the erstwhile Ghana Film Industry Corporation, when he was working on his TV programme ?sincerely yours?.
Daniel attended Mfantsipim and was proud of the college.
According to his family he was blessed with rich creativity and ?this early promise in the media materialised when he pursued further studies at the National Film and Television Institute?.
One of his earliest productions was a play performed by Star Preparatory School, Tema, which was screened on national television.
According his mother Daniel turned down the admission offered him at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and decided to enroll at NAFTI.
Daniel worked with the advertising agency Lintas Ghana Limited, as a Copywriter for Radio/TV, where he worked on a variety of accounts including, Air Zimbabwe, Coca Cola and Aim Stork, which brought the company into the limelight. He undertook business trips to Zimbabwe, South Africa, Cyprus, United States and United Kingdom.
In 1995 he was appointed Creative Director and therefore had greater authority in handling tasks assigned him and this boosted the company?s progress.
Daniel was very instrumental in the Key Soap Campaign, which became a very big household brand name.
As the Creative Director he helped to champion the Miss Lux Universe Campaign.
He however decided to go independent and set up a media production company, Studio One, producing adverts documentaries. His clients included United Nations, Barclays Bank, National Petroleum Corporation and Ghana National Gas Company.
Kwasi Ampene, Associate Professor of Michigan, Director, Centre for World Performance Studies, said Dan introduced him to the popular television host and comedian Kweku Sitim Misa or KSM as he is popularly called, and made sure that I was featured on KSM?s award winning ?Thank God It?s Friday (TGIF) television programme.
Kwabena Agyapong, General Secretary of NPP and Danny?s year group mate said he worked with him in producing political adverts during his time at Lintas.
Peter Martey Agbeko, a media consultant and former employee at Lintas, said: ?One notable trait that he (Daniel) possessed was his excellent interpersonal relationship with all staff. His special leadership abilities and charismatic personality were readily apparent!?
In a country where personal wealth and social influence is very important than life of integrity; the worthy tributes paid by mournful and tearful family members, sympathisers and friends was worth noting at a candle light ceremony at NAFTI campus on Friday; October 11, and Ebenezer Methodist Church, Community 20, Batsonaa Tema on Saturday; October 11.
