Kweku Smoke pays KNUST student’s spinal surgery
Ghanaian rapper Kweku Smoke, born Paul Amankwah, has stepped in to fully fund a life-saving spinal surgery for Osman Awudu Abu, a final-year student of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), reading BA. History.
 |
| Reginald handing over the donation to Osman's family |
Osman is battling a severe spinal condition that, according to an emergency flyer circulating online, "requires immediate surgery involving the implantation of a metal rod and screws to straighten his spine and relieve pressure on his nerves." The cost of the surgery was estimated at GH₵66,000, a sum Osman and his family were struggling to raise. With the procedure needed before the end of July 2025, time was running out.
 |
| The Emergency Flier |
As the flyer made rounds on social media, Ghanaians rallied in support, reposting and raising awareness. One notable post came from Reginald Jojo Gwira, a KNUST SRC aspirant, who amplified Osman's story. That tweet caught the eye of award-winning artiste Kweku Smoke, who responded with a simple but powerful statement:
"I will pay it 🙏."
I will pay it 🙏🏿 https://t.co/RGiJHbBZjh
— BIG SHMOKE 💨 (@kwekusmoke_) July 24, 2025
Smoke’s response sent waves across social media, with many praising him for his generosity and willingness to save a life. True to his word, the funds were made available, and Reginald, who had taken it upon himself to coordinate the appeal, followed through with the donation.
 |
| Reginald with Osman's Family |
In a photo shared online, Reginald is seen sitting beside a family member of Osman, holding what appears to be the cash for the surgery while on a call—likely finalizing arrangements. He also visited Osman's home, met with the family, and spoke to Osman himself, who was lying on a mattress. On behalf of Kweku Smoke, Reginald made the donation and engaged the family, who expressed immense gratitude and prayed for blessings upon the rapper.
 |
| Reginald on phone |
Originally destined to become a lawyer, his journey into music began when his elder brother, an aspiring rapper, introduced him to the studio. Watching and learning, Kweku Smoke developed his lyrical talent at a young age. He honed his skills through freestyles and early recordings under the name YRS.
An alumnus of Victory International School and Benkum Senior High School, he pursued tertiary education at KNUST. During high school, he and friends built a home studio where they started recording music seriously.
After a 2015 collaboration with Flowking Stone, he bounced back stronger in 2019, connecting with Nana Boro, who introduced him to Sarkodie. That same year, the viral success of “Yedin” marked a turning point in his career.
Since then, Kweku Smoke has dropped multiple EPs including Snoop Forever, Big Shmoke, and Eye Red, and collaborated with artists like Bosom Pyung, Yaw Tog, Reggie, O’Kenneth, Jay Bhad, and more—cementing his place as one of Ghana’s top young rap talents.
If you’re interested in hearing more from KNUST NEWS FILE, subscribe to my Telegram and Whatsapp Channels, X (Twitter), Tiktok, Instagram, and Facebook for updates.