Braimah Kamoko popularly known as Bukom Banku has expressed sadness over the continuous display of disdain and mockery towards him by some Ghanaians.
According to Banku, despite his success as a boxer and actor, some Ghanaians particularly his ‘own’ Bukom people do not treat him with the respect and courtesy he deserves.
Speaking in an interview with Abeiku Santana on his Atuu show, Banku noted that unlike other places where people of his stature and accomplishments are treated with reverence and honour, he is constantly subjected to ridicule and abuse by residents of Bukom.
He was however quick to remind them that he is one of their own and that he is a reflection of the Bukom society.
“You know my area, I think we all get mental problem. Our area if you are a super or a police or soldier, they don’t respect you. They don’t respect you that you are a graduate but they born me in Bukom so the way the people are, so am I. The way the Bukom boys are fantastic or foolish, it’s the same way I am. So when you do me something I will retaliate because they don’t respect me as a superstar.”
“When things come their way I stand. If its police matter I stand but our area they don’t respect. When I’m driving car and I pass they call it a toilet car. Why is our area like that,” Banku lamented.
Banku revealed in the same interview, that prior to becoming a boxer, he was a thief and engaged in ‘street fights but has stopped due to the money has made from boxing.
"I’m a ghetto boy. I used to go to the seashore, Kantamanto and other places to fight. I’m a street fighter. I did rough things like picking people’s money, beating people rough. So it’s the ghetto people I used to do these things with who told me that the way you have strength, you have to be a boxer so they sent me to the gym. Right now boxing has made a superstar in the nation so I’m really grateful to all ghetto people.”