Features
The death threat of the dancing mosquito
I have just been informed that mosquitoes in Sikaman are manufactured in Dabala in the Volta Region, from where they are carted to Sogakofe where there is a depot to receive them in transit.
From Sogakofe, they are distributed all over the country to as far as Paga. But before they reach places like Paga, they are so lean and weak and cannot bite hard.
People claim Dabala is where the mosquito factory is located because Dabala mosquitoes have distinguished themselves in several ways.
They have jaws and muscles and some of them are so plump and might be suffering from hypertension and cholesterol. Some of them are in fact so fat they can’t even smile, sorry fly. But those with moustache do not bite. They only dance.
When I was a young student, my colleagues at St. Paul’s Secondary used to tell me that mosquitoes on their campus were not common mosquitoes. They had teeth and could tear any mosquito net and descend on their victim. Some students, therefore, decided to use calico to sew their nets to avoid ‘death by mosquito squad.’
Whatever it is, the mosquito is a very romantic creature. It doesn’t only bite. It sings love songs to the annoyance of the human ear. When they are two or three in number, they form an orchestra and entertain all night long. I hear it is the males that sing. As for the females they are always busy looking out for a bite. Fear woman and live long!
Sikaman doctors are always thankful that mosquitoes are in abundance in the country. The mosquito gives them money. Doctors at private clinics make their money via the female mosquito. About 80 per cent of heath cases are malaria-related.
So if you want to wipe out mosquitoes, a private doctor is likely to warn you before informing you that mosquitoes have the constitutional right to live.
If you want to wipe out mosquitoes from Sikaman without parliamentary approval, we shall deal with you. We shall make sure that mosquitoes enjoy their right to life. This will be by decree.
Well, mosquitoes will have to be wiped out any way if we can because some of us are too prone to malaria. Kwame Alomele, for instance, suffers from malaria fortnightly. Just one mosquito bite is enough to knock me out but I’m now used to the situation. Now malaria to me is like another stomach upset. In any case the drugs are becoming less and less effective in curing the disease, so most often I leave the disease to cure itself.
MYTHS
There were and are many myths about the tropic’s most common disease- malaria. When the cause of the disease was not known, it was generally attributed to bad air from which it got its name -MAL (bad) RIA (air). People were advised not to breathe the cool night air because it had malaria parasites in it. They did not know a tiny creature was causing all the havoc.
Even today, some people attribute malaria to beer drinking. Some say too much bitters give malaria. Others claim too much of sex makes one prone to malaria. If that were so, my uncle Kofi Jogolo would have died a century ago. His stylish moustache not-withstanding, he is well addicted to beer, the brand doesn’t matter. He takes bitters occasionally and openly declares that he has a restless waist. I don’t remember the last time he got sick of malaria.
So the cause must naturally fall on the mosquito. That is the culprit yesterday, today and forever. The problem with the mosquito is that it is difficult to wipe out unless the environment is carefully attended to- no stagnant water, no water in empty milk tins, no bushy surroundings, and no choked gutters. It is a very versatile creature which can breed anywhere water collects for a while.
As it were, no mosquitoes are bred in Dabala and distributed via a depot in Sogakofe where I once lived as a kid. That was where I thought I could beat my elder brother but I often made the wrong judgement.
He was a quiet fellow and I was more open and aggressive. We fought a number of bouts and although I was losing 70 per cent of the fights, I still had hope I could floor him, taking into consideration my style, footwork and agility.
I relied on speed and aggression, but the guy was, growing faster and bigger and had more punching power. He would beat me to coma-point but I fought back gallantly and once I was praised for my accuracy and precision in punch delivery.
Years later, my Mum told me when we were at Sogakofe I was sick of malaria so often and it was so frequent she thought I wouldn’t live. But Kwame Alomele has always been a survivor. When I learnt recently that Sogakofe was a distributing point of mosquitoes, I realised I had once lived in dangerous territory where I started my early boxing practice.
My concern with malaria is not so much about prevention but cure. Prevention lies in our hands-KEEP A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT but cure is becoming a problem. Chloroquine which used to be the most medically suitable drug has apparently lost its ability to deal with the disease.
Some doctors I spoke to said this is happening because people are self-medicating and abusing the drug. For example, if you do not take the full course of chloroquine and only go half way through, all the parasites wouldn’t die. The remaining parasites will survive and later get inured against chloroquine. So further administration of chloroquine least bothers the parasites.
The doctors say chloroquine is still the most effective drug. If so, there must be some education on drug use countrywide and on why people should not self-medicate. They should not self-medicate, for instance, because the disease might be typhoid and not malaria; and typhoid cannot be cured by chloroquine.
But one thing the doctors will have to explain to me is why I have malaria so often when I am not a sickle cell patient.
This article was first published
on Saturday, May 16, 1998
Merari Alomele’s
- Mosquito is a romatic creature
Your Weekend Companion
www.spectator.com.gh
When Abigail Fremah steps up to the Armwrestling table, the noise fades, the tension settles, and order takes over.
Despite a calm, but firm and meticulous disposition, she has become one of the quiet forces shaping Ghana’s growing reputation in the sport, not as an athlete, but a referee trusted on the continental stage.
Abigail’s journey into Armwrestling did not begin at the table. Like many Ghanaian sports enthusiasts, she grew up playing several disciplines. Football was her first love, but she also featured in volleyball and basketball during her school years. Sports, she says, was simply a way of life not just for her.
“It runs through the family. All my siblings are into sports,” she stated.
“I was involved in almost every sport in school, football, volleyball, netball, hockey; I did everything,” she recalls.
Her academic background in Health, Physical Education and Recreation laid a solid foundation for her sporting career. While on scholarship at the university (University of Cape Coast), she often used her modest budget to support young athletes, sometimes sharing skills and even T-shirts at programmes she attended. Giving back, she explains, has always been part of her motivation.
However, as she matured as an athlete, Abigail made a critical self-assessment.
“Armwrestling involves a lot of strength,” she admits. “Looking at my body type, I realised I couldn’t fit properly as a competitive athlete.”
That moment of honesty pushed her to a different trajectory but equally important path in sports; which is officiating.
During her National Service, she was encouraged by Mr Charles Osei Asibey, the President of the Ghana Armwrestling Federation (GAF), to consider officiating. He introduced her to a technical official, Mr Hussein Akuerteh Addy, who formally took her through the basics of Armwrestling officiating in 2021.
“I started as a case official,” she says. “We moved from region to region every week, officiating competitions. That’s where it all began.”
By 2022, Abigail was actively involved in national assignments, though she missed the African Championship that year. Her breakthrough came in 2023, when Ghana hosted the African Armwrestling Championship.
It was her first experience officiating at a major international competition and it changed everything.
“That was my first national and international exposure at the same time,” she says. “It really opened my eyes.”
Today, Abigail is a World Junior Armwrestling Referee, a status earned through performance, consistency and discipline. She explains that progression in officiating was not automatic.
“It’s all about performance, your appearance at African Championships, your conduct, how you handle pressure; that’s what takes you to the world level,” she stressed.
As a referee, Abigail’s priority is safety and fairness. Armwrestling, she notes, comes with risks, particularly injuries to the wrists, elbows, shoulders and arms.
“If athletes don’t follow the rules or refuse to listen to officials, injuries can happen,” she explains, adding that focus was everything.
Before every match, she ensures that all equipment which includes elbow pads, hand pegs and table alignment were properly set. Athletes are not allowed to cover their elbows, must grip correctly, and must follow the referee’s commands precisely.
“We make sure everything is fixed before the grip,” she says. “Once we say ‘Ready… Go’, there should be no confusion.”
She is also firm on discipline. Warnings are issued for infractions, and repeated misconduct attracts penalties.
“The referee must be respected, if you don’t listen, the rules will deal with you,” she says.
Abigail credits her confidence partly to her sporting family background. Her mother was a volleyball player, while other family members also participated in sports. Though they were initially concerned about her safety, her rise to the top reassured them.
“They were afraid at first,” she admits. “But they were also very proud, especially because some of them never got the opportunity to reach this level.”
Looking ahead, Abigail is optimistic about the future of Armwrestling in Ghana. In less than a decade, the country has produced African and world-level medalists, a sign, she believes, of great things to come for Ghana.
“Whenever we go out, we come back with medals such as gold and silver,” she says, and to her that was a sign of growth.
In the next five to ten years, Abigail sees herself rising to become a World Master Referee, the highest officiating level in the sport. Until then, her routine remains intense, training four times a week, working closely with athletes, standing on her feet for hours, and constantly refining her understanding of the rules.
“I love this sport,” she says simply. “That love is what keeps me going.”
Abigail encouraged women to be bold and intentional about their place in sports saying “don’t limit yourself because of fear or stereotypes.”
She also urged women to invest in learning, discipline and consistency, stressing that respect was earned through performance.
For Abigail, as Ghana’s armwrestlers continue to make their mark, she will remain where she is most effective at the table, ensuring the game is played right.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
Join our WhatsApp Channel now!
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBElzjInlqHhl1aTU27
As he had promised Aperkeh, the elderly man and his wife and three daughters stopped by Aperkeh’s parents’ house. Mr Amando and his family were preparing to settle in for the night.
“Brother Ben and family”, Mr Joshua Amando said warmly, “although I know you are here on a matter that can hardly be described as joyous, it is still good to see you. You are welcome. Please sit down while I bring you water”.
“Yes, we will take water, even though we are hardly thirsty, because this is our home”.
“Okay, Ben”, he started after they had drank, “Let me go straight to the point. My daughter Priscilla has told me about the goings on between her brother Aperkeh and our daughter Stella.
Before informing me, Priscilla had expressed concern to Aperkeh about some habits he is adopting, especially the late nights and the drinking. She tells me that one Saturday morning, she was there when Stella complained about his drinking and some girls who had come to the house to look for him, and he assaulted her.
I called him and complained, but all he could say was that I don’t know what caused him to react that way, so I could not judge him. Now he does not answer my calls.
I have sent Priscilla to his house to call him, but he has refused to come. Unfortunately, Ben, my son is a much different person than the young boy who completed university and started work at the bank. I am really embarrassed about his treatment of Stella”.
“Joshua, let me assure you that even though what is happening is very unfortunate, it will not affect our relationship.
We have been friends since childhood, and I thought that with their parents’ blessing, the relationship between Aperkeh and Stella would grow to become a blessing to all of us. But there appears to be a real challenge now.
Stella thinks that Aperkeh wants her out of his house, and indeed Aperkeh himself told me that, about an hour ago.
So I’m taking my daughter home. I suggest that you do what you can to straighten him out, but if it does not work out, let’s accept the situation and continue to be one family.
I am sure that being the well behaved girl that she is, Stella will meet a young man who will cherish her. Fortunately, this problem is happening early in the day, so they can sort things out if possible, or move on with their lives if they are unable to stay together”.
“I’m really grateful for that, Ben. I will do my best in the next few days to reason with him, because apart from the relationship with Stella, Aperkeh is risking his job and career with this lifestyle.
A good job and salary offers an opportunity to gather momentum in life, not to destroy yourself”.
“Okay Brother Joshua. We will say goodnight. I hope to hear positive news from you”.
As he descended in the lift from the fourth to the ground floor, Aperkeh wondered who would be waiting at the reception to see him at nine on Monday morning. He had spent good time with both of his new girls during the weekend, so it had to be someone else. He got out of the lift and pulled a face when he saw Priscilla.
“Priscilla”, he said as he sat down by her, “what do you want here? You know Monday morning is a busy time at the bank. I am a very busy person, so say what you want, I have work to do”.
“You are very funny, Aperkeh. You are telling me, your sister, that you have work to do, so I should hurry up? Okay, Dad says I should advise you to come home tonight, because he wants to discuss the issue of Stella with you. He sent me to you twice, and you did not come.
He has tried to call you quite a number of times, but you have refused to answer his calls. He says that if you do not come tonight, you will be very surprised at what he will do. He says you will not like it at all, so better come.
“What is all this? Why won’t you people leave me alone? Stella is very disrespectful. I told her that if she wanted to continue to live in my house, she must obey me. It is that simple.
She chose to continue ordering me about, controlling me in my own house, so I told her that if she could not live under my conditions she should leave. And she left. In fact, her own father came and took her away. So what again?’’
“How did she disobey or control you? Was she complaining about your continuous drinking and late nights? And did you slap her on several occasions because of that? Did you tell her that if she could not live under your conditions she should leave? You actually said that to her father? You have forgotten that before she came to live with you, our two parents met and agreed, and gave it their blessing?’
“Why don’t you leave, Priscilla? I don’t have to listen to all that”. “Okay, I will go. Your father who gave birth to you and educated you to university level sends me to you, and you ask me to leave? I wish you would defy him, and refuse to come home as he’s telling you, because he is planning to give you the discipline you badly need. Let me tell you. Stella is such a beautiful and decent girl, and I assure you that someone will grab her before you say Jack. You are only 30 years old, and you have already become a drunkard”.
As he walked towards the lift, Aperkeh decided on what to do. He would go home, and calmly listen to what his father had to say. The old man was very unpredictable, and he wouldn’t dare ignore him. So he would take all the insults and threats, but as for Stella she was history. According to Priscilla, Stella was beautiful and all that, but she had not seen the two curvaceous princesses who were all over him, ready to do anything he asked. And these were not barely literate waakye girls, but university graduates from wealthy homes, really classy girls. With stuff like that, who needs a waakye girl? He smiled as he took his seat.
A few minutes to five, Aperkeh was packing up to leave for home to meet his dad when his phone rang. It was Priscilla.
“Aperkeh, Dad says you don’t need to bother to come. Stella’s dad says she came to him early this morning to plead that she would rather stay at home than return to your house. She thinks you are already decided to be rid of her, and she does not want to risk being assaulted again. So it’s done. You can go ahead and enjoy the nice life you have started”.
Before he could tell her to go to hell, Priscilla hanged up the line. He was partially stung that his dad had virtually cut him off. The last thing anyone would want was to fall out of relationship with his own family, which had always supported him.
But the truth was he was no longer interested in Stella. What was wrong with going by one’s feelings? He could only hope that one day, his parents and sister would try to reason with him.
By Ekow de Heer
Join our WhatsApp Channel now!
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBElzjInlqHhl1aTU27
