Features
Reorganising life after Easter
By the grace of God, the people of Ghana, together with the rest of the world have celebrated Easter shared in the joy of that occasion which to Christians serves as a salvation period for mankind which aims at bringing about peace to humanity.
Many a time, this occasion though always celebrated, is taken for granted without critically and comprehensively examining its essence to society and mankind. It is an important occasion that must be thoroughly examined in other to understand its purpose and importance or significance.
Even though we have been celebrating Easter since our childhood, we do not seem to really understand what it stands for and how we can use it as a guide for our social, economic and political life.
ESSENCE OF EASTER
As a nation, Ghana and its people ought to reflect on the essence of Easter and bring it close to heart as a way of guiding all activities in society to maximise its benefits for the good of society. It is only when this is done that, we can boast of having maximised the benefits from Easter.
Easter is usually celebrated on Sunday and this occasion is referred to as Easter Sunday. However, Easter is not a one-time occasion but is preceded by events all of which contribute in a relevant manner to that occasion which has become known as Easter Sunday.
The preparation for Easter begins a week before and this is known as Palm Sunday. On this occasion, the saviour of the world is hailed in a vociferous manner by people who follow him, pointing out to the world that the saviour ought to be accepted and praised. This praise was carried out in a genuine manner throughout that period and everyone present accepted that the Lord our saviour indeed deserves to be praised.
GENUINE COMMITTMENT
It is for this reason that he was given a donkey to ride on to show how genuinely committed to the people. The treatment given to the saviour on this occasion also showed that he was a great person who ought to be treated with respect and revered by all.
Interestingly, not long after this, the Lord Jesus Christ was betrayed by his own people. On holy Thursday for instance, he became sad because he knew he was going to be betrayed by his own people. This was a very unfortunate situation.
After being rejected by his own people, he was crucified on Friday and because of the shedding of blood to save mankind that occasion became known as Good Friday. It was an occasion that marked the salvation of men and women on this earth. How sweet this day was!
Being a true son of God and created for this special purpose, Jesus Christ did not stay in death but had to rise again after three days. This is what makes him a unique person. He was special because he did not stay in death but had to resurrect to prove to the world that he was indeed wonderful and brought into the world for a special purpose.
EASTER MONDAY
This special purpose was celebrated in various forms and on Easter Monday, which was declared a holiday in many countries, Christians took advantage on the Monday to celebrate this occasion in various ways. It is widely known that picnics were usually organised by churches and other groups of people to engage in enjoyment of special social activities meant to celebrate the occasion. On such occasion, people bring food to share with friends and loved ones after which games are also played with each other.
The Easter festivities were meant to give us useful lessons which when properly adopted can make our lives better. Not only can personal lives be improved upon, but society can also be turned round for the better. The first lesson which can be learnt from the period of Easter is that it is not everyone who praises you who must behave as genuine. This is because the very people who shout “Praise him! Praise him!!” are the same people who will turn round and say “Crucify him! Crucify him!!”. This is often done to our political leaders some of whom sacrifice their lives to make things better for the country.
Even before the occasion of Palm Sunday, Christians go through a period of lent. This period teaches Christians a big lesson, to deny themselves of some comfort to appreciate the sufferings which other people go through. When you deny yourself of the pleasures of life and fast or even abstain from sex as married couples, it makes you realise the difficulties that people go through when they have no food to eat. Even though it purges the body of excess food and prepares a person for a new life, the pain and discomfort encountered help to teach us useful lessons about life.
DENIAL
Again, Jesus Christ was denied by one of his own disciples in the person of Judas. There is a Judas in every home, household, or country and this teaches us that every leader must be prepared to undergo disappointment in this way. As a son of God who existed in human flesh, his human nature might have made him very sad after being denied by Judas who was very close to him as a friend.
Earlier before this incident, Simon Peter had also vowed never to deny Jesus of any support. Unfortunately, before the cock crowed, Peter had denied him “three times”. Again, it tells us that man, no matter what can never be dependable.
However, the good news is that Easter had brought us real joy and made us stand for what is good. If we are to stand for what is good then we need to appreciate one another and remember what society has done for us, not forgetting about the great contributions made by our leaders, so that together we can appreciate one another and make society a better place for all.
In our national politics, we need to be genuinely committed to one another and to show genuine love to all manner of people irrespective of political affiliation, social status, religion, or ethnic background. We must not show pretense when within our heart we do not like certain things being done to us. At the same time, those of us who criticise us for one reason or the other should not be marked down for hatred, punishment or discrimination.
NEW SOCIAL LIFE
The old way of doing things must give way to a new social life. This new social life must be pleasant, positive, impactful and bring all of us together for the common good. This common good when promoted is what will bring progress to all manner of people in society irrespective of their familiar and unfamiliar backgrounds.
Ghanaians must therefore not go back to the old way of doing things after Easter but rather turn on a new leave for the rapid progress of the country. We want to see much more cordial relations in parliament between the majority and minority but not the usual negative ways of doing things over there. Political parties and other groups and professionals must also exhibit genuineness and sincerities in all things done, so that we can find it easy to depend on one another.
We must also be prepared to help those who are in need in our neighborhood so that life, even if not perfect, can be bearable and made more pleasant than it is today. Those are the positive changes we want to see after Easter, but not to move on “with busines as usual.”
The world has taught us useful lessons, whether in the past or present. In the light of all these problems, challenges and daily issues we become confronted with, we need to reorganise ourselves after celebrating the Easter to make our country a pleasant place for all.
By Dr. Kofi Amponsah-Bediako
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
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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
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