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The romance of Mothers’ Day
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EVERY Mother’s Day, I do the cooking! And I must announce it here that anybody who wants the best of goat-meat light-soup should contact me through my lawyers or bodyguard. I’m available to be hired to provide you and your family the best light-soup ever. My fees are pretty high though, and mind you, I charge in dollars.
Well, it isn’t that I’m an American, and my name is more Israeli than Yankee. The only consolation is that when you work in dollars, it can stand the vagaries of financial somersaults and gymnastics. The day the dollar loses its worth beyond a certain threshold, the world is finished. The world would have to go back to the days of barter -salt for bread, milk for cocoyam.
When I do the Mothers’ Day cooking, I remember my beloved mother. She is not alive but she lives in the hearts of those who knew Marion Adwoa Alomele and the kindness of her heart. She died at 58 and on May 6 every year, I shed a tear for mummy and pray for her soul.
Normally, I go to the market and do the shopping myself, against the loud protests of my wife. She doesn’t see how a huge six-footer of a man with a rotund belly can go from one market stall to another shopping for pepper, tomatoes, ginger, etc. Moreover, she thinks some women will cheat me. But whenever I do the shopping, it is the complete opposite. For certain unexplained reasons, the market women give me more than I deserve and my wife is always astonished.
Of course, knowing women for their petty idiosyncrasies, she might be thinking that because of the generous manner the market women treat me, they are giving me more for almost half the price. But if my wife ever asks me to do the shopping, then the very pronouncement is tantamount to domestic violence.
Yes! Why would she ask me to shop and I’d think this is normal? An affront to my dignity and integrity-a form of assault and battery against my good self, actionable at DOVVSU. Check me out!
Of course, when I’m driving and I see some fine yams, I sometimes stop and ask the vendor to put some in the boot. I also fancy driving to Kpong during weekends, if I’m in funds, to buy tilapia and those river fishes that taste real good if smoked. I can also decide to shop for the home, but if my wife asks me to do so, then that is a matter for arbitration. Sounds like a joke, isn’t it?
Well, there are various types of husbands. Some are so nice, even too nice and too docile. Some are iron men, even their wives’ clothing. Nice gentlemen, and that is their nature; they are born helpful and die helpful. They are active and always on the move, displaying a lot of physical capacity and expending energy on domestic and other chores.
Other men will only fix the bulb, check out on the plumber or carpenter or electrician to fix faults and that is all. Other responsibilities are lived up to on the marital bed. Looks like I belong to this group unless my wife thinks otherwise.
The third group of husbands just do not bother. They leave everything to the woman. They are typically lazy and even on the marital bed, they cannot get it up unless the woman takes over operational matters. Some wives even say, “My husband cannot pump. I have to do the pumping myself.”
But coming to think of it, when a woman takes over the romantic initiative, she definitely must be atop the mountain. That sounds pretty geographic but its romantic connotation is quite clear. Most women do not want to climb the mountain, though. Sometimes, it is too steep for comfort! But those who are believers in the romantic world will tell you that the steeper the better.
I will encourage men to cook for their wives on Mothers’ Day, because from experience, I have noticed that when you cook for a woman, she really appreciates it. Wallahi, she does! And because she has not expended energy in cooking that day, her energy is reserved to be used when it is bed-time. And it can get pretty hectic, if you ask me!
Isn’t it, therefore, in the interest of husbands, to occasionally cook for wives? Man, it is in our own interest to become occasional chefs at home, at least during weekends when romantic issues become heavier, and humans are likely to turn into animals and go on all fours.
People who think it is only Nebuchadnezzar who has walked on four legs, they do not know that every man has had his legs turned into something else. If you are not sure about yourself, go and ask your father.
As usual, this Mothers’ Day, I did the cooking, but I asked my wife to fix the shopping, because I was busy sleeping and when I am sleeping, I do not like disturbances. One thing my friends do not know about me is that when I am sleeping, they are politely turned away. I am politely told my daddy is sleeping — is what the last-born child is likely to tell you.
Even if, taflatse, you claim you are Jesus Christ of Nazareth, she will welcome you back to earth, but still remind you that, “My daddy is sleeping! Can you wait small?” If you persuade her to wake up daddy, she will tell you it is not possible. “He doesn’t like that.”
It was this last-born child of mine, Elorm, who loves me so much but loves her mummy more. I don’t blame her at all. After all, the woman carried her for nine months and laboured her out. The only thing I did was to pump it all up. No sweat at all!
Whenever it is Mothers’ Day, the children come to find out what’s for their mum. Last year, they talked about the chicken, salad, biscuits, cakes, drinks for mummy, etc, and me Kwame Alomele was forced to fund the show. When it came to Fathers’ Day, nobody approached me and I was downcast.
I called Elorm,
“Do you realise today is Fathers’ Day?”
She said, “Yes.”
“And what are you folks doing for your daddy?”
“Banku!”
This article was first published on Saturday, May 15, 2010
THE Rotary Club of Tema Community 25, Rotary International District 9104, has donated more than 800 reading books to St Dominic Savio R/C Basic School at Afienya to improve pupils’ reading skills and support teaching and learning.
The donation was made last Friday on the school premises and formed part of the club’s literacy and basic education activities. It was accompanied by a reading clinic and mentorship session involving about 500 pupils.
The initiative brought together members of the Rotary Club of Tema Community 25, Rotaract Clubs of Tema Community 25 and Central University, as well as partner Rotaract clubs from Tema Meridian, GCUC, GTUC, GIMPA and UHAS.
Speaking to The Spectator, the President of the Rotary Club of Tema Community 25 for the 2026/27 Rotary year, Prince Manu-Barfo, said the initiative was aimed at encouraging pupils to develop good reading habits while exposing them to career guidance and positive role models.
He said literacy and basic education were among Rotary’s seven areas of focus, explaining that the club supported schools through reading and mentorship activities.
According to him, pupils from kindergarten to Primary Three participated in a reading clinic, where they read storybooks from the donated collection with their teachers.
The best readers from each class were recognised and awarded as part of efforts to motivate other pupils to develop an interest in reading.
Pupils from Primary Four to Basic Eight, meanwhile, took part in a mentorship session led by professionals in engineering, STEM, education and child development.
He said about 500 pupils participated in the activities despite an ongoing teachers’ strike, adding that the support of teachers who were available contributed to the success of the programme.
Mr Manu-Barfo said the Rotary Club would continue to support the school, particularly in improving its library and creating a more conducive environment for reading.
The Headmistress of St Dominic Savio R/C Basic School, Madam Mary Dziwornu, welcomed the donation, saying improved reading skills would have a positive effect on pupils’ performance in other subjects.
She said the ability to read, understand and comprehend information was fundamental to children’s academic development.
According to her, the books would strengthen pupils’ reading and comprehension skills and enable them to tackle other subjects that required them to understand written information.
The Headmistress said measures had been put in place to ensure that the books were properly managed and remained available to pupils.
She explained that teachers, particularly members of the English Department, would be responsible for managing the library, with support from a French teacher.
A monitoring system would also be used to keep records of books borrowed by pupils and teachers.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
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OCTOBER is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a global opportunity to raise awareness of breast cancer and call for action to improve access to timely diagnosis and quality care.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), about 2.4 million women are diagnosed with breast cancer every year, with about 694,000 deaths recorded globally.
In Ghana, more than 5,000 women are diagnosed with the disease annually, with nearly 2,700 dying from it.
What is breast cancer?
Breast cancer occurs when malignant tumours develop in the breast. These cells can spread by breaking away from the original tumour and entering blood vessels or lymph vessels, which branch into tissues throughout the body. When cancer cells travel to other parts of the body, invade other organs, and begin damaging tissues and organs, the process is called metastasis.
Types
Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS)
Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is considered the earliest form of breast cancer. DCIS begins in the milk ducts, where the cancerous cells are contained within the ducts and have not spread into the surrounding breast tissue or nearby lymph nodes. Because the cancerous cells have not spread from their original location, DCIS is considered “non-invasive.”
Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC)
Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) is the most common type of invasive breast cancer. In IDC, cancer cells begin in the breast’s milk ducts and then spread into the surrounding healthy breast tissue. This ability to grow beyond their original location is what makes the cancer “invasive.” When IDC is diagnosed, it is assigned a stage between one and four.
Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC)
Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) is the second most common form of invasive breast cancer. It is a slow-growing cancer that begins in the milk glands (lobules) of the breast and has invaded, or spread, into the surrounding breast tissue or other areas of the body.
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC)
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive form of invasive breast cancer. TNBC lacks the three receptors—estrogen, progesterone, and HER2—that are usually found in breast cancer, making common hormonal therapies ineffective.
Metastatic breast cancer (MBC)
Metastatic breast cancer (MBC) means that the cancer has spread beyond the breast into other parts of the body, such as the bones, liver, lungs, or brain. MBC is stage four breast cancer and will be a part of the patient’s life for the rest of their life. While MBC is not curable, it is treatable.
Male breast cancer
Male breast cancer is rare and accounts for less than one per cent of all breast cancer diagnoses. Though less common, male breast cancer is often diagnosed at a later stage, making it more difficult to treat.
What to do
At the launch of this year’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month, organised by the Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Breast Society of Ghana (BSG), a specialist radiation oncologist with the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Dr Mary Ann Dadzie, said:
Do not dismiss painless breast lumps.
- “A painless lump is not a harmless lump.”
- Do not wait until a lump becomes painful before seeking medical attention.
- Seek medical attention quickly.
- See a health professional within two weeks of noticing an abnormality in the breast.
Know your breasts.
- Pay attention to changes in your breasts.
- Seek help when something appears unusual.
Dr Dadzie called on women to have regular breast checks, stressing the importance of:
- Regular clinical breast examinations.
- Appropriate screening, including mammography and ultrasound, with health professionals.
She urged family and friends to support women diagnosed with the disease, saying, “Home is where the support begins.”
She encouraged:
- Husbands, partners and families to help women with transportation, childcare and other practical needs.
- Friends to offer practical support.
Way forward
She called on women diagnosed with breast cancer to act early, seek medical attention promptly, and complete treatment.
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