Features
An ode to Kojo Tsikata
When I heard of the death of Captain KojoTsikata, all I said was Ghana has lost a great time in history. Only a couple of weeks ago I wrote in this column what Ghana would lose if Tsikata, indeed, refused to write his memoirs before his death.
His name evoked fear among many who had heard of his exploits in the liberation struggle hotspots on the African continent. We are told he was called General Gomez in Angola. I heard quite a bit about him till I met him for the first time in the last quarter of 1983. Before then I had only seen pictures of him.
I was in the first class section of Ghana’s only DC-9 aircraft at the time at the Murtala Mohammed Airport in Lagos, Nigeria, when Kojo walked in and took a seat after giving a head bow to those of us already seated. A cabin crew member gave him a piece of paper a while later. Kojo opened the folded paper, read whatever was on it, smiled and crumpled it into fine dust. He later told me in 2009 when I visited him in the company of Capt. Joel Kwami Sowu that was the last time he flew on Ghana Airways.
He was born into a family of very brilliant academics. True, every Tsikata I have encountered has an above average intellectual capacity. Kojo was no exception. I came to know him better through his friendship with Prof. Kofi Nyidewu Awoonor and my cousin, Charles “Avu” Segbefia. It took Avu many months to recover from the death of Awoonor in Nairobi, Kenya, from a terrorist attack. Avu was to die a couple of months later.
Like Professor Awoonor and Kofi Annan before him, Kojo Tsikata chose cremation as the method to dispose of his remains. Great souls make such a choice. And I have no doubt in my mind that Kojo was one great soul. I have come to the understanding that when people don’t know you they either fear, despise or even hate you. So was it with Kojo.
The following piece was forwarded to me by a bosom friend. The author is anonymous, though I suspect who it might be. It also tells of what I knew about the man Kojo Tsikata:
“Capt. Kojo Tsikata was my Boss, mentor, teacher, elder brother, all rolled in one. He did not only nurture me in the intricacies of the art of our profession, he also took me under his protective wings and taught me, by his own example, that life is all about being true to yourself, your principles, your beliefs and, above all, your total dedication and commitment to those beliefs and principles.
“It was such an honour and a great joy working under Capt. Kojo Tsikata. If you did a good job, he showed his appreciation for that excellent performance by a very firm handshake, a flash of a smile and a soft ‘thank you’ that was so satisfying. If he disapproved of your performance, he did not yell, castigate or say anything that could discourage you. He only gave you a long gaze and that piercing gaze was enough to spur you on to revisit the task, engage your intellectual faculties more rigorously and improve upon your performance. Because you were afraid of that gaze, you always made sure that you gave of your best.
“Captain Tsikata taught me also not to take myself too seriously but to be humble, unpretentious and develop the capacity to tolerate even my most spiteful detractors. He himself had detractors who were so vicious in their quest to assassinate his character. He was in Luanda, Angola, during the May 15 and June 4 1979 insurrections and subsequent executions of Generals Acheampong, Afrifa and others.
“I saw him almost daily and I personally broke the news of the executions of Acheampong and Utuka to him in his hotel room at the Panorama Hotel in Luanda. Yet, he was viciously accused of being present at a meeting at Burma Camp where he played a key role in the selection of those to be executed.
“This level of character assassination can affect the psychological and physical well-being of a person. But, Efo Kojo always bore the pain of these allegations with a forgiving smile. Even in death, an apology of a journalist decided to use the pretence of a tribute to malign his moral fortitude by surreptitiously implying that Captain had a hand in the execution of General Acheampong; the same person who spared his life!!! How low can people descend in their vow to vilify him even on his death bed!!
“Captain Kojo Tsikata was an African patriot of few parallels. He devoted most of his life to the liberation struggles in Africa. In his mind, political power is all about service; service to your Nation, your people and service that demands self-sacrifice. To him, political power, influence or connections are about using that influence and connections to do good for your Nation. Few days after his arrival in Angola in April 1979, at the invitation of President Agustinho Neto, I mentioned to him casually about the problem of accommodation that our Mission was facing.
“He did not tell me he would intervene on our behalf. Within two to three days, the Angola authorities resolved the problem. He was not obliged to intervene but he did so voluntarily thereby saving Ghana the huge expenditure on hotel accommodation. That is service to one’s Nation.Captain Tsikata dined with the most powerful in Africa and beyond.
“He was close friend with the highest echelon of political leadership and power in most parts of the world, particularly the African continent. But he NEVER tried to use such connections and influence for personal gain. Abraham Lincoln once said, ‘nearly all men can stand adversity; but, if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.’
“For years, Efo Kojo had enormous political power in Ghana but he never allowed it to consume his soul. We do know that, more often, political power triggers inappropriate behaviour.
“Power can make the holder have less empathy for the plight of other people. It can corrode the holder’s conscience. Captain Tsikata had that power but he never let it get into his head. He kept his feet firmly on the ground and used the formidable power and influence for the common good.
“He never underestimated the corruptive nature of political power. And he never succumbed to corruption. He had no palatial edifices or illegally acquired mansions in Ghana or elsewhere to boast of as many people in power often do so shamelessly. He had a soul as strong as granite and political power did not corrode it. He had also such a strong distaste and loathing for all the trappings of power; its stiff protocols and its suffocating grandeur. Wherever he is right now, I suspect he will be laughing at the foolishness and absurdity of it all.
“Those who did not know him that well saw Captain as a very stern person. But beneath the veneer of that seemingly stern, uncompromising and tough public image lay a very compassionate, patient, tolerant, very fair and very generous angelic soul.
“Efo Kojo lived a very unpretentious life that was so rich in its simplicity and so inspiring in its decency. He was special. I know he did not want a tribute and I totally respect his wish. So this is not a public but a few words to friends and family, just to say to him Efo Akpe. Well done.”
People know others for very many reasons and by what they stood for. Fortunately, none of the people who thought and said Kojo Tsikata was evil has come out to say what the man did to be so described. The above “few words to friends and family” sum up who the man KojoTsikata was. Rest well, brave soldier.
- Writer’s email address:
akofa45@yahoo.com
BY DR. AKOFA K. SEGBEFIA
Features
The global challenge of medical malpractice
Introduction
Medical malpractice is a significant concern worldwide, with far-reaching consequences for patients, healthcare providers, and the overall healthcare system.
It is defined as a deviation from the standard of care that results in patient harm, and can take many forms, including misdiagnosis, surgical errors, medication mistakes, and inadequate patient care.
This article provides a comprehensive overview of the issues surrounding medical malpractice, its consequences, and potential solutions.
The prevalence of
medical malpractice.
Medical malpractice is a widespread problem that affects patients in many countries. According to a study published in the Journal of Patient Safety, medical errors are the third leading cause of death in the United States, resulting in an estimated 251,000 deaths per year. Similarly, a study published in the British Medical Journal found that medical errors are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in the UK.
Types of medical
malpractice
Medical malpractice can take many forms, including:
1. Misdiagnosis: Failure to accurately diagnose a patient’s condition, leading to delayed or inappropriate treatment.
2. Surgical errors: Mistakes made during surgery, such as operating on the wrong body part or leaving instruments inside a patient.
3. Medication errors: Prescribing or administering the wrong medication, dose, or route of administration.
4. Inadequate patient care: Failure to provide adequate care, including neglecting to monitor patients, provide necessary treatment, or respond to patient concerns.
Consequences of medical malpractice:
Medical malpractice can have severe consequences for patients, including:
1. Physical harm: Patients may experience pain, suffering, and long-term health consequences.
2. Emotional trauma: Patients and their families may experience anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
3. Financial burden: Patients may incur significant medical expenses, lost wages, and other costs.
Solutions to medical malpractice:
To address the issue of medical malpractice, many countries have implemented reforms aimed at reducing the number of claims and improving patient safety. Some potential solutions include:
1. Tort reform: Limiting the amount of damages that can be awarded in medical malpractice cases.
2. Alternative dispute resolution: Using mediation or arbitration to resolve disputes outside of court.
3. Communication and Resolution Programs (CRPs): Encouraging open communication between healthcare providers and patients, and providing fair compensation for injuries.
Conclusion
Medical malpractice is a complex issue that requires a multifaceted approach to address.
By understanding the prevalence, types, and consequences of medical malpractice, we can work towards creating a safer and more compassionate healthcare system.
Potential solutions, such as tort reform, alternative dispute resolution, and CRPs, offer promising approaches to reducing medical malpractice claims and improving patient safety.
References:
[1] Makary, M. A., & Daniel, M. (2016). Medical error—the third leading cause of death in the US. BMJ, 353, i2139.
[2] Vincent, C., Neale, G., & Woloshynowych, M. (2001). Adverse events in British hospitals: preliminary retrospective record review. BMJ, 322(7285), 517-519.
By Robert Ekow Grimmond-Thompson
Features
Life is like a quiz competition
I watched a quiz show on TV last Sunday, between two schools, Okuapeman and I think University Practice. After the first round, University Practice was leading with about 30 points and Okuapeman had nothing.
Then comes the second round of the intended four rounds of competition and at the end of the round, surprise, surprise, Okuapeman had 60 points and University Practice had either zero or 10.
In the final analysis, Okuapeman won the competition with 95 points to University Practice’s 90 or 93 points. Such is life and the mysteries of life, are difficult to fathom.
There are classmates that we thought could not amount to much in life and yet we become pleasantly surprised as time passed, about the vast improvement in their lives.
There were other mates who were obviously destined for the top, based on their academic prowess but became complete failures later on in life.
When I was in the primary school, there was a classmate who most of the time came first in the end of term exams. He was very brilliant and so he going further up the academic ladder through Secondary school, Sixth form and ending up at the University was a forgone conclusion.
However, life’s mystery set in and he ended up as a teacher in a technical school owned by his brother-in-law. He did not amount to much, became an alcoholic and eventually passed away.
The day I heard that he had passed away and his general circumstances, I felt so sad. Such is life and sometimes it is like the quiz competition I witnessed, full of uncertainties.
There was another senior in Middle School, who also was very brilliant. In fact he got a score of 254 out of 300 in the Common Entrance Examination. Many years later, in my early years at the University, I met this guy at the Tarkwa Train Station and got the shock of my life. This guy was wearing a dirty, loosely fitting singlet and his state was pitiful.
Naturally after expressing pleasantries, I asked him what he was doing in Tarkwa after telling him that I was a student at the university. He then narrated how he was dismissed from the most prestigious Secondary School in the Kwahu area after some smoking and going out without exeat issue.
He further indicated that as a result, he was then hustling and doing Galamsey to make ends meet. I would have had a hard time believing that he was doing Galamsey and not working in a reputable organisation or institution if it was told me by someone. Indeed life can sometimes be like a quiz competition, if God is not involved.
Since we are not God and therefore do not have knowledge of what the future holds, we need to treat people who come across our paths well because you never know.
When I went for the funeral of one of my aunties, on my father side, with my SUV many years ago, a lot of my relatives were surprised because they never imagined that.
When it comes to say wealth, it has nothing to do with one’s academic qualifications. We have some of the wealthiest people who were school dropouts and so we need to be careful how we treat people, because life is like a quiz competition and you never know until the competition comes to an end.
I have seen someone who was not that nice looking, the nose being flat and all, and then 12 years later, such a huge natural transformation; so never write anybody off, because life is like a quiz competition. God bless.
NB: ‘CHANGE KOTOKA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TO KOFI BAAKO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT’
By Laud Kissi-Mensah
