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BEESIWA – PART TWO
Within a few days, Beesiwa had made herself comfortable and useful in Yaw Awotwe’s home. Although he was generally a well organised person, the young bachelor was in the habit of leaving things at open spaces, obviously thinking that because he lived alone, he would easily find them. Beesiwa got round to placing his money and important documents in files and drawers, and would inform him as soon as he came home. Yaw really appreciated that, and started getting into the habit of asking Beesiwa where some of his stuff were. She organised his dresses, and was so glad to see how the choices she made impacted his looks. Yaw Awotwe was a very good looking young man, and it was so nice seeing him at the breakfast table looking so sharp. Yaw had been converted to her cooking, and had started bringing his friends home to share his fun. And she loved walking him to his car, handing him his snack and suitcase, and waving him off. She was enjoying herself. She wished it would be possible for ‘something’ to change their relationship from reliable, efficient employee and appreciative, generous employer to something more interesting. But she was a very realistic person. Yaw was top class. He was way out of her range. Rather than spend precious time on emotional dreams that would never materialise, she decided to take advantage of her presence in his home to improve herself.
Yaw was quite pleased to learn that she was interested in current affairs, and experimenting with cooking. He encouraged her to take both interests seriously because, as he put it, knowing the world around you places you way ahead of your peers, and people who cook really well often make big money. Whenever his friends commended her on her good cooking, Yaw would offer Beesiwa’s help with catering for small parties and family occasions. Of course, he quickly added, she had to be paid well, because she was already employed and not looking for handouts. Within a couple of months, offers started flowing in, and Beesiwa told her boss that although the money was quite interesting, she didn’t want to stop working with him, so she was cutting the outside catering to manageable levels.
‘Thanks for wanting to continue working with me, Beesiwa, but why don’t you consider employing one or two people to help you? Talk to your mother, and train a couple of young people during the weekends, and then anytime you get a job or contract you can guide them to go and deliver. And with the kind of things people are saying about you, you will one day need to set up your own catering company with quite a number of employees. So don’t throw away this opportunity. You don’t want to stop working with me, but let’s see whether you can find others to help. Think about it and join hands with your mum. Things will happen big time.’
And that is exactly what happened. Within a year, Beesiwa had created space in her mother’s home for a well-equipped unit with four efficient young ladies that continuously delivered good quality dishes for all sorts of functions. Beesiwa was transformed into a gorgeous personality, and Yaw started thinking whether he should be looking closer home instead of farming afield for dates. He had been going out with Patricia, a doctor, for a few months, and they felt very comfortable in each other’s company, but their work schedules were a problem. Dr Patricia was more than a key person in the Children’s Hospital where she worked, and she had very little time for life outside the hospital. Yaw greatly respected her dedication to work, but he wondered whether, with his own business about to gain momentum, it was wise to enter into a commitment with a woman whom he would only meet at home once in a while. Beesiwa was not just a beautiful girl with good character and efficient home manager. She had been able to combine managing his home with starting a business enterprise on the side which was doing very well. He started to approach the issue gently, and hopefully he could get her to see things his way.
Beesiwa, on the other hand, had been nursing some frustration about what appeared to be the fruitless dream of nursing ambitions of a relationship with Yaw Awotwe. Although she had begun to make some good money and had therefore gained some self-confidence, Yaw was still streets ahead, and did not show any sign of being interested in her. Moreover, he and the lady doctor seemed on course to make their relationship permanent. And as if that was not enough, there were a couple of other ladies who were seeking to grab his attention, but did not seem to be getting very far. Around the same time, Jeffery Darkwa, a friend of Yaw who was regular at his home, started showing interest. He took her out on a couple of dates, both quite enjoyable, but Beesiwa made it quite clear that she was not interested in a relationship with him. Jeff, however, had been nursing ambitions of winning her over for sometime, even though part of the reason was the deep jealousy he had been nursing against Yaw for so long.
They had become friends in the course of meeting at business workshops and lunches, and had helped each other with useful contacts and business tips. Jeff was almost ten years older than Yaw, and had developed a resentment for him due to his quiet but effective way of conducting business, which had made him very successful, for a man at such a young age. And he wasn’t just good looking but very well dressed, and ladies often made their views about him known. And he had longed noticed Beesiwa’s deep affection for him. Winning Beesiwa would be a big personal victory. He invited her to lunch and put his plan into action.
‘Beesiwa, I need to discuss something important with you. I am very interested in you. I really love you, and would like you to become my wife. But I realise that you are rejecting me because of your feelings for Yaw. I am not letting go, not only because of my feelings for you, but also because you don’t know Yaw very well. I will say this in great confidence. Yaw is not who you think he is. He is not a successful business man. In fact, he is covering a lot of debts which might end him in deep trouble, so I’m trying to help him. I can tell you that over the years, my business has grown, and apart from having financial muscle, I also have big contacts at the very top. So, I would ask you to be careful with Yaw. Give me the chance to make you a successful woman. We can be a good partnership. I am willing to give you a house if you accept my offer. I am talking this way because I really love you, and I want to marry you.’
Beesiwa’s head was spinning. She didn’t know how to process the explosive stuff she was hearing. ‘But if you have these feelings against Yaw, why are you friends with him, spending time with him regularly?’
‘I don’t have anything personal against him. In fact, I am helping him overcome some major financial issues because we are friends. But I see nothing wrong with wanting you more than him.’
“
Beesiwa, I need to discuss something important with you. I am very interested in you. I really love you, and would like you to become my wife.
“
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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