Entertainment
Former First Lady reviews ‘Love Locked Down’ books by Okyeame Kwame and wife
Kwame and Annica, a celebrity couple, have found love, they have found how to keep their marriage working as well as how to keep their home functional.
They tell their story with the hope that some couples would find something in the books to help them and that single men and women looking for love would also find some answers to the questions they struggle with in their relationships.
There are two books and each book is in two parts. On the title page of each part is an Adinkra symbol with the name and meaning under it. The meanings of the main Adinkra symbols used on the title pages of the various parts bear significance to the topics treated in those parts.
Underneath the main symbol, are four other Adinkra symbols – these do not have the names and meanings.
The books are straightforward narrations with each section flowing nicely into the next. The narration is done by each of them telling their love story from their point of view and understanding. They tell it as it is, with no holding back whatsoever – that is the “glue” that keeps the reader stuck and wanting to read more. The clarity with which Kwame and Annica’s views on the various topics are presented adds to the desire to continue reading.
Kwame and Annica take us into their marriage and share with us some of their experiences as well as their individual points of view on critical issues in making a love relationship work. We read about the things that have held their marriage together and how they navigate through the public attention celebrities are subjected to.
Love locked down will grab your attention – you will be informed, educated, inspired and encouraged. You will get a lot of ideas on how to keep your love locked down from the two books.
A REVIEW
Love Locked Down: Finding a lasting love relationship.
This book is in two parts:
Part I: Finding someone to love.
It has the Adinkra symbol, “Akoma” (Heart).
The meaning of the symbol is, “Patience and tolerance” – both virtues needed to find someone to love.
Part II: Before you say, “I do”
It has the Adinkra symbol, “Me ware wo” (I shall marry you).
The meaning of the symbol is, “Commitment and perseverance” – both are virtues useful and necessary to have before you say, “I do.”
It is the story of how Kwame and Annica met just before they got married. They tell readers about falling in love and working one’s way to getting married. In this book you will read about how they met, their dating and courtship periods as well as some of the conversations they had through those times.
We are made to enter their lives and experience their relationship as we read how the alignment of their core values played a vital role in their relationship – they share plenty of experiences with us that prove the point.
Kwame and Annica make it clear how they have been intentional in the things that help their relationship to thrive and blossom: knowing what they each want in the relationship, working through their goals, making sacrifices for each other, talking through issues and respecting each other.
In talking about love, intimacy and sex, Kwame and Annica are frank, truthful and honest in letting us know how they feel and even where they have divergent views that let us into their thinking and reasoning.
The message from the book is: fall in love with your best friend and work through it for a lasting relationship.
Readers have a bonus of worksheets at the end of the book that they can go through to help understand the topics and get to know themselves better.
Love locked down: Finding a lasting love relationship, is a must read. It will put you on the journey to finding love if you have not found love. For those who have found love it will help you to work at it and make it last.
A REVIEW
Love locked down: Maintaining a lasting love relationship.
This book is in two parts following from where the first book, Love locked down: Finding a lasting love relationship ends.
Part III: Getting married and starting out.
It has the Adinkra symbol, “Odo nnyira fie kwan” (Love never loses its way home).
The meaning of the symbol is, “The power of love” – you need love right from the beginning of marriage.
Part IV: Staying married and staying together.
It has the Adinkra symbol, “Boa me na me boa wo” (Help me and let me help you).
The meaning of the symbol is, “Cooperation and interdependence” – these are vital ingredients for staying married and staying together.
This is the story of how to marry and stay married – the story of Kwame marrying his best friend, Annica, staying in love and staying married. It is a simple straightforward narration of Kwame and Annica’s love story.
Kwame and Annica share thought provoking ideas on keeping things hot with romance, sex and intimacy, managing money, managing third parties, leaving a legacy and celebrating one another. We are allowed into their thoughts as well as their home, where we sometimes find ourselves in their bedroom.
The conversations they have on various topics are crucial and interesting as well as educative and entertaining. These would be great eye openers to couples who do not communicate well on issues.
There is no doubt that the commitment, transparency and communication that Kwame and Annica invested in their relationship and in each other is what keeps their marriage working.
For those who think a lasting love relationship is all about being lucky, hear Kwame. “Getting to this point has taken a tremendous effort to be devoted and considerate to each other and has very little to do with luck.”
By the time you are through reading the book, you will know and agree that love language, body language and verbal language are all necessary for maintaining a lasting love relationship.
There are worksheets at the end of the book to help you work through some of the topics they talk about and also help you assess yourselves.
You also get a bonus – Kwame and Annica have added 42 Adinkra symbols related to love, their names and their meanings at the end of the book.
If you have read Love locked down: Finding a lasting love relationship, then you have to read Love locked down: Maintaining a lasting love relationship to make your experience whole and complete.
Mrs. Matilda Amissah-Arthur,
Wife of the former Vice President,
Retired Professional Librarian,
Philanthropist,
Author.
Gospel artiste, Obaapa Christy has officially launched her annual concert, ‘Royal Praise 2026’, set to be held in Accra and Kumasi this August.
The maiden Accra edition comes off Sunday, August 9, at the UPSA Auditorium. She will be joined on stage by gospel heavyweights Empress Gifty, Celestine Donkor, Joyce Blessing, Kweku Gyasi, Uncle Ato, and Akesse Brempong.
The Kumasi edition follows a week later on Sunday, August 16, at the Church of Pentecost, Bantama.
Patrons there can expect performances from legendary Mama Esther, Broda Sammy, Ernest Opoku, Joyce Blessing, Kwame Gyedu, and Lady Prempeh.
Speaking at the launch at Alisa Hotel on June 12, Obaapa Christy explained that the event was christened Royal Praise, “because as a child of God, I see myself as royalty, same as you. We are all royals in the house of God.”
She urged attendees to embrace the ‘royal’ theme with their dress code and said the concert was meant to stay as an annual event to honour God for His works.
According to her, the event has come to stay, and called on all and sundry to support.
Obaapa Christy thanked fans and sponsors for supporting the launch and expressed optimism for more backing ahead of the main events.
Supporting artistes on the bill who attended the launch threw their weight behind the maiden edition and called on Ghanaians to throng the venues in their numbers.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
Fashion enthusiasts, shoppers, and industry stakeholders gathered at the A&C Mall at East Legon on Saturday as Ghanaian fashion brand, Neesa Atelier officially opened its newest retail outlet to unveil an exclusive capsule collection inspired by West Africa’s rich cultural heritage.
The launch, held as an intimate ‘Sip & Shop’ experience, marked a significant milestone for the growing fashion brand as it expanded its physical presence while showcasing its latest collection, Dust & Raffia.
The collection offers a creative exploration of the cultural links between Ghana and Mali, blending traditional craftsmanship with contemporary fashion design. Guests at the event were given a first look at the limited-edition pieces, which featured a hand-spun cord, raffia, jute, and Bogolan (mudcloth) elements.
According to the Creative Director of Neesa Atelier, Pamela Sarkodee, the collection celebrates the enduring connections among African communities and highlights the beauty of indigenous craftsmanship.
“This collection celebrates the stories that connect us across borders. By bringing together Bogolan, raffia, jute, and cordwork, we wanted to create pieces that honour heritage while presenting a contemporary vision of African luxury,” she said.
Throughout the event, guests toured the new retail space, interacted with the collection, and enjoyed an exclusive shopping experience that included special in-store offers. The occasion also provided an opportunity for fashion lovers to engage with the brand’s vision of blending culture, creativity, and community.
The Dust & Raffia collection draws inspiration from the textures, symbols, and traditions that have connected Ghanaian and Malian communities over generations. Through the use of natural materials and handcrafted techniques, the collection seeks to preserve cultural narratives while presenting them through modern fashion.
The new A&C Mall outlet has been designed to provide customers with an immersive shopping experience, giving them access to Neesa Atelier’s signature collections as well as future releases within one of Accra’s leading retail and lifestyle destinations.
Industry observers say the expansion reinforces Neesa Atelier’s growing reputation within Ghana’s fashion industry as a contemporary African brand committed to celebrating identity, heritage, and craftsmanship through innovative design.
The Dust & Raffia capsule collection is currently available for pre-order, with a wider public release expected in the coming weeks.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
