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Interesting happenings in these latter days
When Papa Mintah was born into the world of today, some 70 years ago he was faced with a number of problems, which made it difficult for him to achieve his aim in life, thereby making him lose hope as a person who is determined to succeed, no matter what.
His children are in their 40s, since he did not give birth to them early, even though he married at an early age of 25. His first wife could not give birth until she met her untimely death in a motor accident from Kasoa market where she had gone to buy a few things for the house. The death of Naa Akorkor made Papa Mintah very sad and disorganised, vowing to himself not to marry again, because of his special love for his late wife.
However, pressure was put on him by family members who thought that he was still a young man to take on a new wife, because of temptations in the world. To avoid needless and irresponsible amorous relationships with some of the women around, his brothers and sisters as well as some cousins and friends counselled him to change his mind and take on a wife, since he was very responsible, hardworking and respected by residents in and around the community.
Positive results
This pressure yielded positive results, so at the age of 30, Papa Mintah took on a new wife, known as Abena Serwaa, a juicy young lady who was very beautiful in the eyes of many men. She grew to be a good wife and was liked very much by Papa Mintah’s families. Papa Mintah himself also proved to be a darling husband, and he was prepared to do all he could to make his darling wife happy.
In the evenings, Papa Mintah will have some sweet words for his new wife, Abena Serwaa, stating that, “I love you dearly, Abena, and I have not regretted changing my decision on marriage to settle down with you as my wife”. Abena would also look at him and say, “I am all for you at any time, that is, day and night”. This went on for days, weeks, months and years until God blessed them with three children, two boys and a girl. The eldest son, Kwaku Nimoh, decided to marry at the age of 35, but could not do so, because the person he wanted to marry left him, making it difficult for him to understand the difficulties encountered in his personal life. He had to wait till age 41 before meeting another lady, but just as he was preparing to marry, this lady also lost her life in a motor accident.
Bitter experience
This bitter experience dampened the hopes of Kwaku Nimoh who, like his father, also decided not to marry at all. He had to wait till he was 43 before being fortunate enough to meet another lady in the nearby town. The two of them agreed to marry, but they were also faced with some obstacles.
It was becoming very difficult to understand all these happenings, because Papa Mintah’s families, after praying and praying for their lives, seem to be encountering obstacles in their lives. Remembering his own personal experience before marriage, Papa Mintah advised his son, Kwaku Nimoh, not to lose hope, but know that life is not always easy, especially getting the right person to marry.
For Papa Mintah and his children, life has not been pleasant with them, especially in the area of marriage, even though, business wise, they have been successful.
Good and successful business
In the area of farming, for example, they have had large farms, and shops. They were also engaged in retailing activities. Even though, they were from the Akuapem area their success in business made their neighbours think that they were Kwahu people, since people from Kwahu area are noted for good and successful business.
“Eii, you Kwahu people are good at business oo”. Some of the neighbours would say to them. One of them, Kwaku Giushie, would say that “Eii, I wish I were you, but each time he says this Kwaku Nimoh would reply: “Never say that, because we also have our own problems”. And, indeed, they were faced with their own problems, when it comes to marriage. Apart from marriage, they were also faced with problems relating to safety and insecurity in their personal lives. It is for these reasons that no one is supposed to compare his/herself to another person. As it is often said in Akan, “Mi nya wo ay, έyέ mu suo”, meaning, “You should never wish to be like someone since all people have their peculiar problems in life”.
Achieving a purpose in life
These problems were encountered by Papa Mintah’s families, each time they were on the verge of achieving a purpose in life. This situation is similar to a group of people in political parties and even government. In the case of NPP government, for example, having ruled so well and impacted the economy with many economic programmes and policies, a number of issues, though false and misleading, have been emerging to disturb the good works being done, and, if the President and the government do not stay focused, they would be derailed from their good intentions.
Examples of the disturbing issues are the outbreak of fire in market places believed to be related to the work of some political elements in the country as well as senseless attacks on government officials by some opposition members, and also the resignation of the Special Prosecutor as well as matters arising from it. These are events that are well known to all Ghanaians, so the government should remain focused, since these are dangerous days prior to the conduct of the upcoming elections.
There used to be a teacher who always advised his students that, “last days are dangerous”. By this, he meant that any time you get closer to achieving a purpose in life such as going through elections, especially when the electorates are likely to vote for you, or when as a student you are assiduously preparing for exams that you are bent on passing, you need to be extremely careful and feverishly pray for success, since the enemy can use spiritual tentacles and other physical tricks to thwart your good efforts.
Political players
We all need to learn from this and know that as political players and responsible government “the last days will always be dangerous”. Within this context, the ruling government and the majority of Ghanaians ought to note that these are interesting happenings, especially taking place just before the upcoming elections.
I hope Mr President and his team of officials are listening attentively and picking lessons from this. Please never panic, because truth will always prevail in these difficult times, since interesting happenings will always take place in these “latter days”.
Dr. Kofi Amponsah-Bediako
A haircut I had about a week ago didn’t go down well with many. Someone quite close to my heart saw it, examined it critically and felt dizzy.
“What’s this?” she proceeded to ask me.
“An international hairdo,” I replied.
She was disgusted, in fact disappointed. The problem with the haircut is that the style is neither Punk, Tokyo Joe nor Show Your Back. If anything, it is a combination of all—and I liked it, for a change.
It was when I bounded downtown that someone called me and enquired whether I was no longer a journalist. He said I looked like a well-fed Warrant Officer.
“Class One or Class Two?” I asked.
Another studied my head as if he was studying physical geography and pronounced that I looked like a boxer who can throw dangerous punches. Still, someone was of the opinion that the haircut didn’t quite fit me, but admitted that I looked like a prosperous merchant.
Commendation
I remember some three months ago, I had a haircut that made two girls fall in love with me. In spite of the fact that the barber was not a graduate, the cut was such that they couldn’t help admiring it. One of them actually ‘checked out’ the style and commended the barber.
The other was more bent on the ‘love matter’ but I was too busy to give her any attention. LOVE!
I was reminded of this when I viewed a premier showing of the latest Sikaman film titled THE POWER OF LOVE. The film kept me thinking. Some of us have long forgotten about what it is like to be head-over-heels in love. When we were students, we had such experiences because there was nothing doing anyway.
We were either learning how stylishly to smoke ‘jot’ or how romantically to fall in love. Anyhow, I was intrigued by this latest movie because of the way love unlimited was portrayed on screen. It took my memory back many years to relive those youthful days when we felt we’d really die if jilted by our lovers.
The storyline of THE POWER OF LOVE is really an exciting one. The combination of love, treachery and intrigue made me feast my eyes intently on the screen, unbelieving the extent the force of love can reach.
Ama and Afua are good friends. But when it comes to matters of the heart, they have different tastes; Ama is content with only her boyfriend (a student) and Afua samples the bigwigs around town. Afua, not satisfied with the shots in town, wants Ama’s boyfriend Joe in addition. She lies to Joe that Ama has often been picked by a man on four-wheels, whereupon Joe dismisses Ama and takes on Afua.
Ama doesn’t realise that it is her best friend Afua who is destroying her relationship with Joe until she catches her having sex with him. She collapses and goes out of her mind from the broken heart. But before then, she had been made pregnant by Joe.
Having escaped from a psychiatric hospital, she roams town murmuring Joe’s name. Heavily pregnant now, she espies Joe boarding a mini bus and runs towards him. Joe, seeing her approaching, quickly disembarks and takes off.
Ama pursues him furiously, and he runs to his home where he finds his bosom friend Frank making love to Afua. He immediately realises the treachery of Afua who instigated him to leave Ama.
He intends leaving the home in disgust and meets mad Ama at the door and embraces her despite her madness. Instantly, she regains her sanity.
Love indeed heals the wounds of the mind and it is the greatest positive force in the world. Incidentally, the greatest negative force is hatred.
Greatest force
Now coming to talk about love, I reiterate it is the greatest force imaginable. That is why a man will butcher his rival to death if he catches him climbing his wife without asking permission; and a woman will go mad if jilted.
It is also for this reason that a young boy who is scared stiff of cemeteries and under normal circumstances would not dare go near one, will this time walk boldly through a cemetery at midnight if that is the only way to his lover’s abode.
The Bible describes love for our neighbours as the surest way to heaven: Love thy neighbour as thyself.
Unfortunately, what Ghanaians are more interested and skilful in is loving the opposite sex. Romance under the cover of darkness is what we understand love to be all about. When it comes to loving our fellow human beings, we are found wanting.
People hate others just because they are of another tribe and do not speak the same native language. Too much grudge-bearing that does not augur well for national development.
War in Liberia, carnage in Rwanda are the results of the absence of love for one’s fellow being. If everybody could express a little bit of love for his fellow being irrespective of tribe, race, politics or religion, Sikaman—and indeed, the world—will be a more habitable place.
This article was first published on Saturday, October 29, 1994
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“Sir,” Ms. Odame said when David Asante answered the call, “my name is Victoria Odame. I’m a teacher at Research School in Koforidua. I would like to come and see you concerning a student called Sarah.”
“Okay, madam. I would be very glad to meet you. How can I make your trip easier?”
“I was going to join a bus to Accra.”
“Here’s what we will do. Take a taxi and ask them to bring you to Accra. I will speak to the driver, give him the directions, and pay him when you get here.”
The taxi stopped in front of the house. The gate opened, and the driver moved to the long driveway and stopped.
“What a beautiful house,” he said.
David and Adoma came out to meet them. Adoma paid the driver as David and Sarah stared at each other.
“Please come in and sit down,” Adoma invited. She served them water.
“You are welcome,” Adoma continued. “We have been waiting anxiously since you called this morning. So please, let’s hear you.”
Before she could open her mouth, Sarah rose, moved to David, hugged him, and sat on his lap. They both broke into tears. Adoma and Ms. Odame also broke into tears.
“Sorry, madam,” David said. “This whole episode has been a very difficult one. But let’s do the proper thing. Let’s hear you first, and I will also speak. I’m sure we need to answer some questions immediately.”
“Okay, sir. I have been taking an interest in Sarah because, although she’s brilliant academically, she seemed to be troubled. Following my discussions with her and some whispers I had been hearing, I went to Aboso Senior High School and spoke to your former colleague, Mr. Hanson. He told me that you were an exemplary teacher who was loved by all, and he also told me about the unfortunate events that caused you to leave for Germany. So I returned to Koforidua with the view to finding the appropriate means of helping to solve this problem.”
“Great. Ms. Odame, I have to thank you for finally helping us to solve this problem. Now, let me state the facts. This is what happened.
“Gladys and I met and got married whilst we were both teachers in the school. Some months into our marriage, she told me that she needed to spend some days with her parents, and I agreed.
“It turned out that she was actually spending time in a hotel with her ex-boyfriend, Simon. This happened again after Sarah was born. I got wind of this and told her that I was no longer interested in the marriage.
“I started preparing to travel to Germany. She pleaded for forgiveness, but I stood my ground. Then she told me that she would punish me for rejecting her.
“She came out later to say that Sarah was not my child, but Simon’s. She went and hid her somewhere, obviously expecting that I would fight to take my child. I was actually going to do that, but my parents advised me that it was almost impossible to win such a fight.
“They advised that, difficult as it sounded, I should leave the child with her because she would come back to me eventually. I have absolutely no problem taking care of you, Sarah. I am taking care of quite a number of kids who are not mine. So that is what happened. My hands were tied. I have been trying to find out how you are doing.
“I kept hearing that you were doing well at school. I also heard that Gladys and her husband were having problems, but I kept hoping that my daughter would at least be okay till it was possible for me to go for her.”
“Sarah, now you have met your dad. You will be free to—”
“I’m not going anywhere!” she declared as she held on to him.
“You don’t have to worry about that, Sarah,” Adoma said. “We have been looking forward to the day you come home. This is your home. Now, you have to meet your siblings.” She called Abrefi and Adaawa.
“Girls, we told you that you have a sister who would join us anytime. Now here she is.”
“Sarah?” Abrefi asked.
“Yes,” Adoma replied. The girls hugged her and took her away.
“Now,” David said, “I think it is time to call Madam Gladys.” He dialed the number.
“My name is David Asante. I’m here in my house with my daughter Sarah. I hear you have told her all sorts of crazy stories about me. I could make life very difficult for you, but I won’t.
“You are your own worst enemy. I don’t think you should be expecting her anytime soon. What do you say?”
Gladys stayed silent for over a minute, then cut the line.
“Food is ready,” Adoma announced. “Everybody, please come to the table.”
Sarah chatted excitedly with her siblings as Adoma and David spoke with Ms. Odame. She kept staring at her father.
“Now, Ms. Odame, after you have brought such joy into our home, should we allow you to go back to Koforidua today, or should we wait till we are ready to release you? I could call your husband and ask permission.
“And please don’t tell me you didn’t bring anything for an overnight stay. There are several supermarkets around here. We can fix that problem quickly.”
“I will beg you to release me. Now that I have been so warmly welcomed here, I already feel part of this home. Koforidua is not that far away, so I will visit often.”
“Well, let’s see what the kids have to say. Ladies, shall I release Ms. Odame to go back to Koforidua?”
“No!” they shouted, and all broke into laughter.
“Ms. Odame, I will have mercy on you. But we are going to do something to make it easy for you to visit us. My wife wants to show you something. Please follow her.”
Adoma led her to the driveway as the others followed. They stopped in front of the car.
“This is a Toyota Corolla 1600. It is very reliable and good on petrol consumption. We are giving this to you in appreciation of your help in getting our daughter back to us.
“And here in this envelope is a little contribution to help you with maintenance. And here in this other envelope is a gift to help with your children’s school fees.”
As she stood, stunned, and stared from the car to the envelopes, David put his hand around his family.
“Let’s leave her to take a look at her car. Ms. Odame, one of my drivers will drive you to Koforidua and leave your car with you. We are waiting inside.”
By Ekow de Heer
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