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Monsieur’s Daughter — (Part 7)
“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 shed tears.
“Sorry madam,” David said. “This whole episode has been very difficult. 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 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 while 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, and 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 chatted 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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Mental health has become a pressing concern globally, with a significant increase in mental health issues affecting individuals, families, and communities worldwide. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that one in four people will experience a mental health disorder each year, highlighting the need for awareness, support, and action.
The rise of mental health issues
The prevalence of mental health issues has been steadily increasing over the years, with various factors contributing to this trend. Some of the key drivers include:
Stress and anxiety: The fast-paced nature of modern life, coupled with increasing expectations and pressures, has led to a rise in stress and anxiety levels.
Social media: The proliferation of social media has created unrealistic expectations, cyberbullying, and social comparison, exacerbating mental health issues.
Trauma and adversity: Experiencing trauma, abuse, or adversity can have long-lasting effects on mental health, increasing the risk of developing mental health disorders.
Lack of access to mental health services: Inadequate mental health resources, stigma, and lack of awareness can prevent individuals from seeking help, worsening mental health issues.
Lethal repercussions
The consequences of mental health issues can be severe and even lethal. Some of the most alarming repercussions include:
Suicide: Mental health issues, particularly depression and anxiety, can increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviours.
Substance abuse: Mental health issues can lead to substance abuse as individuals may turn to substances as a coping mechanism.
Violence and aggression: Untreated mental health issues can increase the risk of violent behaviour, posing a threat to oneself and others.
Physical health consequences: Mental health issues can have physical health consequences, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and compromised immune systems.
The impact on society
The rise of mental health issues has significant implications for society, including:
Economic burden: Mental health issues can result in significant economic costs, including lost productivity, healthcare expenses, and social services.
Social relationships: Mental health issues can strain social relationships, leading to social isolation and decreased quality of life.
Community impact: Mental health issues can affect community cohesion, safety, and overall well-being.
Breaking the silence
To address the rise of mental health issues, it is essential to:
Raise awareness: Educate individuals about mental health, reducing stigma and promoting understanding.
Increase access to mental health services: Provide accessible, affordable, and high-quality mental health services, including counselling, therapy, and support groups.
Foster supportive environments: Create supportive environments that promote mental well-being, such as workplaces, schools, and communities.
Encourage self-care: Promote self-care practices, such as mindfulness, exercise, and social connection, to maintain good mental health.
Conclusion
The high rise of mental health issues globally is a pressing concern that requires immediate attention and action.
By understanding the causes and consequences of mental health issues, we can work towards creating a supportive environment that promotes mental well-being. It is essential to break the silence surrounding mental health, increase access to mental health services, and foster a culture of understanding and empathy.
Together, we can mitigate the lethal repercussions of mental health issues and promote a healthier, more compassionate society.
BY ROBERT EKOW GRIMMOND-THOMPSON
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Human beings, whether Black, so-called white (because in my opinion, they are more pink than white), yellow or whatever colour, have a tendency for doing the wrong thing. This is why laws and regulations are created to shape mindsets and help people to conform to right attitudes. Left alone, you will be surprised at the things you will see in society.
We often hear elderly people saying, “In our days, children were very submissive. They were very obedient and valued morality.” What they normally do not add is the enforcement regime that existed in those days, where truants could be chased after and brought to school, and teachers would beat the hell out of you by way of lashes. The shame and pain were enough motivation to reform truants. There must be examples of people being punished for corrupt acts, and the punishments must be severe enough to serve as a deterrent to others.
A WhatsApp video I watched recently convinced me that going back to our traditional values is one of the best options for fighting corruption. A journalist was interviewing people at random and asking them a specific question and getting their responses.
A young lady was asked by the journalist, “Do you have a boyfriend?” and she said “Yes.” She then asked her, “Have you ever cheated on your boyfriend?” and her response was “No.” She then repeated the question, and she still insisted that she had never cheated. Then she took a fly whisk, what we call ‘Bodua’ in our local Twi language, and gave it to the lady and asked her to hold it, and then asked her the same question again — and the lady changed her answer. She changed from “no” to a “yes.”
The ‘Bodua’ had some cowries, which is called ‘sedee’ in the local language, and it brought fear into her, compelling her to admit to what she had done in secret. When she realised that there were dire consequences that could be imminent against her, she decided to tell the truth.
The colonial masters did all they could to let us throw away our traditional values by persuading our grandparents to believe that those values were idol worship. Drums were prohibited as part of Christian worship, with the explanation that it was idolatry. The true intention behind all these things was to convince our forefathers that our values were evil, so they would accept the European values in order to create conditions favourable for the Europeans to manipulate them.
The objective clearly was to gain control over the African in order to loot our resources without pushback. As a result, anti-social acts like bribery and corruption in general gradually started creeping into our society because our forebears started practising “and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us” as the way to go, instead of Tegare dispensing instant justice, which caused people to conform to acceptable societal behaviour.
It is my candid opinion, based on observation over the years, that if we are serious about fighting corruption in this country, then the option of incorporating some of our traditional practices into our governance architecture needs to be given serious consideration.
We have observed this Christian belief of punishment by God in a distant future in heaven for far too long. It has not brought us any benefits; the corruption is on the increase. Let us incorporate some of our traditional values to compel Ghanaians to conform.
Insanity, they say, is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. God bless.
NB: ‘CHANGE KOTOKA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TO KOFI BAAKO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT’
By Laud Kissi-Mensah
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