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Remember Lot’s wife
Monuments are structures erected to commemorate a person, group, or an event whose memory is deemed significant and worthy of preservation. They come in various forms like statues, war memorials, parks, and historical buildings.
Cape Coast,for example, boasts of several monuments such as the Castle used to hold slaves before they were loaded onto ships and sold in the Americas, especially the Caribbean. The “Gate of No Return” at the Castle through which captured slaves, the virile ones, of course, were herded to waiting vessels,was the last stop for these poor souls before crossing the Atlantic Ocean to be sold. The sad history has turned the Cape Coast Castle into a focal point of Pan-African history, and a venue of cultural and spiritual pilgrimage for Africans from the diaspora who troop in periodically to honour the memory of their ancestors.
There is also the Victoria Park which is said to hold the distinguished honour of being the first official grounds to host association football in Ghana, then known as the Gold Coast, and under British colonial rule. It was named after the British monarch at the time, Queen Victoria,said to have acceded, at least, in part, to a request by some Gold Coast patriots, to be granted access to some lands. As a token of appreciation, they established the park and erected the queen’s bust at the entrance.
One monument whose construction I cannot fathom is that of a huge crab at the city centre.The crustacean is the adopted mascot of Cape Coast,and it sits atop a huge platform erected near the London Bridge whose name deceives people until they visit the popular place and realise, to their chagrin, that it is nothing more than a culvert boldly emblazoned with the inscription: London Bridge. Back to the crab. Why that mascot? If you observe crabs in a container displaying their character, you would not recommend that anthropoid as a mascot. They all have PhDs.While one tries to climb to the top, another will pull him down. Under that circumstance, none of them makes it to the top.
In, perhaps, the shortest sermon He ever preached, Jesus points humanity to one monument whose significance transcends time into eternity. “Remember Lot’s Wife,” He said. What is it about Lot’s wife that we need to know? What has it got to do with all that I have been writing aforehand about monuments? What lesson do we have to take to heart about Lot’s wife?
First, God turned her into a monument in a split second for disobedience. A living, walking being was turned into a pillar of salt in a twinkling of an eye to remind succeeding generations of the abomination of Sodom and Gomorrah, and the punishment of those who have the slightest inclination towards those cities and what they represent.
For the sin of homosexuality, God literally rained fire on those cities and destroyed all except Lot, his wife, and three children. As Lot’s family were led out to safety,they were instructed not to look backward towards the doomed metropolis. But Lot’s wife disobeyed that instruction and paid the ultimate price for her action.Remember that she was not even a lesbian. She only showed an inclination towards the doomed cities. Of how much sorer punishment do you think practitioners are worthy?
Did you know that the word “sodomy” originated from the name of that city? From time immemorial, God has been frowning on the practice and has spelt out the penalty for those who brazenly flout His commandment.
When Ghanaians feared the Lord in days past, this shameful practice was alien to our culture. Of course, there was “supi,”a form of lesbianism among some girls in some secondary schools.Men with men doing the abominable was more under wraps in the closet. Now, that has changed. Everything is in the open and surprisingly, people who should know better are claiming that everyone has the right to love whoever they want. In accents louder than words, many respected people in academia, politics, media, and the legal profession among others, have lent their support to the aberration with their overt and subtle consent.
But the scriptures unequivocally declare that homosexuality is sin and punishable by eternal damnation. “Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practise homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, ESV.
In another passage, it is stated unambiguously: “For this reason, God gave them up to dishonourable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done …Romans 1:26-28, ESV. What could be clearer than this?
God says because men do not want to acknowledge His authority, He has given up on them to do what they want. But even then, once a person turns from it, God is more than willing to forgive and pardon.
To those who assault the integrity and trustworthiness of the Bible and argue that the story is just a fable, or a myth, may I submit that the authority, inerrancy, and sufficiency of the Bible is without debate. It is God’s literal words given to men by the inspiration of His Holy Spirit over different periods of time to record for humanity. It is for instruction in righteousness, correction, and reproof. In that respect, the Bible speaks with infallible divine authority in all matters upon which it touches, including homosexuality. Everything we need to know about God, about life – past, present, future – about eternal salvation and damnation, all these and more are contained in the scriptures.
Such people would do well to know that Jesus was a historical figure who alluded to Lot’s wife as well as the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah by literal fire. Besides, any time He makes a reference to an issue whose origin dates back to the Old Testament prophets before He appeared on the earth, He is authenticating the record. In fact, the Bible says if people refuse to believe its submissions, their unbelief would not invalidate the facts.
But why remember Lot’s wife?The Bible has become the focal point of the devil’s constant and relentless assault. Crass falsehood is spreading like wildfire and causing widespread rejection of the truth of God’s Word, leading to a pervasive deception of the masses by popular culture.
In view of the emerging liberal and non-literal interpretation of the Bible, and its attendant deception of the world, the words of the Lord Jesus Christ become all the more relevant for these ominous days.
The serpent is back in the garden spreading doubts and lies. The first question in the Bible was posed by the devil. When God specifically and explicitly warned Adam and Eve not to eat a particular fruit, the devil came and deceived the woman with a dubious question enquiring, “Has God really said?”He is at it again telling those who want to hear that God does not restrict the gender of their sexual partners to the opposite sex, and that man to man is just right with the Almighty.
Thank God for real men like Honourable Sam George the MP for Ningo/Prampram and the lead sponsor of the proposed anti-gay bill dubbed: The Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, 2021.
Let it be trumpeted loud and clear that no amount of name-calling and threats emanating from a minority and their international partners can ever intimidate the right-thinking people of Ghana and compel them to condone that evil.
The proponents of that evil agenda allude to democracy and all its so-called freedoms, but they leave out the fact that under parliamentary democracy, the minority in a vote count accede to the majority. That is the rule, and it will apply in any vote concerning the issue.
Supporters of the LGBTQI are even arguing about rights. How audacious for mortal man to talk about rights in the kingdom of the great God who declares forcefully that the earth and all its fulness belong to Him! He is an absolute monarch and has set His rules to govern His kingdom.
To think that God would condone same-sex marriage is an illusion and trance. It is the foulest delusion that ever cheated the hopes of men. With submissions impossible to refute, the Bible reduces the argument to an absurdity.It is Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve. Period!
“For the sin of homosexuality, God literally rained fire on those cities and destroyed all except Lot, his wife, and three children. As Lot’s family were led out to safety,they were instructed not to look backward towards the doomed metropolis. But Lot’s wife disobeyed that instruction and paid the ultimate price for her action. Remember that she was not even a lesbian. She only showed an inclination towards the doomed cities. Of how much sorer punishment do you think practitioners are worthy?”
Contact: teepeejubilee@yahoo. co.uk
By Tony Prempeh
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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