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The Big Catch – Part 2
A big catch
As soon as the taxi took off, Tamara started explaining how things went.
‘You see, Yooku, quite a number of people at the fishing harbour have noticed what has been going on with your crew, but they said that Sabina hardly spoke with them, apart from the odd greeting, so they kept their silence.
As for me, I started making friends the very day I started work, so I have been getting a lot of information. They stop at a spot some distance away from the landing bay, and sell the bulk of their fish to a couple of ladies, and come back to the landing bay to sell the little left.
My assistant has been observing them, so he knows the exact location. We should be there in good time to catch them right in the act’.
‘I am so grateful, Tamara. To think that these eight people have been stealing for so long’. ‘Their time is up now. From today they will be looking for another victim’.
As they got down from the taxi, Paa Kwesi, the assistant, came over to them. ‘We are in good time. The two ladies just got here, and are walking to meet them. They should land anytime from now. Let’s go by the side route. We will pounce on them without being seen’.
The boat landed, and the crew got down and pulled it close to shore, then some porters went with head pans and carried the big fish to shore. Egya Amo, the captain, negotiated the price with the ladies, and as one of them was handing over the money to him, Tamara called from close by.
‘Egya Amo! Ayekoo! Is this where you sell our fish, you thief? The owner of the boat, who toiled and put it to sea, has determined a place for you to land, but you and your fellow thieves have chosen your own place, eh? Madam, give me the money, and take the fish away. Now, Egya Amo, leave here with your men before I call the police’.
‘Madam, can we go and collect our things?’ ‘No. Leave or I call the police. You have stolen from us for so long. Your things in the boat have no value compared to what you have stolen. Go and find another victim’. As they walked away, one of the ladies moved over to Tamara.
‘Madam, as for me, I buy fish from anyone offering it for sale. I did not know that the fish did not belong to them. I am ready to buy from you when you get a new crew’.
‘No problem. You can take my number and call me in a week. I would have got a new set of people. As long as you offer me fair prices, I am ready to do business with you’.
‘Wow, Tamara’, Yooku said as they sat in the taxi, ‘I don’t know how to thank you. I had virtually given up any hope of making any money from this business’.
‘You made a massive investment in it, and it is most unfair that you were treated this way. After recruiting your set of workers, you should also monitor them to know what they are doing. It seems that many people knew what was going on in your boat, except you. That must change. We must stay on top of the game. So in the next few days, let’s find another crew, and get them to start work. This is a good season, so we must take full advantage’.
After the new crew was recruited, Tamara went over to Yooku’s place every Sunday after church to report on the week’s business. Yooku bought her a car to make her work easier, and also as reward for her loyalty.
One morning, Pa John called to inform Yooku that Sabina and Tamara, whose applications Yooku had submitted to the bank, had been invited for interview. Sabina was thrilled to hear the news, and after thanking Yooku profusely, she called Tamara to discuss how to prepare. To her surprise, Tamara did not express much interest in the job, even though she said she would attend the interview. Sabina was even more surprised when she did not show up on the day, so she went over to her place.
‘Tamara, what’s happening? Why did you not show up at the interview? Are you telling me that you are not interested in the bank job?’ ‘Before I answer you, Sabina, tell me how it went’. ‘I think Yooku’s friend Pa John had already pulled a few strings, because they asked me to start next week.
They are opening a new department to handle remittances by Ghanaians abroad who are making various investments. We start the orientation next Monday, and we start work the following week. But I’m very curious, Tamara, why are you not taking up such a juicy offer? Apart from the attractive pay, there are good career prospects. So tell me your reason’. ‘Actually, the simple reason is that Yooku is offering me a good package for managing his business’.
‘Did I hear you right, Tamara? Is something wrong with you? Have you forgotten that I was doing that very job, and I quit because it was not going anywhere? And you agreed to take it on whilst waiting for something to happen. Now a big opportunity has opened up, and you are telling me you will stick to that useless job? What do your parents say about this? You really shock me, Tamara. We have been friends for many years, so it is my duty to help you avoid such madness’.
‘Sabina, I know you mean well, but I’m sure you also know that I’m not one to engage in anything without clearly thinking about it. Yes, I have discussed it with my parents, and they are solidly behind me’.
‘I’m going home. If I stay longer I will say something really bad. See you later’. Tamara walked her outside, and as she walked towards the gate, Sabina noticed the car. ‘By the way, has your dad got a new car? I like the colour. And it’s a Toyota. Wow’. ‘Actually, its mine. Yooku bought it for me, in appreciation of my efforts’.
‘I don’t believe it. Listen Tamara, I believe Yooku has conned you with some sweet words and actions. I left the guy because both my parents felt he was a loser, without any direction. Remember? And you are telling me he has bought you a car? I hope the scales fall from your eyes very soon’. With that she stormed out of the gate.
THE typical itinerant salesman in Sikaman is a herbalist. He is normally a slim macho with the capacity to perambulate the expanse of area covering the triangle of Accra-Tema-Ashiaman. In short, he can walk a total of 60 miles a day, marketing a product that cures every disease, including poverty. 
The door-to-door herbal pharmacist advertises his product by word of mouth. He has nothing to do with the Food and Drugs Board (FDB). After all, his concoctions do not feature on FM stations.
Those herbalists who cannot walk to propagate the herbal gospel, liaise with drivers of mass transportation and their mates. They are, therefore, given the chance to sell their products on Benz buses that ply the routes.
Normally, the herbalist starts his sales message with a prayer and Bible study. He asks the passengers to bow down their heads in supplication to God the father, the son, the Holy Spirit.
When a herbalist asks the passengers to close their eyes and bow their heads, Moslems on board naturally feel offended. They feel that the herbalist has no right to assume that every passenger is a Christian. They think such an assumption is an affront to Islam.
So a Moslem on board will raise the hand for a point of order. He’ll remind the herbalist that it would be in his own interest to mind his language.
“Be careful the way you address people in a public place. Not every person here is a Christian,” he’d state assertively.
Of course, the herbalist will promptly ignore him, but would all the same “watch” his tongue. Who knows whether or not the Moslem brother is inspired by Quoranic zeal to defend the tenets of Islam to the hilt?
When he starts saying, “Wallahi!” and “Inshallah!” it could be the beginning of proclaiming Islam as supreme, a point which must be driven home with talibanic precision.
So the herbalist must tread carefully lest he steps on fire.
The herbalist could even add a measure of mirth to it all, by announcing that Christians on board today have very interesting company on the journey, but that should not detract from the business of the day.
The Moslem brother will weigh the words carefully and offer a wry smile.
He must be careful the occasion does not degenerate into the use of semantics and proverbial oration to deride his conviction that public utterances must be mindful of religious sensibilities. He has made his point very clear and expects that it is taken in good faith in the interest of a peaceful journey.
The herbalist will now open the New Testament and preach salvation, stating clearly that salvation can come only through Jesus Christ and NOBODY else.
The Moslem brother will now start twitching his moustache. The visible and almost revolutionary reflexes of his upper lip can be an indication that sentiments have begun superseding reason, and the outcome could well be tragic now shift uneasily in his seat.
The time has come for him to also express his right to the religion of his fore-bears. He’ll put his hand into his pocket and rise to his feet. The time has indeed come!
This article was first published on Saturday, September 9, 2006
When the cause of a particular problem like sickness, disease, sudden illness, a social issue etc. are not known, it stands to reason that resolving it becomes a huge challenge.
Citizens would understand the government when public announcements are made to the effect that government is trying to find a solution to the issue, even though it is taking a while for it to be resolved because citizens are rational beings.
On the other hand, if the solution to a particular issue is known to everybody but the government for whatever reason, is dragging its feet in resolving it, citizens become frustrated and begin to lose trust in their leaders.
One such issue is the heavy traffic along a section of the Kasoa – Odokor road. A short stretch of bad road between the traffic light at the Weija Government Hospital and the entrance to the entrance of the overhead that leads to the N1, is the cause of the problem but nothing is being done about it, day after day, week after week, month after month. Thus is clearly unacceptable.
Another issue that requires urgent attention is the lack of pavements along a lot of streets in parts of the various Municipal Assemblies. Exercise is a prerequisite for long life and healthy living and for those of us who it has become a way of life, this issue of people putting up structures right to the edge of the drains beside the roads, are making life difficult for us.
We are compelled to walk along the roads, putting our lives at serious risk. Pedestrians should never be compelled to compete with vehicles on our streets and roads. Roads and streets are made for vehicles and pavements are made for pedestrians. That is the norm. Any attempt to normalise a situation where pedestrians are mingling with vehicles is insanity.
It is the road regulations that makes it so and therefore district or municipal assemblies are to take responsibility and ensure that spaces for pavements are not encroached upon. Citizens have rights that must be protected by their leaders and making pavements available to pedestrians, is one of them.
When we hear of teachers having sex with students, it appears it is something recent. It is not a new phenomenon. It has been there since Adam. Perhaps this issue is getting much attention due to the proliferation of social media. It was an open secret in times past when Teachers were in relationships with female students and some married them immediately after completion of school.
Some teachers were also known to be having unholy interactions with female pupils but due to the times that these acts occurred, human rights issues and the awareness around it, allowed such unscrupulous teachers to get away with their crimes.
Now we are in a different era and so a Headmaster is now in hot waters. He is alleged to have raped about 19 female students and as usual, some officials tried to cover it up and are also in hot waters and their actions or inactions in the matter are under investigation.
Why the man has been allowed to roam freely without being arrested is simply mind boggling. It appears that the law applies differently, depending on who you are. This issue came to public attention sometime in August this year, yet the police had not arrested or invited this man for question regarding the rape allegation.
It has come out that he is a Constituency Secretary of the ruling party and the question in the public domain is that, is it because he is a political figure that is why he is still walking around without questioning? I believe in the rule of law so let us hold our breadth and let the proper thing be done.
The police must however be seen to be active in this matter. God bless.
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