Features
The saga of being Ewe… (Part 1)
I am from the Royal Akornu family of Anyako, which qualifies me to ascend the Aposa Stool. I am exceedingly proud to be Ewe as much as I feel proud to be a citizen of New Juaben. Many of my siblings and I were born in Koforidua and my younger brother is the Ewe Fia of New Juaben.
When my great great grandmother was heavy with her second child, a diviner told her that descendants of the baby would become prominent people and so asked that the child be named SEGBEFIA. No other names were added.
Se (God), gbe (Domain/Kingdom), fia(King). Segbe( God’s Kingdom), thus Segbefia means “King in God’s Domain” or “God’s anointed.” And this is a name I carry with pride, conviction and a chip on my shoulder.
I am, therefore, able to look at the authority in the eye and tell them a piece of my mind, so long as I hurt no one in the process. Truth hurts but edifies. My friends in power, whichever way, know this about me.
Not too long ago, Hon. Dzifa Abla Gomashie, Member of Parliament for Ketu South, visited the Constituency with Parliament’s Select Committee on Education during which they paid a courtesy call on the Paramount Chief of the area, Torgbui Amenyah Fitih. Torgbui, as is normal for traditional rulers to take advantage of such occasions, asked that government complete an E-Block project in his area.
Then later in a radio interview, the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo was asked what he made of Torgbui’s demand. All the President said was that Torgbui should go complete the project himself. My initial reaction was, “Nonsense.” How could a Head of State of Ghana hold a traditional ruler in such disdain? What did Torgbui do wrong? As far as I know, the high office of President imposes a certain civility and decorum on its occupant.
Would Nana have given the same response if the request was from the Mamponghene, Okyehene, Okuapehene or the Asantehene? Would he? If he would, what would the reaction of the citizens of those traditional areas have been?
I recall a time when Otumfuor Opoku Ware was celebrating an anniversary at the then Kumasi Sports Stadium. A Queenmother asked the then Chairman Rawlings to reactivate the Ashanti Shoe Factory. In his usual rambunctious manner, Rawlings responded that if the people stopped eating cowhides (wélé) there would be raw materials for the factory. Of course, my reaction then was, “Nonsense. Jerry could use a mire diplomatic language.” Rawlings was lambasted for what they said was an insult to their royalty.
The truth, however, was that you cannot eat the shoes and still wear them. It has been scientifically proved that wélé has no nutritional value whatsoever.
But Nana’s response seems to be in character with the political tradition he represents. Open, yet subtle dislike for Ewe people, who, in their illogicality are aliens. How they came with such thoughts only they can explain. Remember, when there was an outcry for the people of the coast in the Volta Region after tidal waves swept across the area last year. Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh threatened to go on demonstration against any help to the Volta Region because his constituency in Ashanti was also flooded. During the last voter registration, security persons were posted to our eastern border to ward off “aliens” who might want to cross from Togo to register. But a motley group of them were sent to other regions to create a semblance of a nationwide exercise. No one was fooled.
Their target was Ketu South, a constituency that turns out a huge voter roll each time. It beats my mind that people who aspire to rule this country do not know the demography of each district, municipality or metropolis. Even in the face of the seeming security intimidation, Ketu South turned out huge numbers one more time. Hon. K. T. Hammond said at the time that the Ewe were foreigners. I don’t know what it is about Ketu South that gets their goat. Sad, if you asked me.
Then one Abronye was screaming to high heaven that the Ewe contribute nothing to the development of the country and that all the Ewes do is kill. I hope on his day of reckoning he will have evidence of his claim. I wonder how they view the very highly respected Ewe in their fold. Those who readily come to mind are Elizabeth Ohene, Sam Okudzeto, Dr. Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe, Dr. Archibald Letsa and Kofi Dzamesi. Dzamesi’s mother is Akyem so he can be considered a child of two worlds. Mr. Yaw Osafo Maafo was also heard saying only people from more economically endowed region of Ghana must be elected to rule the country I am glad he is not the president of this nation and I pray he never gets the chance.
Before them, Victor Owusu of blessed memory was quoted as saying, “the Ewe were inward looking.” I thought lessons would be learned from these yet our utterances reflect the magnitude of our hatred for others. Is it not true that one who fails to learn from history has the high propensity to repeat same mistakes?
When Miss Amekoafia became the first Miss Ghana at Independence with “a number nine tag,” people of the Volta Region are pejoratively called “Number 9.” Then there is this Ayigbe nomenclature. There are many Ewe groupings like, Anlo, Ave, Some, Tongu, Ewedome, Akpini etc. but there is no Ayigbe. It comes as a big surprise when some Ewes refer to themselves as Ayigbe. Have we lost our identity as a people? How can you let others tell your story for you? I do not get it.
That the Ewe spread across four countries in our sub-region does not make them stateless. There are people in the north of Ghana who share language and ethnicity with Burkina Faso. There are Akans astride the western border with Côte d’Ivoire, not so? How come the Ewe haters do not notice these? Or the Ewe light is so bright it blinds them from seeing things in their true perspectives?
Personally, I may be detribalised but it does not take away my identity, my language, my culture and my personality. Let none do. We know what happens at enlistment centres, recruitment centres, job placement centres. National unity and cohesion cannot be attained when some people hold claim to more entitlements than others, just because of where they come from or what language they speak. This toxic fantasy of superiority over others must give way to equity and oneness.
Those who want to turn history on its head must first tell me if the European slave dealers, upon arrival on our shores, already knew Dzogbeawo, Bluawo, Eweawo, Gēawo and Fanteawo.
That the Ewe does not react violently to insults and name-calling is no act of cowardice or fear. It is because of the discipline and fortitude handed down to us by our forebears as our historical narratives have portrayed.
Writer’s email address:
akofa45@yahoo.com
By Dr. Kofi K. Segbefia
Attention-Deficit or Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is often mistaken for laziness or indiscipline. In consulting rooms across Accra and in reports from school teachers, the pattern repeats: children who are bright but forgetful, parents who feel helpless, teachers who see incompleteness.
Research is clear-Barkley (2015) and others describe ADHD as a difference in the brain’s regulation of alertness, impulse and working memory, not a lack of effort.
The family’s role begins with structure. Regular sleep, predictable meal and homework times, and a simple visual list (uniform → books → water → corridor) provide the external scaffolding of these children need. Praise what is completed—“You opened the book and wrote the first sentence”-instead of rebuking what is missing.
Schools can help by seating the child front-row and centre, giving short written plus verbal instructions, allowing brief movement breaks, using quiet nonverbal cues and, where possible, grading effort and method as well as neatness. These adjustments reduce conflict and raise submission rates without lowering standards.
Couples and caregivers should share roles: one grounds, one pivots, and both protect rest. Shame-“bad parenting, bad child”-needs replacing with fact: different wiring, needs scaffolding.
Outcomes improve not by promises of perfection but by daily routines, clear limits and warmed connection. One homework slot kept, one instruction chunked, one calm repair after blurting-these small wins shift the family climate and let the child be seen beyond the label.
Resource
• CPAC (award-winning Mental Health and Counselling Facility): 0559850604 / 0551428486
Source: REV. COUNSELLOR PRINCE OFFEI’s insights on special needs support, relationships, and mental health in Ghana. He is a leading mental health professional, lecturer, ADR Expert/Arbitrator, renowned author, and marriage counsellor at COUNSELLOR PRINCE & ASSOCIATES CONSULT (CPAC COUNSELLOR TRAINING INSTITUTE) – 0551428486 /0559850604.
WEBSITES:
https://princeoffei22.wixsite.com/author
https://princeoffei22.wixsite.com/website
After two weeks of hectic activity up north, I drove to the Tamale airport, parked the car at the Civil Aviation car park as usual, paid the usual parking fee and boarded the plane for Accra.
Over the last two weeks, I had shuffled between three sites where work was close to completion.
One was a seed warehouse, where farmers would come and pick up good quality maize, sorghum and other planting material.
The other was a health facility for new mothers, where they were given basic training on good nutrition and small scale business.
And the third was a set of big boreholes for three farming communities.
The projects usually ran on schedule, but a good deal of time was spent building rapport with the local people, to ensure that they would be well patronised and maintained.
It was great to be working in a situation where one’s work was well appreciated. But it certainly involved a lot of work, and proactivity. And I made sure that I recorded updates online before going to bed in the evening.
When the plane took off, my mind shifted to issues in Accra, the big city. The young guys at my office had done some good work. They had secured five or six houses on a row in a good part of the city, and were close to securing the last.
When we got this property, unusually, Abena greeted them casually, and appeared to be comfortable in the guy’s company.
I was quite disappointed to hear that, because until the last few weeks, it seemed as if Abena and I were heading in a good direction. Apart from the affection I had for her, I liked her family. I decided to take it easy, and allow things to fall in whatever direction.
Normally I would take a taxi to her house from the airport, and pick her up to my place. This time I went to my sisters’ joint, where they sat by me while I enjoyed a drink and a good meal.
“So Little Brother,” Sister Beesiwa said, “what is it we are hearing about our wife-to-be?”
“When did you conclude that she was your wife-to-be? And what have you heard? I’ve only heard a couple of whispers. Ebo and Nana Kwame called to say that they have seen her in the company of—”
“Well said Little Brother,” Sister Baaba said. “By the way, Nana Kwame called an hour ago to ask if you had arrived because he could not reach you. Someone had told him that Jennifer had boasted to someone that she had connected Abena to a wealthy guy who would take care of her.”
I was beginning to understand. For some time, Abena had been asking me what work I was doing up north, and after I had explained it to her, she kept asking. So I think Jennifer fed her with false stories about me in order to get her to move to the Ampadu guy. Jennifer must have been well compensated for her efforts.
“In that case,” Sister Beesiwa said, “you should be glad that Abena is out of your way. She is easily swayed. Anyone who would make a relationship decision based on a friend’s instigation lacks good sense. I hope the guy is as wealthy as they say?”
“Who gets wealthy running a supermarket chain in Ghana?” Sister Baaba said. “Our supermarkets sell mostly imported products. Look at the foreign exchange rate. And remember that Ghanaians buy second-hand shoes and clothes. Supermarkets are not good business here. Perhaps they are showing off that they are wealthy, but in reality they are not doing so well.”
“Amen to that,” I said. “I’m beginning to understand. For some time, Abena had been asking me what work I was doing up north, and after I had explained it to her, she kept asking. So I think Jennifer fed her with false stories about me in order to get her to move to the Ampadu guy. Jennifer must have been well compensated for her efforts.”
She said that David Forson was only an agricultural extension worker in the north who did not have the resources to take care of a beautiful girl like her. And apart from being wealthy, the guy comes from an influential family, so Abena had done much better leaving a miserable civil servant like you for him.
“Amen to that,” I said. “I’m beginning to understand. For some time, Abena had been asking me what work I was doing up north, and after I had explained it to her, she kept asking. We would be able to sell all five houses to one big corporate customer, and we had already spoken to a property dealer who was trying to find a buyer in order to get a good commission.
That was going to be my biggest break. I had asked the boys to look for a large tract of land on the outskirts of the city where we could develop our own set of buildings, blocks of storey houses and upscale apartments. Things were going according to plan, and I was quietly excited. However, things were not going so well regarding my relationship with Abena.
My buddies Ebo and Nana Kwame had called to say that they met Abena and her friend Jennifer enjoying lunch with a guy, and Ebo believed that Jennifer was ‘promoting’ an affair between Jennifer and the guy. They were of the view that the promotion seemed to be going in the guy’s favour, because only an agricultural extension worker in the north who did not have the resources to take care of a beautiful girl like her.
And apart from being wealthy, the guy comes from an influential family, so Abena had done much better leaving a miserable civil servant like you for him.
“As I’ve already said, I will stop by her place, but I will mind my own business from now. Hey, let’s talk family. How are our parents? And my brothers-in-law? And my nephews and nieces? Why don’t we meet on Sunday? I’m going to drop my bags at my place, and go to see Mama and Dad.”
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