Features
When Ghana turned into ancient village of Umuofia!
Umuofia is an ancient village located west of the city of Onitsha, a market town in the Anambra State in Southern Nigeria on the east bank of the Niger River.
In Chinua Achebe’s popular and widely read novel, “Things Fall Apart”, the village of Umuofia is a setting for the story and the community of characters. He decided to use events in Umuofia to illustrate his book. Achebe in his writings, suggested that many things that were true of Umuofia, were true throughout the villages of precolonial Nigeria. Umuofia can, therefore, be seen as a representative of the tribal societies that have not yet been altered by colonialism.
UMUOFIA AS REFERRED TO IN ‘THINGS FALL APART’ NOVEL
Within “Things Fall Apart”, this view of life in Umuofia as reflecting larger patterns is shared both by Okonkwo, the novel’s protagonist and the British Commissioner, who decides to use events in Umuofia to illustrate his book about the process of colonialism.
Indeed, the recent Watchnight church services across the country to usher in the year 2022, were graced with some funny and interesting developments from some of our pastors and prophets with doom prophecies and predictions about fellow humans, group of persons and the country at large in spite of the strong warning from the police hierarchy to them to refrain from the act or face the full rigours of the law. Some of these pastors defied the warning and made predictions of death of fellow humans without any proof whatsoever.
POLICE WARNING TO DOOM PROPHETS AND PASTORS
It is recalled that few days before the end of the year, the Ghana Police Service gave a strong warning to these so-called doom pastors, prophets and men of God that it would go after them, arrest and prosecute such offenders. That, according to the police hierarchy,was a move to stamp out that annual ritual during such period of the year when the country is in festive mood. The police indicated its resolve to deal with such waywardness that has become annual ritual of the end of year Watchnight church services and New Year resolutions.
A statement from the Ghana Police Service warned that under Ghanaian law, it was a crime for a person to publish or reproduce a statement, rumour or report which was likely to cause fear and alarm to the public to disturb the public peace whereas that person had no evidence to prove that the statement, rumour or report was true. It is also a crime for a person, by means of electronic communication service, to knowingly send a communication that is false or misleading and likely to prejudice the efficiency of life saving service or to endanger the safety of any person. The police emphasised that while they were not against such prophecies and had time and again acknowledged the public’s right to religion, freedom of worship and free speech, those rights were subjected to laws and those found flouting the law would be dealt with accordingly.
FLAGRANT DISREGARD OF POLICE WARNING
Strangely, some of these so-called doom pastors called the police warning a bluff and went ahead to make frivolous and deadly predictions and prophecies during their Watchnight church services and got away with it without being arrested.
The funnier prediction or prophecy came from that popular and controversial Ghanaian Prophet, Founder and Leader of the Prophetic Hill Chapel, Prophet Nigel Gaisie, who either for fear of being arrested or for some obvious reasons, used the village of Umuofia in the Chinua Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart” novel to make his predictions and prophecies over what is bound to happen in Ghana this year. He likened Ghana to Umuofia and predicted the death of certain prominent personalities including a First Lady. Adopting an evasive style for his prophecies this year, Prophet Gaisie, aligned his prophecies with various countries geographically including a certain Umuofia and Uganda. Strikingly, there were similarities in his prophecies about Umuofia and Ghana.
PROPHET GAISIE’S DIRECT REFERENCE TO GHANA
Looking and evaluating critically the names of individuals, towns, institutions and activities of political parties, one can simply adduce that Prophet Gaisie, was directly referring to Ghana in his details about Umuofia. “I saw a heavy cloud of darkness covering the Head of State of Umuofia. Let’s take this prophecy very serious. I saw that his deputy is using ways to trigger his quick passing. I saw in the realm of the spirit that the shoe of a big man is being worn by the deputy. I saw in a nation of Umuofia that something that has happened there is about to re-occur,” he stated in one of his prophecies.
For the benefit of those who don’t know this controversial prophet, let me enlighten my readers and patrons with a brief background of Nigel Gaisie. This man, we are told, was born and raised in Ghana. He is one of the richest prophets in Ghana at the moment with a lot of properties, including mansions and plush vehicles. We are told that Prophet Gaisie is estimated to have a net worth of 10 billion dollars. He is married to a Ghanaian lady with two children. The behaviour of Prophet Gaisie in this instance can be regarded abuse of the law and must be condemned.
THE FEAR AND PANIC BEHAVIOUR OF OUR PASTORS AND PROPHETS
It is a fact that some of these so-called pastors with their own small churches are bent on causing fear and panic in this country through their actions and inactions. The way some of them are conducting themselves leaves much to be desired. Sometimes, it baffles to think of how they acquired their lincences to operate in this country. They use all kinds of occult and devilish means to dupe unsuspecting followers, promising them things they are not capable of doing.
CHASING THE RECALCITRANT PASTORS AND PROPHETS
The Ministry of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, which regulates the activities of these churches must be up to the task of monitoring the activities of these mushroom churches which are playing on the ignorance of the people and feeding fat on them by using sugar-coated religious messages to outwit their followers. Much as this country agrees to freedom of worship and association as enshrined in our 1992 Constitution, we must also make sure that churches whose activities and actions tend to undermine national security thereby creating fear and panic among the citizenry are proscribed.
This is the time for the Ghana Police Service under the able leadership of the energetic, young and hardworking Inspector-General of Police, Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, to move into action, arrest and prosecute these doom and selfish pastors, prophets and other so-called men of God who are bent on causing fear and panic in our dear nation.
This year must be full of action and nothing should stop us from moving the country to greater heights.
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By Charles Neequaye
THE state of feeling rejected, could be a terrifying experience especially for those who have become used to fame. If not properly addressed, it could lead to depression and the consequences, could be disastrous.
When you are on top of your game in whatever profession you find yourself such that you become famous, a lot of people try to associate with you. The phone never ceases to ring and one is tempted to feel loved and very important.
When a disaster strikes and the fame or the money which was the source of the attraction fades away, the circle of friends and fans begin to shrink and the phone will start to stop ringing until the call stops voting completely.
You will be shocked at how people you considered friends, will no longer be calling you or pay casual visits as they used to. You will begin to notice that messages you leave after calling them and not getting a response are not replied to and that is when you begin to know who your true friends are.
One of the most popular movie stars was an actress called Sharon Stone. In an interview with one of the media houses that was published, she spoke about how people who should have come around to encourage her in her moment of depression, shunned her. The calls stopped coming.
This is what the Bible admonishes that the arm of flesh will fail you and therefore we should put our trust in God. It could be a very frightening experience and can easily lead to depression.
Human nature being what it is, people will want to get close if things are okay. Everybody wants to associate themselves with interesting things, famous people, rich people etc for mainly selfish reasons.
We need to develop the habit of putting our trust in God and relying less on human beings. The lesson we have to take along in life is that, no one marries his or her enemy so how come people who took vows that they will love each other become so hostile to each other that they want to go their separate ways in life? Such is the reality of life.
It is therefore prudent for people to recognise that, life is full of uncertainties and so there is the need to prepare your mind for uncertainties so that when they occur, they do not disorganise your mental sanity.
A lot of people have experienced situations where people who they could have sworn will never betray their trust have disappointed them when they were through challenging moments.
If there is one thing famous people should desire, it should be the ability to identify who are true friends are. Countless stories abound regarding incidence of celebrities who have lost their shine and their wives divorcing them soon after.
It is sometimes useful as a famous or rich person to sign a prenuptial agreement before marriage to safeguard or protect yourself from any future unpleasant surprises.
People can be very pretentious these days, it goes both ways. There is this real life story where a man married a divorced wealthy woman and convinced her to sell her house so they could build a new one together, with the excuse that people are gossiping that he is being housed by a woman.
The woman agreed and they put up a new building. After a few years the man asked for a divorce, only for the woman to realise that the land on which the building was situated, was bought in the man’s name.
This can drive a person insane, if you are not mentally tough and this happens to you. When people hear that you are homeless, a lot of your so-called friends will stop calling, so that you do not become a burden on them.
By Laud Kissi-Mensah
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‘But, er …. I don’t even know your name’.
‘Paul. Paul Allotey. I’m Sarah, by the way. Paul, why don’t you leave me here, since this is the last important thing I’m doing today’.
‘Okay. Now Sarah. I was just thinking. You will be here at the cafe for about an hour. By then it will be about twelve thirty. Then, you would be thinking of buying yourself some lunch, to eat here or to take home. So if you would please allow me, I will take you to one of the nicest eating places in town, and after you have sorted that one out, then I can drop you home. Just that one errand, then I won’t bother you again’.
‘You are not bothering me at all. You are being very kind to me. And I just realised you are a mind reader too. The last item on my agenda was lunch’.
‘I’m so glad I appeared at your doorstep, just in time’.
‘Okay. Now Paul, since you say the cafe is a comfortable place, let’s go in together, and you can do your work while I get my application done’.
‘Okay, Sarah. Thanks. Let’s go’.
We got back in the car at eleven forty-five.
‘So where are we going, Paul?’
‘To Royalty restaurant. It’s a twenty minute drive away’.
‘So, do you enjoy your job?’
‘Most certainly. I won’t change it, not even to be President. And am I right to say that you are preparing to enter the university?’
‘That’s my plan. I hope it works’.
‘It will, if you are determined, and disciplined. You look very much like a disciplined person’.
‘Thank you very much’.
We arrived at Royalty in twenty-five minutes, ‘You are joining me for lunch, Paul’.
‘Thanks for the honour, Sarah. But the bill is on me’.
‘Aren’t you taking on too much for one day?’
‘I never do anything that is bigger than me, Sarah’.
Over the next hour and a half, we discussed fashion, local and international politics, and sports, as we ate and relaxed. Finally, he drove me to the shop.
‘I will never forget you, Paul’.
‘I’m glad to have been helpful. But if you don’t mind, I’ll say it again, your husband is extremely lucky. You are really beautiful’.
‘Thanks again. But do you mind if I call you sometime in the future?’
‘Certainly not. Let me write it here. I will not ask for your number, for obvious reasons. But I will be looking forward to hearing from you. And hopefully, I will see you next month, when I call to drop your bill’.
‘Okay Paul. See you then’. What a lovely day, I said to myself as I opened the front door. I closed the shop and got home by seven. I went straight to the bedroom, stood in the mirror and took a good look at myself. ‘You are a very beautiful woman, Sarah. Never forget that’. I will not forget that, again.
Over the next several weeks, Martin and I had very little to do with each other. In the morning he ate his breakfast and after a shabby ‘I’m going’, he left. He came home around eight at the earliest, ate his dinner and, already soaked in beer, went off to sleep.
He spent the greater part of the weekends at the club house with his friends, playing tennis and partying. My mind was focused on furthering my education, so I didn’t complain to him, and didn’t bother to inform my parents about what was happening. I had decided that I would only take action if he lifted his hand against me again. I spent my free time reading all manner of interesting stuff on the internet, and chatting with my sister on WhatsApp.
One evening, he came home at about eight, rushed to the bedroom and rushed out. An envelope, obviously containing money, dropped out of his pocket, and I picked it up and followed him. I was going to call him and give it to him, but I noticed that there was a young woman in the car, so I went back in, counted it and put it in a drawer in the hall. He came back after some ten minutes.
‘Excuse me, I dropped an envelope containing money. You must have seen it’.
‘Yes, I saw it. Actually, I followed you, and was about to call you and hand it over to you when I realised that there was a woman in the car, so I came back in. I counted it. One thousand cedis.
‘Well let me have it. I have to be going’.
‘I will let you have it if you will tell me who the woman in the car is, and why you are going to give her that amount of money’.
‘Listen, if you waste my time, I will teach you a lesson you will never forget. Give me the money now!’
‘Here’s what we will do, Martin. I know you will give money to her anyway, so I will give it to you, if you will withdraw the threat you just issued. But I want you to know that I will be taking some steps from tomorrow. Things are getting out of hand’.
‘Okay, I’m sorry I threatened you. Can you please give me the money’. I handed it over to him, and he ran out’.
The following morning, I waited for him to finish having breakfast, and told him I wanted to have a word with him urgently.
‘You better be quick. You know I’m going to work’.
‘Well, I want to inform you that I will inform my parents, and your parents, about the situation in this house. As I said yesterday, things are getting out of hand. You spend most of your time drinking. You get drunk every evening, and through the weekend. And you are also spending your time and money on a prostitute’.
‘How dare you? One more stupid word from you …’
‘Am I lying, Martin? You have just started life, yet you are behaving like a rich, elderly man who has already seen his children through university, and can afford a life of fun. As I said, I’m going to inform our parents. Maybe your parents can straighten you out before it is too late’.
‘Look, we can talk this evening. It’s nothing like what you are saying’. He walked away, shocked.
That evening, I was expecting to have a meaningful discussion with him, but his mother called early in the evening to offer me some ‘advice’. Her son had called to say that certain developments at home were disturbing him so much that they were beginning to affect his work.
And, ‘as a loving mother to her daughter’, she was advising me to submit to my husband, and support him in prayer, and not ‘drive him from home’. Men would always be men, and she was telling me ‘from experience’ that no matter how much time Martin stayed away from home, he would always come home to me.
She had been a young wife before, so she understood the challenges I was facing. So I could be assured that if I followed her advice, all would be well. And, of course, she didn’t allow me to tell my side of the story.
Martin came home very late, and very drunk. And from the next morning, he carried on as before. With some hesitation, I called my dad and told him all that had gone on.
‘Well, my daughter. I’m not going to say “I told you so”. I was only trying to protect you. So here’s what we’ll do. Continue doing the best you can, and try not to give him any excuse to harm you, but if things continue to deteriorate, I will take you back.
A couple of days later, my cousin Dinah arrived in Accra from Brussels, having completed her medical course. With Martin’s agreement, I went to Koforidua and spent a couple of days. I spent most of the time chatting about her experiences in the US, but we also discussed my relationship with Martin, and she endorsed Dad’s decision to take action if Martin’s behaviour did not change after two weeks Elaine informed Mom and Dad. We endorsed Dad’s decision to take action if there was no change in two weeks.
Dinah returned with me to Takoradi. Her plan was to spend a couple of weeks, and return to Accra to be posted. I called Paul Allotey, and asked if he would meet her for lunch and, if possible, show her some interesting spots. Delighted, he suggested that we meet at Royalty the next day.
I told Martin about it, to remove any possibility of future disagreement over ‘going out with men’.
‘It’s fine with me’, he said, ‘if, of all the people who could show your sister round this town, you chose a borla man. Doesn’t that indicate the kind of person you are?’
‘ First of all, Martin’, I’ve spoken to him a few times, and he comes across as a decent guy, so I think it is rather unfortunate that you are writing him off when you don’t know him’.
By Ekow de Heer
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