JUST THINKING ALOUD

Just when I was submitting the document to the Executive Director, the Accountant said, “Charlie, make you deposit this cheque give me waiii.” I asked him, “For where?”

“Opportunity International, Vodafone in body” he said in a humble tone.

I collected the cheque plus the account details. As I inserted the earplugs to listen to Joy Midday news, Franisca Kakra Forson was talking about fourteen people dead as a result of a vehicular accident between Kumasi and Kintampo. She was speaking with a gentleman who claim had lost the Dad in that very accident. Just then, the gentleman said another accident just occurred at the same spot and two lives have been lost. Sixteen lives in less than 12 hours.
(http://www.myjoyonline.com/news/2014/September-17th/16-people-killed-on-kumasi-kintampo-road.php)

Just at the road side as I head towards Opportunity International at Kwame Nkrumah Circle, I saw about four elderly women alight from a Trotro. They all looked sad but one was sobbing. What else could make an elderly woman sob this hot afternoon? "Probably, she just lost someone" I thought to myself.

Then it occurred to me. Am I that blessed? I don’t mean those crying are cursed though.

It’s amazing how we most of the time focus on what we need (or so we think?) than the plenty blessings we swim in. We need to whet our attitude of gratitude every minute. “The Lord is good and His mercies endureth forever”

Let's be more thankful for what we have because someone is seriously fasting for that thing you take for granted.

All these occur in the days of our lives.

BAD PEOPLE & DOING GOOD

“Really?” I said to myself as the aged man approached me, I could vividly recollect his face even though it was past 7pm. It was almost the same place that I met him the last time. We met some few days ago, in the hustle and bustle nature of Kwame Nkrumah circle. He was so good at pitching. The last time we met, he said he was going to Nkawkaw but short of GHC2. I hurriedly put my hand in my pocket and gave him exactly the amount. He showed appreciation and said literally in Twi, “If you don’t do this, who will?”

I didn’t give because I had enough but I knew how it felt not to have. Moreover, he is older than my father, so thought to myself, “Why will an elderly person lie?”

I passed by like a dumb person this time. A lot rushed through my mind as I look for the Trotro going my direction.

In the Trotro stuck in vehicular traffic, I slipped the phone into my pocket out of slow internet frustrations.

Then immediately my old buddy came to mind again. My mind was stretched to the time I was growing up. It was a basic untold instruction to collect the load with any elderly person, known or unknown. One could abandon whatever he/she is doing to show someone any needed direction.

Somewhere in February 2014, around the same Kwame Nkrumah circle, I saw an elderly man in front of me carrying his bag. I realized the bag was heavy so I stretched my steps and said to him in Twi, “Daddy, please let me help you”. He looked at me and said “No thanks. I am grateful”. Trying hard to hide his suspicious-look behind a smile. I understood him. People pose like what I just did and run away with bags and other valuable items.

Because of the sophisticated tricks of criminally-minded people, it has become too hard to differentiate between those lying and those who genuinely need assistance. Laziness has also taken over the DNA of some abled body men who adapt all ways to take money from comfortable-looking people. There is a man who is always having some drugs and asking for top up to get the rest of the drugs. Another gentleman who is a ‘student’ at University of Ghana and always misplaces his wallet.

How does these bad people affect your doing of good?

I know you have fallen victim to a couple of such tricks but my question is this, “Are we going to stop doing good because of such people?”

I will say listen to your intuition. Whatever you feel like doing, do it. If you believe in what I believe in, then the Holy Spirit will always minister to you.

All these happen in the DAYS of my LIFE.

THIS IS LOVE.

Somewhere in 2012, I became friends with this pretty lady called Sarah. We met on social media platform Facebook. I was residing in Bolgatanga in northern Ghana then.

Fast forward, I relocated to Accra and destiny brought us closer. I stay around where she works. We became closer as I saw her almost every day after work. We had our own small fights but we were good friends and enjoyed our time together.

The hustle and bustle of life sent me about 700m away from where I was staying. Speaking on phone was strained. I never knew her house; neither did she also know mine.

On the 19^th August, 2014, I called her to pass through after work as I was to wait for someone around her office.

She was point on, “You don’t check on me. I am at the hospital at Batoor in the Volta region” My jaw dropped to my chest. “Had a surgery but I am ok and under observation”

I nearly cried. I was silent for seconds. I apologized and asked how she was doing. “I will call you after work” I told her. Remember I was going there to wait for a friend. It was not really because of her.

As I walked to my desk at the office, I felt 1000% guilty. Technology has made communication very cheap, yet what do we use it for? Instead of using it to build relationship, show love to our relations, friends and people who come our way in life. We use the various social media platforms to spread rumors, malicious reports about people, unconfirmed reports etc.

In my case, I am lucky is doing ok. God forbid, but what if she was gone?

At any point in time, we can remember a friend we have not heard from for like two months. Enough airtime to call and checkup on the person, yet we ignore. If you have all the money you desire, will you be happy sitting on the beaches of Hawaii, sipping coconut juice alone? Man is a social animal and we can hardly function minus other humans around us. We hear of people committing suicide and ask “He had all the money, well doing children, beautiful wife. What did he lack?” Wait till you get there. We have replaced love with greed, hatred, selfish mentality, giving room to loneliness among over 7 billion people in this world.

Everybody is some way bi, let's try to see the good side of people and ignore the weird part. We are all weird.

Your 60 sec call, SMS, WhatsApp message, email or voicemail can put a smile on the face of a friend somewhere who is not having a good day. Pick that phone, login and send that mail, make that contact now!

This is what love is about, not the one that takes us to hell. Let us show concern(love) to people. 

T: @isaacamoyaw
F: Facebook.com/iamoyaw

WHY CRY OVER CORRUPTION? LET’S ENJOY IT 

I get amazed when I hear the elderly crying over corruption. Sometimes even accusing the young ones of bring new levels to corruption. Well, we are just being innovative as we are being admonished to be. Corruption is more like a seed that was planted and its harvest time. We are all enjoying. Corruption, in fact, starts from the home. Right from the house, we are taught the basics of corruption. Corruption 101.
Let me give you some scenarios
1. Kwame has finished school but is not finding any job. His father from one of his numerous business escapades asked him in the presence of his junior brother if no one has asked him to come pay some money for a job offer.

 2. Mrs Amoah runs a big shop and has WAVES Bank as her bankers. During Christmas, she distributes rice to all the staff at the bank. Her son who is in the polytechnic cautions her mum about the financial implications of what she is doing. “If I don’t do this, they won’t approve my loans and overdraft” says Mrs Amoah.

 3. Kwesi wrote BECE and had a terrible grade. Under normal circumstances, he cant get admission into any kind of SHS. His father goes to pay his way. During one of the vacations, as Kwesi was hanging out with friends, his Dad got angry and tells him, “Do you know how much I paid to get you admission into the school? You better study and stop this fooling”

 4. In school, Afua has realized that the teachers are not really interested in her progress. What she has realized is that the favorites of the teachers are those whose parents always bring the teachers gift just before vacation (our day) or even invite the teachers home for dinner. She knows very well that her parents cannot afford gift for the teachers talking less of dinner. (I can feel some teachers are not happy, hehehehee)
These are just a few of such scenarios.

 Now when these children grow up, they know “In life, you pay your way through” Let me hasten to say that children learn more via what parents do than the instructions that are given. I have noticed that Ghanaians are always running away from the truth. Who checks corruption in this country? Parents entreat their children to take certain career paths not for any reason but the money they assume they will make in not time. Talk of the CEPS, Immigration, Police, Nursing, etc.
Corruption is now part of our being, let’s enjoy it. I remember a comment one of my Snr friends, Nana Kwabena Yeboah passed when the Catholic Pope said all those found to be corrupt should be thrown into the sea with a stone hanging on their neck. He was like “Does he want us to take over the sea” Why pretend like the canker is a new thing? Our parents (I mean elderly in the society) thought us. Some people will talk of nepotism, but they are just like the Telco’s in Ghana, different colors but the same in inefficiencies.
..to be continued

8 tourist sites you must see in the Upper East Region

Bolga, the Upper East Regional Capital is the haven of creativity in Ghana, and is famous for its intricately designed straw baskets, hats, leather products (sandals and bags) and smocks. If you find yourself here do well to visit these tourist sites in the Region:

BOLGA CRAFT VILLAGE
A meeting place for traders from all over the region selling basket ware, leather goods and traditional clothing. It used to serve as a meeting place for other traders from Burkina Faso and beyond who might not be able to reach the south with their goods, mainly livestock.

TONGO-TENGZUK CULTURAL LANDSCAPE AND SACRED SHRINES
The whistling rocks of Tongo rise dramatically from the landscape just 10km from Bolga. This cultural landscape consists of outstanding balancing rock formations and many sacred Talensi ancestral shrines, all lying at and near the base of a horseshoe-shaped chain of hills. The Ba’ar Tonna’ab Ya’nee shrine is the most recognized among the shrines. It is adjudged a popular destination for Asante traditionalists, who call it Nana Tongo.
Both genders are permitted to enter the shrine but they must do so without any clothes on their upper body, my girlfriend will never go there!

THE PAGA TOWN/CROCODILE POND
Paga is the major port of entry on the Ghana-Burkina Faso border. It is 40 km and a 45-minute drive from Bolga. Paga offers perhaps the most vivid insight into the heritage and vestiges of the Trans Atlantic Slave Trade, and the lives of captives on the 400-mile march to the South. A slave camp near the sacred crocodile pond provides evidence of the harsh realities of the captives.
The reptiles are normally enticed out of the pond by the whistling of the caretaker and the brandishing of a fowl, which the crocodiles quickly snatch with their snouts. If you are courageous, you can sit on, or hold its tail for a good camera pose. This is what I being trying for the past five years. The caretaker charges a fee for the fowl and basic interpretation.

PUSIGA/NAA GBEWAA’S SHRINE
A short drive from Bolga is Pusiga. Legend has it that the founder and ancestor of the Mole-Dagbani kingdom, which extended from Ghana to Burkina Faso, finally settled in this town in the 13th Century. Legend has it that he died here and "buried” himself. Where his palace once stood, and where he "buried” himself is now a thicket that is revered and treated as a shrine by the local people. Beyond the legend, visitor infrastructure and interpretation is currently unavailable at the shrine.

NAVRONGO CATHEDRAL
The historic mud-built church is well worth a visit. Thirty minute drive and 18km northwest of Bolgatanga is Navrongo. The key attraction in this town, which is also a major educational center, is the architecturally unique Catholic Cathedral. Also Known as Our Lady of Seven Sorrows, was built in 1906 and is believed to be the last remaining Mud cathedral, it has mud walls and a traditionally decorated interior. The Catholic Church has recently initiated conservation measures to preserve this icon. Tourists interested in the Christian heritage of Northern Ghana will enjoy touring this Cathedral.

WURIYANGA MOSQUE
This 19th Century mosque is in Garu, southeast of Bawku, near the Togo Border. Restoration works have been undertaken by the local community.
This ancient mosque was built by Muslim missionaries. It showcases typical Sudanese architecture from about 300years ago.

KULUNGUGU BOMB SITE
Kulungugu is a minor point of entry in the Bawku District, on the far eastern corner of Ghana's border with Burkina Faso. This is where in August 1962 an assassination attempt was made on the first President of the Republic, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. En route to Accra from signing an accord with the President of Burkina Faso in the then Upper Volta for the construction of the hydroelectric project on the Volta, a bomb was planted and blasted at a village school, where he made a short stopover. The bomb blast killed a young school child and injured others. A memorial stands at this site.
A prominent Medical Officer I happened to meet during the celebration of the Kwame Nkrumah Centenary said he was supposed to be the MC for that event, but experienced a strange fever just before the event. The sickness vanished just after the vehicle to pick him left his house for Kulungugu.

SIRIGU POTTERY & ART
30km off the Bolga-Navrongo Road, the women of Sirigu await visitors. Women in this village are committed to keeping threatened traditional arts alive. They also sell baskets, pottery, and other crafts, which are both a livelihood and a proud tradition for the villagers.

The Village noted for inspiration designs on walls, pots and canvass, mainly by women.
Most of the women of Sirigu have no formal education, they are ordinary women as found in other rural areas in Ghana, but possess a talent that is worth recognizing. Their dream is to preserve the designs of their ancestors.
On their website (www.swopa.org), one will have the real Sirigu experience.

My next job will be on the festivals in my adopted region, I tell my friend I’m an Economic Refugee
See you when I see you!

Transgenerational poverty, why it is a difficult fight.

A conversation ensued between two parents and their kids at different places at the same time. Lets hear them

Washington
White Son: Dad, will I be rich and respected when I grow up?
White Dad: If only you learn well at school, read wide, contribute to your society‘s development and live a responsible life. My boy, this is difficult to achieve but hey, ‘Yes, you can’.
the Son smiled and walked away to read his books.

Accra
Black Son: Dad, will I be rich and respected when I grow up?
Black Dad: Hey, if youu don’t leave here with your nonsense, I will give you a dirty slap, foolish boy. Is it respect you eat when you wake up? Have you taught of how to get money for your fees come next week?
The boy just walked out of the house and sat with friends under a mango tree across the dusty road.
Which among these boys is likely to do well in life, all things being equal?
Indeed, some must run the race of life for their parents before starting theirs.