From Where I come

"ƐKA WƆ SE ANOINTED M'ƐNN- TOUCH " By Amu Mawutoh  Edited by Kobina Hagan. 24th November, 2019. Review of Kofi Kinaata’s Things Fall Apart In October, 2019, a month ago, the Things Fall Apart writer and singer, Kofi Kinaata (formally called Martin King Arthur) released his song that took to the music industry and caused a stir online and on the airwaves. Ghanaians on Twitter reacted to the song by tweeting their opinions of the song – some quoting their favorite lines of the song and many more hailing him for the message of the song. The Western Regional award winning song-writer and singer came to the limelight when he featured on Castro’s Odo Pa (2013). Two years later, he collaborated with Donzy and released The Crusade (2015). He is also known for hits like Susuka (2015), Sweetie Pie (2016), Confession (2017), Time No Dey (2017), and very recently, Things Fall Apart. Kofi Kinaata, is a Highlife/Hiplife musician who comes from a Christian home in Takoradi. Born into a ...

Lapaz, 31st May,  2019. 8:12am I lift my head from my phone to realise we are at Nii Boi Junction. I will alight at Las Palmas -the next junction - where I can pick up a Chantan bus to work. I close the word document and lock the screen of my phone only to realise I didn't take note of the page I was reading. Clearly this novel won't be done with at this rate. I have been trying to finish it for months now. I petition my mind to remember that I have read past chapter four. 'Obviously this unpublished book has become my troski read', I say to myself.  The mate gets back on the troski and starts calling, 'Awoshie...Awoshie...you will go?  Come come...'. He hits the side of the bus and the driver stops. The passenger does not show up and he hits the bus again, 'Let's go ... Awoshie ...Awoshie'.  Driver drives slowly while the mate calls for anyone who will join this slow moving bus. These people are against me!! Today, I'm in a hurry. I nee...

I believe strongly that there is nobody born to play, in this world-stage, such roles as murderer or prostitute or armed robber or suicide bomber. Situations, people and more often than not the people themselves by their choices make them(selves) into these kinds of people society abhors.  To think that the perpetrators of these inhuman vices - boko haram, al shabab or angry unempoyed South Africans - were once little boys and girls, fills my heart with immerse  sadness. I have found myself asking such rhetorics as ,was there no exemplary adult they could have fashioned their lives after? If their parents were irresponsible or died somehow, was there no elder sibling, or extended family, especially as Ghana is largely an extended family system? What about a  next door neighbour that could offer them some guidance, counseling or discipline?  Take a look around. Your little brother or sister has the potential of becoming a murderer or a high class prostitute, and th...

A S A CITIZEN, WHAT SHOULD GHANA FOCUS ON TO ACHIEVE ITS DEVELPOMENT GOALS IN THE NEXT 60 YEARS? W hen I first read this question, I  wonder ed   where the  other countries that gained independence a round the same times as Ghana   stood  now after 60 years.  Are   they  still   called  developing countr ies ?  Our elders  say  that water that  stays too long in a pot stinks and that is why  Ghana   must focus on education   to achieve  development  by 207 7 .  Ghana  pushed the  Univer sal Primary Education goal  in the  MDG’s   so much that FCUBE (Free Compulsory Universal Basic Edu cation) became a household name .  Afterwards t he S D G’ s set o ut by the United Nations in 2015   also  had Quality Education as one of the goals . These two global goals  had education as one of  the focus.  A number of people would  agree ...

Sunday, 8th January 2017 In my previous post on Journey to Upper West I highlighted on my Day 1 experiences. I spent four days in Wa : Wednesday to Sunday. On the Sunday morning, I went to the bus station to buy a ticket. The departure time was 5pm and I was to report at 4:30pm. We went to church afterwards at Jirapa. About 40 minutes drive from Jejeyire. Around 4:45pm, we were at the station. As we waited for other passengers to get their bags tagged and packed, my host's mum asked me if I enjoyed my stay. I quickly reposed,  "oh yes mummy. I had a nice time." Seconds later, I began to think about why I enjoyed the stay and the things that made Wa interesting for me. I decided then to write it down. That's the the only way I know I can capture the memories, so they don't slip away, as I go back to my real life full of work, work and work". Charley, the hustle is real. And so the minute I sat in the bus I took my phone, to put down what I will miss about W...

Day 1. Wednesday, 4th January 2017. Arrived around 4:15 am. The weather met me like an old friend, embracimg me into its chilly arms. Honestly the only thing I dislike in this time of year is the harmattan! And it was still abiding in Wa despite bidding those of us in Accra farewell. But for now Harmattan was least of my worries. I had to get out of the station but my phone had run out of battery despite all attempts to preserve it for the 12 hour journey. And even if I asked someone for a phone, I didn't have my host's mobile number memorised. I began to chide myself for not writing it when I saw the battery was low. Had I known, they say, is...... I resolved to stay at the station and pray my host somehow comes to find me. But how long would I have to endure this weather? Chai. "God please speak to him,"  I prayed. After some minutes, a taxi came around. Obviously to see if he would get some business. The driver approached me to ask if I wanted his services. He s...

8th December, 2016. 4:17pm. Chantan - Lapaz -Abeka. In a troski going home. I've heard this afternoon from colleagues that there is tension in town so I decided to observe my immediate environment. These are my observations. One of them could be you... 1. A mason mixing sand and cement for plastering 2. Three guys jogging to their football training grounds. 3. Kofi brokeman seller, turning plantains on her mesh so the raw parts  can get their turn with the mild fire. 4. Two school boys playing on the streets, struggling over a piece of sausage, oblivious of the approaching trotro. Our driver shouts at them. 5. A guy negotiating with a customer over a GH5.00 ear phone. 6. A lady trying out shades. She takes a mirror from the seller to see if it fits her face or perhaps shades her eyes from the setting sun. 7. A man in front of a shop, pushes the  last bit of bread into his mouth , claps and raises his hands over the voice of the journalist giving provisional results fr...

About fifty children stiring dust, Running. Shouting. Screaming after a ball. Little legs swinging, Hoping to touch a flying ball. One throws his right leg; The ball walks past him, his feet run after it. Another takes the ball, runs away with it To a place he can freely hit it. Soon he is surrounded by many legs Like ants who chance on sugar. He hits the ball and runs after it To have a second hit but Someone cuts him from behind. The girls, amidst the running boys, Interrupting their game with their cries, "Oh...let me play some". The ball leaves them to the side of the field Where one boy is seated waiting For the ball to come to him. He takes the ball to the pole Where the keeper is too small for his post. He fixes the ball for a strike, Too late, Supporters and opposers attack him. The leg that hits the ball sends it High into the sky, all eyes follow. Before it hits the ground, The bell rings. PE is over. I will remember this with a smile,...