“Truth Stands” John Donney (Motto of Commonwealth Hall University of Ghana, Legon)
The 2025 Christmas was a memorable one for some of us – a time to reflect; like Charles Dickens’s 1843 novella Christmas Carol, we were visited by the “Ghost of Christmas Past”, the “Ghost of Christmas Present” and the “Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come”. We recalled the passage in which Scrooge was described as “…a squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous old sinner…”. In the end, just like Scrooge, we were transformed into a kinder, gentler breed.
Whom in Ghana would expect rain in Christmas season? (20th December to 31st December)? No harmattan? Incroyable, sorry, incredible…
Stave One: Going to the bush to collect firewood, and heap it in the middle of the village for 24th night bonfire… Yaw Bronya (Yaw Christmas) would be the ardent coordinator. Our 2-yard pieces of cloth would be strung around to cover our frail bodies pestered by the very cold harmattan weather. Each child would bring some food items (cocoyam, plantain, yam…) to roast, and one would recall a passage in 1958 Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart: …set before his guests a mound of foo-foo so high that those who sat on one side could not see what was happening on the other…”
Stave Two: we would be told very hair-raising stories; Ananse (the spider), Sasabonsam (the devil), mmoatia (dwarfs) — how they roamed the earth to pick up naughty children so that they would not enjoy the Christmas. Go to our individual hovels to sleep around ten. The ground was familiar; you could not fear falling into a ditch in the darkness (or being lucky, we could have half-moon). In the morning, it would be the small-round biscuits strung round our necks; begging from neighbours: “Maame, yɛaba wo fie, ma yɛn biribi kakra ma yɛnni-e…”
(Mother, we have come to your house, give us something to eat…) And our cubicles (refined for sheds) erected with palm fronds were there… sharing, fraternizing, jolly time… Come 25th December… 31st December… “Joy to the world, a saviour is born…” “Afe ako aporo, abe to yen nso bio…”
This time round it was to sit comfortably in a sofa children watching cartoons, we watch and listen to the predictions, revelations, prophecies which “overflow” only at 31st. “Passover”. Prophet J. Y. Adu would foresee Ghana mourning, the result of a well-known musician dying… not to be overtaken by events, if unlike the unpredicted death of Lumba. Disregard Prophet Adu’s failed prophecy of Bawumia winning the 2024 presidential election… Nigel Gaisie would predict the release of “Agradaa”, the postponement of the U.S. World Cup, Black Stars going to the finals or final(?) and God had talked to Prophet Owusu-Bempah, predicting a “coup” in Ghana (if it does not happen, it is because Owusu-Bempah had fasted and prayed)… but what was the fate of the famous boxer who would suffer death?
And Afua Schwarzenegger would warn Owusu-Bempah about so many things she knows about him… and Owusu-Bempah would charge: “I would descend on Dr Bawumia… he wants to be President of Ghana, we shall see…”
And Prophet Adom Kyei would have a gargantuan congregation… at Asankare. Buses and other vehicles that conveyed his large congregation would block the Kumasi–Accra Highway, in such a way that commuters on that stretch had to spend extra 4 hours… Any apology from Adom Kyei-Duah?. Are there no laws in Ghana?
Or a prophet can do whatever he likes and go scot-free? Seen his mansion? And he urges his followers, sell all your property… Lil Win will show off his wealth and drown Adom Kyei Duah in cedis. Rain! rain! rain! (of cedis). Ken Agyapong, now born – again? No more “ waste of time “to say “Praise the Lord” Alleluian?
In all these, Prophet Dr Kofi Oduro relieves pent-up feelings of people: “…which year are there no floods, no fires in Ghana? … Nsem hunu nkɔmhyɛ… nkwasea-keka… who doesn’t know that one of the political parties would win? …” He flatly condemns the prophecies (mostly false and just guess-work).
There comes a Noah – this time one born on a Thursday, so Ebo Noah, prophesying a flood on 25th December. He was building an Ark, so people who wanted to be “saved” should come and stay in the Ark; there was rain where we went, but there was no flood. That was when people started to re-read the Bible Genesis chapter 9… “And God blessed Noah and his sons… Be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth… every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you… I will establish a covenant with you… neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth… I do set my bow in the cloud and it shall be taken as a covenant between me and the earth…”
Then people who had not read this part of the Bible came from all over the world, including the U.S. and Liberia, to see the ragged-clothed Ebo Noah and the Ark. Could the Ark built by some fishermen be able to contain the world population … is that how to “play tricks” on Ghana, Ghanaians and the world? So, no one predicted the proposed Accra – Kumasi Highway?
So, we return to our beds and look back (2025) we recall the tragedies and cannot come to terms with the ‘copter crash resulting in the death of Dr Omane Boamah, Murtala Muhammed, Alhaji Muniru, Dr Samuel Sarpong, Samuel Aboagye, three military officers… All flags flew at half-mast, and we said “adieu” to Ghana’s female icon, Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings, remembered for his unique style of headgear, and her role in Intestate Succession Law (PNDCLL III) but cannot forget the pitiful evacuation of a traditional funeral mourner from her bungalow: “Nana, yene wo bekɔ…” Such lamentation is for the untutored (in modern parlance).
Then, who can forget about Daddy Lumba’s exit… and the sensible, erudite, high class judgment by Justice Dorinda Smith Arthur over the case of the “last surviving spouse” sent by to court by Akosua Serwaa – to restrain Odo Broni from performing the widowhood rite.
Could we forget about the booing of Abronye at Jaman South after his insulting speech directed at Kennedy Agyapong and his spokespersons? We remember the Ten Sins of all the NPP flagbearers except Bawumia. So, if Bawumia wins the NPP flagbearership, how is he going to get the forces of other aspirants around him – We heard about “digging one’s own grave.
Meanwhile, the listening NDC government led by John Dramani Mahama remains focused and putting things in order… the dollar which couldn’t be arrested by Nana’s “boastful” government has remained steady and stable for the past one year. Who gets the kudos for moving the dollar from 17–1 to 12–1?
The problem with the Officer of Special Prosecutor (OSP) will prevail: whether Ken Ofori Atta will come 70 face trial or nor will not be a problem for the OSP, It will be a problem for, the Akufo Addo family and those celebrating for having successfully out witted Ghanaians by their smartness.
Galamsey palaver? Ask Akufo Addo who declared Wontumi innocent when he was first arrested.
Are we thinking of our parties or about Ghana? Some of us are for Ghana; whoever rules us, we are not bothered. God seems to have blessed Mahama – so be it. But note that he did not get the “favours” on a silver platter. He had to fight for it.
Africanus Owusu – Ansah
africanusoa@gmail.com
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