DESPERATE,NOT FOOLISH

Have u been hungry before?

When I say 'hungry',

I mean piercing hunger!

The situation where the only thing you need & desire in this whole world is just a spoonfull of gari.

You care less about sugar coz it is a rare luxury.

That is hunger!

Some of us are not lazy.

We work our socks off!

We're neither daft,

Nor block-headed.

We just happen to be unfortunate,

With no one out there to offer a helping hand.

Though some genuinely have no proper idea about the Corona Virus out there,

Others have ignorantly & deliberately opted to go against the COVID-19 prevention protocols.

I'm not holding brief for anybody.

A few are ignorant,

Whilst others are just stubborn without reason.

They just want their way out at all times.

But most of us are merely helpless.

Our survival each day depends on what we can make out of the day ahead.

We carry heavy loads on our heads over long distances for GHC 1.

We spend a greater chunk of the 24hours on the streets selling all kinds of stuff just to make GHC 5 per day.

We know we should be working smart.

But for now we find ourselves working hard,

Which we know doesn't pay.

We move with the wind.

If the wind stops,

We perish!

We want to be alive to see what the future holds for us & our families.

So flouting the Lockdown instructions meant to keep us safe is never part of our plans.

But we're faced with two dreadful devils.

COVID-19 & HUNGER!

Like the story of the lepers at the gate in the Bible,

If we go out,

We might contract the Corona Virus.

If we stay safe at home,

We'll die of Hunger Virus.

Any which way,

Something will certainly  kill a man.

So if u find us out instead of staying home,

Doing whatever it takes to survive despite the life-threatening virus out there,

Just know we mean no harm though our actions may harm the entire nation.

We're not stubborn,

Neither are we deliberately holding the nation to ransom.

We're not out for silver nor gold.

We're merely helpless,

And at our wits' end.

Just a bowl of gari,

Without sugar nor groundnut is all that's needed to keep most of us home till the Lockdown is over.

We absolutely have no idea where our next meal will come from.

We're fighting two devils.

COVID-19 & HUNGER.

We're caught between the devil & hard place.

We're neither foolish,

Nor stubborn.

We're just desperate.

Please forgive our 'foolish' ways.

#COVID19LockdownThoughts

'WHAT CAN COME,CAN COME'

One,two,three days into the lockdown,mankind was already worn out. My buttocks were itchy and panting for oxygen.They were just tired of sitting idle and being indoors. I can't even feel them today.They've become numb after 20 days of aimlessly romancing the bed & kitchen stool.

It's been three weeks of lockdown.Whether it's been productive or not, I'm not in the position to say. 

We're in the 3rd week and we don't even know whether we're going or coming,as a Ghanaman would say. For now,we don't know our bearings as a people and as a nation.We don't know where we're headed. Things are going back to factory settings.We want our lives back. We want to return to our active and sociable ways. We want to hang out with the boys on Friday nights. We want to go to the markets without fear, sit in our packed trotros and smell the scent from the mate's armpits,hug,shake hands,play soccer on weekends, join others to worship The Maker, attend parties & funerals on weekends and report to our various places of work on weekdays.We want to be us again!

But that 'dream' looks like this,like that,someway bi like that.It looks distance away.

I stand at my gate during the day & in the evenings and I see all that transpire on the streets.We're supposed to be on 'a partial lockdown'.To some, that seems to be case.But to others,it's just a 'normal day.'

I see 'fitters' going about their normal stuff in their shops,I see boys on motorbikes riding about leisurely.In twos & at times in threes on a bike. Others gather in tens and play 'draft' and cards by the roadside at night. Without the least respect to social distancing. And the funny thing is,these guys will be discussing the Corona Virus among themselves.

You watch the news on tv and see all sort of weird human activities going on in the streets of some of our communities.You watch what happens in our crowded markets and everything looks like 'a normal day'. No one gives a heck about COVID-19 prevention protocols. All in the name of 'IF WE DON'T GO OUT,WE WON'T EAT'.

This is super scary especially as the nation has recorded 834 COVID-19 cases as at April,17,2020.

In our part of the world, no one wants to sacrifice anything for everything .We all want to go to Heaven but we just don't want to die!. We want our country to be like the West but no one wants to be part of the over all sacrifice. Everyone wants to be the exception to the rule. We always want things to go our way, not the way of the nation.We keep bashing the government every single day for not being proactive and not providing enough for us.We always want something from the government  but when it comes to our part of the bargain,we want to be granted exemptions because 'we have to eat'. It always has to be us,us,us and nothing else.

Ah well,

We're still in our homes.Patiently waiting to hear what the president has for us in his next address to the nation. Whether there'll be an extension to the lockdown or not,we know not.

But whatever he decides,we dey. 'What can come,can come.'

#COVID19LockdownThoughts

WE'VE BEEN LEVELED

What day it is?

I know not.

What time of the day it is?

I can't tell.

Today looks like yesterday.

Yesterday looked like today.

We can't tell the difference.

Everyday looks Sunday.

We just can't tell.

Two days ago looked like Saturday.

Today looks like another Saturday.

Who knows?

Tomorrow might be Wednesday.

There's no EPL to remind us it's Saturday.

No church service to prompt us it's Sunday.

No afterwork sitting to give us an idea it's Friday night.

We just dey.

The only thing we know now for sure,

Are day & night.

That one sef,

Some people no know coz dem no dey bath regularly.

We're on lockdown.

Indoors is all we know.

Our lives have been halted.

Our freedoms,truncated.

COVID-19 has levelled us all.

No matter our statuses.

We may not know when this will be over.

We may not tell when life will be alive again.

We're just home,

Eating things,

Watching things,

And listening to things we might never have done on a normal day.

We couldn't even attend Jesus' funeral.

We're just hoping.

We can do little.

We're on lockdown!

WE'VE ALL BEEN LEVELED!!!

#COVID19LockdownThoughts

AO ANYƐMI MƐI, HELA KPANAKU CORONA VIRUS EBA GA! (GA LANGUAGE))

Anyɛmi mɛi kɛ weku mɛi.

Nyɛjekoo.

Anyɛmi mɛi ni yɔɔ Chorkor maamliŋ.

Mi mami mɛi ni yɔɔ Korle Gonno.

Adjeley,Ayorkor,Paa Nii kɛ Nii Adjin yɛ Korle Bu.

Nii Ankrah,Nii Okai, Obodai, Kpakpo Allotey kɛ Oko Dagadu ni yɔɔ Osu Maamliŋ,

Kɛ Ataa Ago,Nii Amui, Onukpa Oshinpa kɛ Naa Amerley yɛ Teshie-Nungua.

Ani nyɛ nuko lo?

Ni kɛ nyɛ nuko po,

Nyɛ nako hu?

Akɛ hela kpanaku ko eba wɔ maŋ Ghana nɛɛ mliŋ ni atsɛɔ lɛ CORONA VIRUS lo?

Hela nɛɛ ebuuu moko moko.

Kɛji wolɛinyo ji bo jio,

Nihɔɔlɔ ji bo jio, otsuɔ amlalo nitsumɔ jio, okpɛɔ nii jio, oda oo,otaloo oo,odiɔɔ oo,odukui da oo,odukui pɛmpɛoo oo,onaabu gbagayaa aloo bibioo jio,kɛ onuɔ Club beer,apio aloo sobolo jio, ekɔɔɔ hela ni ji CORONA VIRUS he eko kpa!

Corona Virus ebuuu moko.

Ebuuu shika tsɛ ni ebuuu ohiatsɛ.

Ebaanyɛ emɔ mɔfiaamɔ.

Ni kɛ emɔ bo ni okwɛɛɛ ojogbaa pɛ,

Obaawɔ Awudome shwane fintiŋŋ.

Nɔkwɛmɔ kɛkɛ ni he hia.

Naa Atwei,ofainɛ, kɛ obɛ noko ni he hiaa waa yɛ maamliŋ lɛ ofainɛ hii shia.

Kaaajekpo.

Otopey,Nii Ankrah, Amartey kɛ Naa Adoley.

Ofainɛ, nyɛkaboaa nyɛ he naa yɛ hekome.

Nyɛgbalaa nyɛ mliŋ ejaakɛ Corona Virusi lɛ, ejɛɔ mɔkome nɔ ni eyaa mɔkokro nɔ.

Nyɛ kɛ hand sanitizer akpaa nyɛ nijii ahe daa kɛ daa,

Ni nyɛ bɔaa mɔdeŋ ni nyɛ kɛ nyɛ nijii aka tara nyɛ hiɛ.

Ejaakɛ kɛ Corona muawa lɛ eko yɛ odeŋ ni okɛ ta ohiɛ pɛ,

Obaanyɛ ni ona hela lɛ eko.

Nyɛ fɔaa nyɛ deŋ kɛ samla yɛ nu ni mliŋ ho shishi,

Ni nyɛ taa shia ejaakɛ Corona Virus he yɛ ahuntow waa diɛntsɛ.

Nyɛkpaa nshɔɔnaa,lolo yii,kpojiemɔi kɛ abgonaa hiɛ shwɛmɔi yaa,

Ejaakɛ kɛ nyɛ kɛ Corona Virus fee shwɛmɔ,

Shwɛmɔ wulu baaye nyɛ ojogbaŋŋ!

GOD LEFT AFRICA LONG AGO

I sent My Word to My people through the Bible.
But they chose to listen to 'men of God' instead.
Instead of 'The Bible says...',
They're now obsessed with 'my pastor says...'.
I told them their bodies are My temple,
But they've ignored that.
They're so much into physical structures called church.
I gave them simple lives,
But they chose to make it complex.
I placed them on a continent burdened with priceless resources.
Yet they preferred to sit & watch The West exploit them.
They sold themselves into slavery.
Now they're out,
Yet they blame slavery for their laziness & self-made poverty.
They spend countless hours in church,
When they should be working.
They opt to fast & pray,
When all they needed was common sense,
Which I made available to them for free.
They pray for me to heal their land,
Yet they sit in amazing filth.
They have the best arable lands & conditions,
Yet all they know is importation from others whose lands are often covered with ice.

 They organize crusades to pray against road accidents,
But they drive with speed and leave their brains in the boot.
'Be your brother's keeper'.
'Love thy neighbour as thy self'.
I told them.
But out of greed,they've reversed it to,
'Be your brother's killer'
And,
'Exploit thy neighbour till he dies'.
I made man in 'My own image'.
But this man called Africa,...
I wonder.
Coz this certainly can't be 'My Own Image'.
He thinks I'm still around.
So he's been spending more days praying,
And less days acting.
But in actual fact,
I left Africa looooooooong ago.

#COVID19LockdownThoughts

FORWARDING AGENTS

                       

Boredom can do a lot of things.I know.

But in our quest to while away the abundantly excess time we currently have on our hands & become 'relevant' on social media,let's do well not to lose our heads.The head is for thinking,not for carrying load.

As more smart phones get released into the system,more & more people move from being dumb to being dumber.Thanks to social media.

Day in,day out, new 'sicklers' emerge on social media. People want to be the first to break the news. Some people armed with depleted IQs,smart phones,chargers & GHC1 data bundles will comfortably sit in their homes and just put pieces of information,whose authenticity can not be proved, together and release them into the naked social media constituency.

The 'Forwarding Agents', who never take the pains to verify any information received or chanced upon,will also be on standby to quickly forward these unverified pieces of information just like that.

Within moments,countless pieces of false information will be out there in the open. Dangerously being forwarded from pages to pages,groups to groups,and from persons to persons. Thereby,misinforming the masses and putting more people at risk than necessary.

In our collective fight againt the COVID-19 pandemic,INFORMATION is extremely vital! Getting the right information can save thousands of lives.Sharing false information,on the other hand has the potential of killing millions.

COVID-19 WILL KILL 1000s, BUT OUR STUPIDITY WILL CERTAINLY KILL MILLIONS...!

#COVID19LockdownThoughts

MUGS OR DISPOSABLE CUPS?

In crucial times like these,businesses and jobs will inevitably be affected.They'll be hit mightily! 

With the exception of 'government workers', whose wages & salaries are to a greater extent, sacred & bound to be paid, the rest of us are at the mercy of our employers. Yes.The Oga at the top.

The sad reality is that,the ships of numerous businesses will begin to sink.Especially around these COVID-19 times. And in such moments, some crew members will ought to be sacrificed at all cost to keep the ship afloat. Yes! Sad,unfortunate but that's the gloomy reality. A few must be thrown into the sea for the greater good of the entire ship. 

And this is where the mega question comes in.
"How crucial/critical are you to the survival of the sinking ship?"
During this lockdown period, let's take a moment to reflect & candidly access ourselves and our skill sets. Ask yourself.
*What is my actual role in the survival of the business entity in which I find myself?
*How critical are my skills & contributions to survival of the company?
*In the worst case scenario,will my employer be willing to sacrifice me for the good of the organization or the other way round?
*If COVID-19 disappears today,am I likely to be called to resume work or I'm likely to be asked to continue to stay at home?
*And should the worst happen,what is/are my backup plans.What escape routes do I have? What side businesses do I have aside where I currently find myself?

Don't be a mere disposable cup in the hands of your employers. Make yourself relevant & essential at all times. Be a mug on their desks. Let them desire you EVERY SINGLE MORNING! 

Thousands make up an organization.But just a handfull are essential.Make yourself relevant!

Don't be a disposable cup.BE A MUG!


#COVID19LockdownThoughts

STAY HOME,STAY SAFE

Though very uncomfortable & tough,I've religiously done this for over 2 weeks without complaint.Coz I know what's at stake.

Today,I decided to be a 'Ghanaian'.I decided to break bounds a little bit.I wanted to do something a bit 'different'.I decided to go jogging.Afterall, it is Sunday & the police presence in my area wasn't that visible.

I got kitted up and ready to hit the road! But then I decided to listen to the news first.
In the news were stories of private health centres who were refusing to admit fresh patients because they didn't have enough PPEs.They didn't want to risk their limited staff because one could never tell who has the COVID-19 virus or not.

There was also news of public health facilities who had to shut down some departments because they suspected some of their staff have been compromised by some COVID-19 patients.I took the news with a pinch of salt and stepped out with vim!

Right outside the gate were two 'fitters' engaged in a heated fight.'Pound-For-Pound'.I was about to go separate them.But a little bird whispered into my ears. 'What if one or both of them is/are infected with Corona Virus? How would you know?' Immediately, I diverted my course and went another way.

30 seconds into my workout, the little bird whispered to me once again. 'You heard the news before you stepped out.You heard how the various health facilities in the country have been hit by the virus.Most are not willing to admit new patients around this time. You realized what happened when you encountered the people fighting moments ago.You didn't want to touch them because you weren't sure if they had the virus or not. So what do you think will happen if you were to get injured along the way? Do you think others will risk coming to your aid? Especially as it'll involve touching/close contact?

And even if they carelessly come to your aid,which health facility will be willing to admit you at this critical point in time when hospitals are already on their knees? What if those people also have the virus?'

'You've done so well to keep away from trouble over the past 2 weeks! Why do you want to risk everything now? Don't let the devil use you in this season of Easter.

JUST STAY HOME! 

Coz your first time out,might be your last time'.

#COVID19LockdownThoughts

SHOW ME LOVE

If you love me,
Show me love.
If you really,really love me,
Then let it be in deeds,
Not mere words.
If you care about me,
Then physically distance yourself.
Show how much you care by observing social distancing.
If you love me that much,
Then cough/sneeze into your elbow.
Not in the open air.
If I'm that dear to you,
Then keep your hands to yourself.
Handshakes & hugs are on leave.
If I mean that much to you,
Use hand sanitizers often.
Or better still,
Wash your hands with soap under running water.
Do well not to touch your face.

I want you by my side at all times,
And I know you equally do.
I miss you.
Show me how badly you love & miss me in return.
So if you love & miss me that much,
Then stay home.
Yeah, stay home.
Coz if you're safe,
And I am also safe,
Our love will grow,
Over,
And over,
And over again,
Till Satan finally repents.
Stay home,stay safe.

 

#COVID19LockdownThoughts

FROM A DISTANCE

From a distance,
The earth has found rare peace.
The streets are refreshingly calm during the day,
And noise pollution has gone AWOL.
From a distance,
The ozone layer has been spared.
Industrial air pollutants are on sick leave.
Oxygen is finally smiling.
From a distance,
Health sector staff are the only full time employees.
Others are happily relaxing at home with their families.
From a distance,
Goats,birds & other stray domestic animals have no bosses.
They have gained independence,
And are freely patroling the streets like kites.

From a distance,
Man appears to be very much at peace with nature.
But,..........
On the ground,
In the health centres,
And in government,
Man is on his knees.
He's out of ideas.
He has sunk low.
He's helpless!
Nature is reshuffling the earth,
And man is being taken through it's simple but complex reshuffling process.
Man is painfully going through it,
One,
Day,
At,
A,
Time.
Let's keep hope alive...

 

#COVID19LockdownThoughts

SUDDENLY

 

Suddenly,
No one is too busy.
Suddenly,
We know what rest really means.
Suddenly,
24Hours appear too long for those who once said,
'I don't have time'.
Suddenly,
We've realized there're no differences among the days of the week.
We give meanings to the days.
Suddenly,
We've realized Friday Nights can be regular nights.
Suddenly,
Parents truly appreciate teachers more than ever.
Suddenly,
Man has realized he isn't indispensable after all.
Whether he lives or dies,
His employer can still be in operation.
Life will go on.
Suddenly,
The world has realized, that the family tree provides shade when the whole world is hot.
We now know that one man can not hug the baobab tree fully.
Suddenly,
Man has come to a realization that you can have all the money,
And still have nothing to buy or nowhere to go.
Suddenly,
We have realized that we can do without a lot of things that we needlessly hoard & kill ourselves for.
Suddenly,
'Love your neighbour as yourself' is beginning to make sense to mankind.
Suddenly,
The world has realized that a great company of good friends carry more weight than money.

The plugs have suddenly been pulled on our various activities,
And everything has ceased,
Man has finally come to realize that,
We aren't here on earth to toil under the sun,make money,die and just disappear tissue papers.
But our foremost mission here is to add quality to the world we came to meet.
We took our eyes off the ball,
But COVID-19 has drawn our attention,
The hard way!

#COVID19LockdownThoughts

THE JUSTICE YOU SEEK RESTS IN YOUR WALLET

THE JUSTICE YOU SEEK

RESTS IN YOUR WALLET

It’s been 6 months, 2 weeks, 4 days, 13 hours & 28 minutes

Since your lawyer started arguing out your case.

He has furnished the honourable court

With every evidence necessary.

I must confess that I love his manner of presentation.

I love his ability to boldly defend his position.

I admire his eloquence in the court room.

His confidence & power to punch holes

In the submissions of his opponent is just awesome.

You know you have a good case

And I must admit that the case ought to go your way.

But my dear plaintiff,

You know as much as I do

That before a hand goes another hand must come.

If you don’t scratch my back

 How do you expect me to have the comfort to scratch yours?

This case should have been sealed 5 months ago

But I’ve intentionally adjourned it 6 times already

Hoping you might get the hint I’ve been dropping all along.

The court clerks & bailiffs have also been dropping you

Further clues without success.

Have you ever wondered why the docket to your case

Keeps getting missing mysteriously?

It appears you believe in your counsel

More than me the judge presiding over the case.

Well,

I’ve called you to this sacred hideout

Just to find out how serious you are about your case.

The accused who was caught red-handed

Has exhibited more seriousness & zeal

To triumph in the case than you have.

He has made an incredible & juicy offer

 Which the pope might even have difficulty rejecting.

Forget the lengthy & irritating arguments

Those noisy lawyers make in the courtroom.

They will make all the arguments

But the final judgement will eventually come from me.

I represent the law!

The law rests in my bosom!!

I am the law!!!

The pendulum could swing in your favour or otherwise.

It all depends on you.

I really want to help you get justice

So put the bulky evidence aside & let’s talk business.

Coz the justice you seek no longer rests on your evidence.

The justice you seek now rests in your wallet.

ENGAGEMENT LIST

ENGAGEMENT LIST

Her family’s engagement list was almost two A4 pages long.

It was replete with items that could easily qualify

For a drinking spot’s shopping list.

The mere sight of it sent my libido into coma.

Joy Dadi bitters - 2 bottles

J.H Henkes schnapps - 2 bottles

Brandy - 2 bottles

Dry gin - 2 bottles

Locally brewed gin - 2 gallons

Palm Wine - 2 kegs

Whiskey - 2 bottles

Beer - 2 cartons

Stout - 2 cartons

Saki(Rice wine) - 2 bottles

1 white billy-goat with black hind legs
1 white fowl that lays brown eggs

Gift for father-in-law (Should include Jonny Walker whiskey)

Gift for mother-in-law (Preferably washing machine)

Gift for brother-in-law (Preferably hostel fee & Sebago)

Gift for favourite auntie (Preferably rent for 3 months)

Hymnal (Hard copy with soft copy on a black 64gig Scandisk pendrive)

1 Saturday Night dusting powder…

On and on the list went

Amazing!

Scanning through the list, my eyes got puzzled.

I kept wondering…

‘Is this actually an engagement list

Or a shopping list for a drinking spot cum pepper soup joint?’

‘Are they virtually selling off their daughter

Or they’re just making me pay for her feeding cost since kindergarten?’

Hmmm….

How can a young man like me,

Whose take-home-pay isn't even enough to take him home

Get married decently?

How do they expect a lad

Who’s still trying hard to find his feet in life

Cough out these strangulating items?

No wonder ex-aspiring husbands

Like Haruna, Makafui & Tony

Have lost their appetites for marriage of late.

I wish I could take the queen of my heart to the altar.

I wish I could have an angel to call my wife.

I wish I could impregnate Papa Goro’s daughter in wedlock.

I wish I could wrap my arms around her every single night.

But with this engagement list

That can even cause a crab to frown,

How can I get married?