The picture below is a section of our dear country Ghana 🇬🇠the streets are kept clean and tidy, well layed and arranged. What the media shows us and the world is only potholes and dirty streets. Yes, we have both sides. But why the one-sided story telling? I have two motives for writing this post.
Firstly, it seems we always fail to appreciate the little positive things happening around us. Unless it mentioned by a foreigner or a foreigner media. And so quick to chastise, condemn and demean our own. It about time we wake up. We are not failing but steadily progressing. We anticipate that it increases in its pace sooner than later. Clearly, we are been programmed to ‘hate’ our own and appreciate others for theirs.
Lastly, to encourage my brothers, sisters, friends, partners and loved ones that can still join hands to get our societies and communities out of filth and other age-long social issues. It’s possible and others have achieved this great feat. We can also do it.
To conclude, we can still appreciate our little progress without being carried by it. For a minute, we shouldn’t be comfortable with our current situation because there’s so much we can achieve by doing the right things at the right.
Let’s wake the spirit of communal labour and partnerships in our homes, schools and communities. When things start getting better at the bottom or roots, the top has nothing to say or do than to comply and follow suit.
Written by; Issah Toha Shamsoo issahtohashamsoo@gmail.com
Glory be to God the most gracious and the merciful, today was very colourful and interesting as sisters marched through the principal Streets of Accra, Tamale and other parts of the country to send a clear message across. And it’s, Hijab is an identity.
As the laws of the land permits all faiths to manifest freely their religious beliefs, we find the continual abuse of our sisters, daughters and mothers in Hijab very worrying. They must be stop to these harassments and abuses.
Special thanks to the organisers of the walk and all those who contributed to its success. Jazaakallahu Khairan and may Allah richly reward their efforts.
Brother Manaf with a sister holding a placard; Hijab is beautiful
I am very indignant about the disease that has eaten into the bones of Ghanaian youth in the political arena as leaders. Many of our flaws are not as a results of our inabilities rather the fear of making mistakes and being derided by friends and followers. These have deadens and buried our potentials, capabilities and also not making us to be critical thinkers.
Reflecting on this, one of the best innovation I have seen in my entire life which happened as results of mistake came into my mind.
I became a member of the senior choir in 2013 a year after I completed S.H.S. It was as a results of my hard work, obedience, sacrifice and seriousness even though, there were a lot of seniors who had been in the choir for many years. Could they have been jealous? My virtues could not be hidden since that is my true identity. Serving under Mr. Fofie and Mr. Mensah as the choir masters was one of the best moment I have had. Mr. Fofie has been a pillar in the church. Almost all the youth in the church have passed through his hands as the Sunday liturgy teacher, singing band coordinator and youth choir director. My love for choral songs grew deeper and deeper when I met this man.
The Congregation loves Mr. Fofie for his skillful and funny way of conducting the choir especially on feasts days. “What has kept our master long”, said the choiresters. It was time for morning practice. Everybody was yearning for a spectacular performance by the choir since it was the day of the annual harvest which was also a week to Christmas.
“Darling, have you finished ironing my clothes”, asked Mr. Fofie. She quickly replied that Eugenia was doing that. Mr. Fofie could not wait to lead the choir because of his passion for the work. He’s versatile in choral activities like James Varrick Armaah of Harmonious Chorale Ghana. “I’m dead”, said Eugenia. He rushed there only to see that his new trousers which all choiresters were supposed to wear was burnt. He could not utter a word. Mr. Fofie would not listen to his wife’s advice of wearing any of their African print. He had punished someone on that for not conforming to the rules and regulations of the choir. He took the trousers and realized that it was just 50cm from his foot. “It’s okay”, he said.
The wife was thinking of a seamstress but that was not the answer since he had only twenty minutes to the start of the program. Perhaps, he will wear something crazy today. He wore the trousers and gently folded the burnt part inside. Eugenia and her mother could not stop laughing after seeing their father dressed in that way. “Your dressing makes you look like a citizen of the colonial era so please wear something different since you will be definitely conducting following Mr. Mensah’s invitation to Banda Ahenkro for the Catechist’s wedding”, she said. The only thing a disciplinarian would do is to go strictly by the rules. Let’s go, he told them.
Immediately we saw his car, we ran there to know what kept him long. Everybody busted into laughter as he came out of the car. The wife felt embarrassed yet Mr. Fofie would not mind her. Surprisingly, about ten of the youth saw his dressing catchy and so folded their trousers in that hanging manner as they danced towards the alter with their offering. This made the day interesting than ever. How effective could this dressing be? About half of the youth in our church sewed their Christmas clothes as ‘hanging trousers’ since it was a week after the annual harvest. Eventually, hanging trousers has become the fashion Ghanaian youth have warmly embraced.
Though character is the most influential tool for success and good leadership, innovation is a determinant of growth and great leadership. We can not be innovative without making mistakes. Have we forgotten E. L. Thorndike’s theory “Try and Error?” Unintentional mistakes make us more innovative and by extension, great men or leaders. The more we fear to rack our brains in solving problems just because of the disease ‘mistake’, the more incapacitated we become to unlocking our potentials, growth and development. The outcome of this disease is deadly and dangerous than a ‘delegate’ in the political hem. Our compass should be geared towards the accomplishment of our responsibilities, goals or ambitions rather than listening to criticisms especially when there is a problem. Your mistake will definitely define you as a great man one day, so be focused. Never be discouraged because you’re a star. Peace be unto you.
#Eyokro inspires.
Written by:
Eyokro Sie Bediako Isaiah TTAG-ASHBA Sector President
Send your articles through issahtohashamsoo@gmail.com for publication.
I wrote this article on the of 12th October last year as part of a writing challenge initiated by a friend of mine known as Wumpini Lagfu. I can recall vividly how it became difficult for me to write through out the challenge which was planned to span up to 21 days.
Even though it was written last year, I think it’s still worth to be reposted today to serve as a reminder.
I’m faced with a lot of challenges just as you are faced with everyday. We might be faced with different challenges at different times of our lives but the fact is, we are all faced challenges.
By nature we are faced with challenges to make us either stronger or weaker, our ability to overcome these hurdles of life depends largely on the decisions we make.
We may resolve to pretend that we are not faced with any challenges or prepare to face them instead by putting measures in place to manage or mitigate the impact of these challenges. Choosing any of these ways, still make one prone to a certain amount of risk.
Taking risk is not bad though but it should be considerable and calculated risk. Men and women are faced with challenges daily however their resolve and passion to overcome these challenges leads to innovation and creativity which eventually results in positive changes in their societies, cities and nations.
Take the bold step to surmount your challenges today, and your challenges shall become your gateway to success. Remember not be afraid to fail or make mistakes.
May we be ready to pay the price it takes to overcome all our challenges. No challenge is beyond us, we are only limited by our mindset, let’s think beyond borders and barriers.
Think Today, Think Future!!
Written by: Issah Toha Shamsoo
Send your articles through issahtohashamsoo@gmail.com for publication.
On this same day and month in the year 2017, I reported to Tamale College of Education as a newly admitted fresher, I didn’t even know where to go and eat or ease myself. I knew nothing about college education. I was simply ignorant about that. I couldn’t fathom how the future looked liked but I trusted Allah so I wasn’t worried that much.. Alhamdulilah. He truly did. Now, God willing, I am a step away from graduating and I’m still trusting Allah to guide me through.
It is an amazing experience filled with knowledge acquisition, building my capacity, building a stronger network etc.
I have always been reminded that the three things that will liberate us and bridge the gap between the rich and the poor is Education, Education and Education.
To conclude, I wish to express my sincerest gratitude to the almighty Allah for his endless mercies, my family, my college lecturers, Mr. Joshua Schumann, my school mates, class mates, seniors and all other persons have contributed diversely to my successful journey so far. I’m grateful.
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