Abaeku Arthur’s Act of Compassion and Care!

I never wake up at 4.00a.m, save to use the bathroom briefly. Then unless troubled by something or the other, I promptly fall asleep again. However since I left church, The Immanuel Methodist Church, at Regimanuel Gray Estates, East Airport after our joint service of Sunday 14th July 2013, something has been gnawing at me to get up early and write this short piece. It’s 4.30a.m.

Our cheerful orator and committed member, Mr. Kwesi Abbey-Sam had prepared us the previous Sunday with a touching story of his dear wife Mercy’s bout with and subsequent surrender to breast cancer shortly after their 40th wedding anniversary. Envelopes for donations were handed out that Sunday. I took two, determined to put my small personal donation into one. For the other, I planned that on my usual Friday evening out I’d attempt to wrestle GH?10.00 from everyone I knew. I planned to raise GH?300.00 that evening. I left the envelopes on my dresser and though I saw them every morning last week, the travails of Accra’s daily grind conspired to ensure that I didn’t notice them. They are still lying there…

Abaeku and his radiant wife Edna are a handsome, sunny couple. They sit about six rows from the front right row near the door. Always full of good, genuine smiles, I always get a nice nod from them. I doubt that they know my name. Their contribution to church work is selfless, tangible, quietly and efficiently done. They do not ask for attention, nor seek recognition when they contribute to church work.

Abaeku Arthur did not dwell on his diagnosis and treatment of cancer which had previously plagued him and which he had now been cured of. He did not elaborate on the illness, pain, anguish, anxiety, stress, emotions, sleepless nights and suffering he and his family had endured during his illness from cancer. His concern, having been lucky to have been treated and cured, was about the suffering of the poor and indigent cancer sufferers he remembers at the Cancer Ward at Korle-Bu. Having been lucky to have his employers help him with his bills and having seen the woes and death of countless others, not so lucky, he had resolved to help other cancer sufferers. It was a brief but touching narration.

Most Reverend Emmanuel K. Asante who visited us that day hinged his sermon on Matthew 25: 37-40 under the Theme: “Whatever you did for the least of these brethren of mine you did it for me” and poignantly drew the congregation’s attention to the need for compassion for the poor. I like his sermons, thought-provoking, of high intellect but stimulating and understandable by everyone. He deserved the applause he got.

The launch of Immanuel Methodist Church’s Cancer Assistance Fund, Abaeku’s initiative, and the fundraising effort that followed it yielded a tidy sum of money. It was well received by our congregation which sat through the four hour service and programme launch. The Wesley Symphonic Choir in their beautiful robes made a significant contribution to the effort. Other anonymous donors quietly made hefty donations. One donor will give GH?500.00 every month to the cause!! It was a great effort and I’m glad I made it to church that day. “Heavyweights” like “Regimanuel” Botchway and Mrs. Ghartey immersed themselves in the launch. I’m not clothed with any authority to thank all those who attended, and those who contributed money and man –hours to make this initiative take off the way it has. But I hereby do so. It is a worthy cause.

Thankfully, and in line with my thoughts that morning, another congregant suggested that a Cancer Assistance Fund Box be opened and set in front with the other collection boxes. When opened, it will attract the “widow’s mite” of those daunted by envelopes which require more than passing donations. “Kitiwaa biaa nsua”.

Ghana is currently ridden with corruption and state-sponsored endemic thievery of the most and inimical kind. We salute thieves and impostors who wield power and authority, whilst they really deserve derision, scorn, phlegm in their faces and time in jail. Our value systems are all but lost and though quite a lot of Ghanaians profess to be Christians, we are (me included) largely a church-going, miracle seeking, self-seeking, callous lot, with no sense of compassion, no sense of right or wrong. Last Sunday was proof that goodness still reigns.

On Friday I’ll try and fill those envelopes in support of this truly noble cause. Now I have to go to work.

Abaeku Arthur’s kind, thoughtful and worthy effort has numbed me. Bravo!!

Johnny Blukoo-Allotey, Accra, Ghana.