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Weeds are plants that grow in places where they are not wanted.
This is what my grade-sixth tutor taught me. Let me grab your attention my colleagues! Imagine a cassava farm with a few cocoyam plants that were not intentionally planted. Will these cocoyam plants would be considered weeds? I can almost hear you shouting "Yes!" Why? Because the intention was to cultivate cassava, not cocoyam, making the cocoyam plants unwanted.
On December 7th, 2012, at 17:30 GMT in my local time, an elderly man named Nana visited me in a town called Expectation. The people in this village were facing major crisis. Both the formal and informal sectors had high unemployment rates. Low wages and salaries, along with deteriorating roads, had led to numerous fatal road accidents. Social, economic, and other factors had also contributed to an increase in teenage pregnancy and high death rate. Additionally, the prices of goods and services, including fuel, continued to rise.
I discussed all these issues with Nana, and he assured me that he could help. I was delighted to hear that, so I quickly bought him a Kalyppo before introducing him to the village's youth. The young people instantly took a liking to him and wanted to make him feel welcome. They even brought Kalyppos themselves to show their support. Nana requested that we appoint him as a leader in the village before he could assist us in resolving these issues.
The chairman of the town committee, Mr. Onaapo, was displeased with this and cautioned against granting him the opportunity. He believed that Nana, being a newcomer, needed to familiarize himself with the village and gain trust before taking on such a role.
Despite my hesitation, my wife had already given her support. Who am I to say no since it could affect my daily bread both day and night.
On December 7th, 2015, Nana was selected by myself, the town council, and the village youth to lead the community. I was not concerned about his newcomer status or lack of experience, as I believed that one's ability to make a difference is not determined by size or appearance, but by their actions.
As the saying goes, "Don't wait for the food that is still cooking when there is already a meal on the table." The newly elected town leader expressed his intention to prioritize free education, a commendable initiative but perhaps not the most pressing issue at hand. I questioned the wisdom of educating more youths without addressing the lack of job opportunities and the increasing social problems in the village.
There is a fire on the mountain, 14th February 2022! It was morning as at 10:42 GMT, I hadn't even taken my breakfast. I had just ten cedis for the day, but Perna my first daughter will soon come for her feeding money. She didn't make it to school today because I didn't have money for her transport. My second daughter Hayden is crying next to me. I guess her SMA is finished.
I "The Perdictor" could hear my wife talking to her hairdresser in the street behind our room. I wondered if she planned to get her hair done today. I overheard her mentioning that I was in the room. She said she would come to see me and then join her at the salon shortly. Feeling overwhelmed, I contemplated faking sickness before she arrived.
The pressure was becoming too much to bear. I wished for a moment of respite, a chance to escape from it all. Let history be my witness as I recount what unfolded when I finally got up from that spot.
