How I spent 1st July, 2014

On the fateful day, I couldn't have thought of anything better than accept my beloved’s invitation to a church picnic. The event was awesome to say the least but I kept remembering what my friend Nana Agyei used to tell me ‘’when you’re born a man, you go through many facets of life but the lot definitely increases when you fall in love’’

After dinner, I knew I had overstayed my welcome even though everybody wore a smile so I was en route, way before the eleventh hour. The trotro from Kwaadaso(Papa Kwasi junction to be precise) was pretty calm but the one from Sofoline to Maakro junction was an interesting one. We initially set off on a cool note until the conductor attempted mimicking Yaa Pono’s rap song ‘Amen’ and got half of the passengers or more laughing.

Upon reaching Suame roundabout (the side close to Ghana Water Company Limited), one of the passenger’s alighted and a modern day young lady took his place. Before I could catch a glimpse of what she actually looked like, the poor girl became the center of attraction in the trotro leading to her later jittery state. The opening remarks were made by one male passenger who claimed he had once been robbed by one of the modern day looking young ladies whilst he was a bit tipsy. According to this passenger, eye lashes, immensely trimmed or erased eye brows, artificial eye lashes, exposing cleavage and tight clothes not forgetting evident and colourful lipstick are characteristic of this new generation breed. Another woman who was two seats ahead of me added her voice to the argument just before the point where I had to struggle to pick up the voices and the sensible things that were said amidst the sudden chaos. She came from a similar perspective, saying that such girls were not worth taking home especially for the brothers seeking brides. With her reason being that, painted faces and claw-like finger nails are not the elements for keeping a home. Different passengers took turn in lambasting these kind of girls (the modern day girl), while the young lady who was undoubtedly the point of contact kept her head down while I was in the backseat keeping calm and watching the whole show like Michael Essien at the Black stars bench in Brazil 2014. Unanimously, these passengers thought that these modern day girls were nothing but shambolic in all they do and their words are mostly not worth much but gibberish.

Could this be true????? When we got to Maakro junction, I readily jumped into a nearby troski heading for Kronum-Afrancho-Kodie-Buoho just before the conductor completed his recital and subjected me to the risk of being sprayed with unsavoury fluids possibly from his buccal cavity. I dissected all that had happened earlier while I sat calm and collected at the side corner of the backseat of the trotro (which happens to be my favourite position though) and I must confess, it wasn’t an easy fight juxtaposing what I stood for with regards to relationships and the sermon I had just received from the supposedly magnanimous social commentators inside the troski.

One thing is certain, stereotyping is still here with us and if care is not taken, we may live with it forever.

So I asked myself these questions;

i. Is a relationship about the feelings and thinking of the individuals involved or society?

ii. The desires of the individuals and the demands of society, which reigns?

iii. Who makes the final call, the individuals involved or society?

iv. Is a relationship for the individuals involved or society?

Apparently, these expectations are part and parcel of our social fabric such that religious background, tribe, political affiliation, family history among others come to play at the mention of relationships/marriages.

Some concerned Ghanaians spent the Republic Day occupying the flagstaff house but my humble self, on the other hand, spent mine jumping from trotro to trotro. #OccupyTroskiMoments

By: George Sarpong