Joseph Appah hosts CPR's Maiden Edition of Mothers' Day Lecture & Dinner

Ghanaians as usual joined the rest of the world on Sunday, May 10, 2015 to commemorate the much anticipated Mother's Day, a day set aside to honour mothers for their invaluable impact on our lives.  However, of all places, the spacious Volta Banquet Hall of the plush Holiday Inn near the Kotoka International Airport in Accra became the main centre of attraction as it came alive with a super event bringing together some of the crème de la crème of the Ghanaian society. 

The event, 'Mothers' Day Lectures and Dinner' was hinged on the theme, "Essence of Motherhood in Holistic Development" and organised by the Centre for Peace and Reconciliation (CPR) with support from the Holiday Inn. It was a night replete with a perfect blend of education and excitement. With the award-winning Accra West Brigade Band arranging themselves finely in one corner and filling the hall with carefully selected smooth gospel tunes, the event started. A member of the Apostolic Council of the Great Commission Church International, Apostle Richard Adanu said the opening prayer invoking God's blessings for a successful event. 

Speaking on the topic, 'The Ideal Mother', a pastor at the Kingsway International Christian Centre, Rev. Helen Yawson extolled the virtues of an ideal mother. Using the letters in the word 'IDEAL', she explained that the key roles of the mother summarily are inspiration, development, education, affirmation and love.

While noting that mothers may not be able to play all the roles excellently due to their imperfection, Rev. Yawson, who is also a vocal trainer, admonished that by dint of hardwork much can be achieved by the ideal mother. 

According to her, mothers are supposed to be a source of inspiration for the family. They must let their children feel motivated by their words and deeds. 

She said that "a mother must be able to fill their children with the ability to do something more than who they are". In order to achieve that, she advocated that the parents must speak positively into their children's lives and make them understand that "they can do all things through Christ who strengthens them"

Speaking on the mothers' role of developing and educating, the astute female preacher asserted that mothers must identify the unique abilities, talents and potentials of their children and nurture them. According to her, "a mother knows that no two children are the same", so she advised that the children must however be treated differently in their nurturing. She explained that the ideal mother nurtures her children differently while noting that it requires much effort to do that.

"It takes a skill to differentiate children and nurture them differently based on their unique abilities," she said.

Therefore to help the children develop their unique abilities, the Worship leader pointed out that, mothers must "give their children specific tasks based on their unique capabilities to nurture their talents".

To her, mothers must make deliberate effort to tutor their children to acquire certain skills that will help them in the future such as communication skills and house chores.

Rev. Yawson called on all mothers to affirm their children. To her, mothers must continually tell their children individually that "I believe in you". With this affirmation from the mother, the child is less likely to seek advise from outside.

She concluded her lecture admonishing mothers to show genuine love to their children and always say, "I love you" to them. 

On her part, the Chief Executive Officer of GDA Concepts and host of Standpoint, Dr Gifty Anti noted that irrespective of the height of achievement of anyone, without the influence of the mother in the home, there is always a void. 

Speaking on the topic, 'When mothers are absent', she recounted her personal experience bemoaning the lack of significant motherly influence in her life even when the mother was alive. She however, showered impressive accolades on her father who even during his retirement as a Gold Coast trained police officer did not relent but did everything he could including taking  up menial jobs such as a watchman to see her through school.

Using her personal experience as an example, she noted that it is not just having biological children that qualifies one as a mother but "touching the life of a child [positively] means you are a mother". 

The multi-award winning journalist cited several instances where some parents especially the mothers fail to discuss with their children sex related issues and some had been led astray. She therefore appealed to mothers to communicate with their children especially the girls to have a bond with them.

The President and Chief Executive Officer of CPR, Dr Emmanuel Kojo Hopeson took his turn to discuss the topic, "When mothers lead: An integrated approach" after the Brigade band had aided audience to sink the earlier messages with a short gospel highlife tune.

He noted that the family is the basic unit of the society. So any wrong in the society could be traced to the family. That is why he believes that the roles of everybody in the family must be played well to ensure a better society.

In doing so, the Minister of the Gospel and Counselling Psychologist noted that the mothers have significant roles to play as he defined the mothers as leaders. 

"In leading, it is not a way of ruling or a way of authority. It's a way of contributing in helping to make the home home and to make the children feel cared for," he explained.

He observed that many women work tirelessly in order to be equal with men but he opined that that is not necessary as women are already equal with men. 

"It is not now they are going to cry for equality, their responsibility is already to help support as somebody who has been endowed with strength to pick up and help somebody to fulfil a dream and a vision,"  the Integrated Marriage and Family Therapist noted.

He discussed some stress levels among mothers. Some of which according to him, among other things, are as a result of work and career and finance and limited resources. He therefore called on the women to seek expert help to deal with their stress.

The Minister of the gospel concluded his lecture by inviting all and sundry to join in praying for the development of the country and seeking reconciliatory blessings from God.

In his closing remark, a Supreme Court judge, His Lordship Justice Victor Dotse noted that some mothers could be very mean to their own children. He cited an instance where a mother was using monies meant for her son's school fees and upkeep to buy funeral clothes. The legal luminary advised all mothers to seek the interests of their children and eschew any behaviour that hinder their children's progress.

In attendance was also the Commandant of the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping and Training Centre, Major-General Obed Boamah Akwah. 

The ever-sensational gospel singer and writer, Uncle Ato was there to perform some of his all time hit songs.

The programme was emceed by Joseph Appah.

Joseph Appah is a Professional Corporate & Social MC

TRUE STORY: Who Deserves the Reward?

It was WEDNESDAY, May 6, 2015 at 0630GMT. I got to the bus stop and as usual and saw there was a queue. But I saw two ladies who were anxiously rummaging through a brown ladies' bag. Chai! Don't ask me how big the bag is. Just guess. Charlie, leave me alone so I can continue with the true story. Just when I joined the queue a a trotro just came in and we eased ourselves in. I was so engrossed in some whatsapping, you know, oblivious of whatever that was happening. 

Just then, I was figuratively awaken to the reality around me by the cry of one of the passengers. 'What!' I thought to myself. I watched her closely and listened keenly to her conversation on the phone. Oh Gosh! Not again, she's been robbed of her mobile phone. Apparently, she was telling whoever that was on the other side of the call about her predicament. But I couldn't hear clearly so as inquisitive as I was, I waited and when she was done, I tried to find out from her how it happened.

In sobs, she narrated her ordeal. "When I was on my to board a vehicle at this place, a certain private car pulled up beside me. The driver, a female, lowered the windscreen and drew my attention. I gave her an attention and she told me that I resemble someone she knows, a cousin of hers. She told me her cousin is Adjoa. I replied her as usual in the typical Ghanaian show of niceness. She quickly offered that I get in the car so she can drop me off at the bus stop. I gladly accepted the offer. I sat beside two other ladies who were already engrossed in a hearty conversation.

While in the vehicle, I just continued with I was doing earlier while on the way, whatsapping on my brand new phone.

In just three minutes time we were at the bus stop. I thanked her then pulled the doorknob to open but it wasn't opening. I tried again and it didn't again. Then the driver told me to put the phone in my bag and stretch my hand to use the doorknob outside to open. I gladly did. The door opened. I thanked her again and I alighted. I thanked again.

I walked quickly to join the queue with the thought of the phone in my bag. Just when I joined the queue, I decided to continue from where I left off the whatsapping. The phone was nowhere to be found."

She paused for a while and swore to do all she could to get that GHC1200 worth of phone that someone dashed her to reward her hard work. 

I thought, very silly though, that this may be also the reward of such carefully orchestrated thievery. What a wow! The phone is gone for good. May be a little lesson there for the 'lift' lovers.

I'm so amazed about their continuous sophistication. This is the story as told by the victim. 

Joseph Appah (writer) is a Professional Corporate & Social MC

The Rise of a Professional Corporate & Social MC in GH!

It all started at the University of Ghana, Legon in 2008 when I accepted an offer to moderate a seminar. It was organised by a group of students who were into online media work, Campus Focus Network (CFN). It didn't come with much difficulty accepting the offer because I was a member of the group and it was basically an all-students affair.

The seminar came off successfully and I felt real overwhelmed that I could do it. 

Just two week after the seminar, the president of the group called and told me about a bigger seminar organised by the University of Ghana Disaster Management Organisation, a subsidiary of National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO). Apparently, the president of this disaster management group who is a friend of the CFN president had attended our seminar and enjoyed my moderation of it. So the whole point was that, he needed me to host theirs. 

But the hardest part was, unlike the first one, I didn't know the members of this group and also the event was to take place just the following day, OMG! 

My president convinced me to take up the challenge. The first five minutes of the event was really the most difficult as I tried to stop the involuntary body and hand shaking. The Greater Accra Regional NADMO Coordinator, some top fire officers and police officers were present. The trick that I used to overcome the fear and moved forward is certainly a matter of discussion later.  Finally, the event came to an end. 

Following this, I did quite a lot more MC work. Many seminars and a few dinner events. 

One that is worth more reminiscing is the 'Effective Communication and Branding Seminar' organised by my group which had over 200 students and invited guests. Hosting the ace broadcaster and basket enthusiast, Yaw Sakyi Afari, one of Ghana's music moguls, Daddy Ahuma Bosco and a lot more popular figures really was a dream come true for me. A handshake of congratulation from Yaw Sakyi at the end if the event made my day and I felt the urge to continue.

Unfortunately, my work came to an end when I completed the university in 2009. I didn't do any till I was invited by my auntie to MC my cousin's wedding reception in January, 2011. Again, this information came just a day before the d-day. Obviously, this was my first time having to MC a wedding reception. I did a lot of reading that night about issues I felt sharing will help me be on top of the job. I researched among other things the history of cake cutting and why there is a special finger on the left hand for the ring. 

Sharing this researched information with command made me feel good about the whole event. Someone came to whisper to me to share some jokes but I felt that I was not prepared for that. My fear was that my joke may fall flat and rather bring embarrassment. Fortunately, in the middle of the programme, a cousin of mine came forward, sought permission from me, I introduced him, took the microphone and shared some jokes. It was all fun I must say. The reception ended well.

Later in the year, as a teacher, I was the MC for our school's graduation ceremony. Being the chairman of the planning committee armed me enough to know the ins and outs of the whole event. I was instrumental in drawing up the programme lineup.

The MC job for the school's graduation continued the following year. In 2013, however, I felt the need to co-MC the graduation ceremony with a colleague teacher. The whole idea was to ensure that I do not become the 'Mugabe' MC in the school.

In between times, I have had the opportunity of MC'ing more wedding receptions and corporate events. The microphone has been my friend for many years. 

With over 50 corporate and social events that I have hosted or MC'ed, I have the joy of bringing my expertise to bear on any programme that I am invited to host.

My unique experience is that, the MC, an abbreviation of Master of Ceremonies is the one in-charge of the whole event and for that matter, I do not only work for the event organiser (the boss or pay master) but works closely with all who matter in ensuring that the audience have the best of treatment. In view of this, I forge instant cordial relationship with the DJ, speakers, caterers and ushers among others to ensure that their roles are also played well culminating into the general success of the event.

More on my unique experience soon...

Joseph Appah (Sir Joe) is a Professional Corporate & Social MC