THE SWITZERLAND EXPERIENCE: Passport Renewal Wahala - Part 1

About a year ago, I was just left with a month to embark on that journey of a lifetime. After a long rest after returning, I bring you excerpts of the experience...

I vividly remember the day. It was Wednesday, January 21, 2015 at the University of Ghana in front of the Balme Library🏦. We sat on the wall and my inviter (my Swiss mum) discussed with me the invitation to visit Switzerland. Throughout the one week remaining her stay she demonstrated her commitment to her invitation in diverse ways (cash 💰inclusive). Please don't ask me how much it was. I beg, I chop am dadaaaada.

Unlike those who will do anything just to travel abroad in search of greener pastures, I was just a tourist🚶. However, I had my fair share of the numerous frustrations 😪 that one has to go through in order to travel✈️.

So in February I started to renew my passport. Make no mistake about it, my passport was not expired. Authentic information from the Swiss Embassy in Ghana states clearly that the expiration of ones passport must not be less than three months after the expiration of the visit duration. I was to visit in July and return on August 19 and my passport was due to expire in September (just a month after I'm due to return). So obviously the renewal was very essential and a must.

I bought a new form and filled just like the process of acquiring a new one. I was not perturbed at all since I knew that that was the regulation. After filling the form and with our school headmaster's endorsement, I went to the passport office on Friday, January 30, 2015 very early in the morning. The number of people who were there by 4:30 when I got there and the many 'Goro Boys' or better still, 'connection men' who were parading the frontiers of the passport office indeed is a subject for another discussion.

At 6:30, some officials came round to check our forms and when satisfied to some extent gave out a number to the applicant. When it got to my turn, the officer realised that I was 'just' renewing my passport and so asked me to go to the Passport Office at Ridge first. According to him, that was where to start such application from since all the previous data are stored. So what I was in effect going to do was what they referred to as 'Release to Scan'. Indeed, I was just angry inside and I tried not to show it since I thought that such a process should have been known somewhere either on a notice board or elsewhere just so that people wouldn't have to come and waste time just like I did. But as I intimated, I swallowed it and made my way to Ridge. Little did I know that that was the genesis of my woes.

I arrived at the Ridge office only to be told at the security point cum reception at the gate that the office is not opened to the public on Fridays. I thought I heard him say the office is not opened to the public only on Fridays.

Ha! Why didn't I know this one too. Well, I had no choice than to go back to work and plan for another day. On the way, I decided to do it the next Wednesday since I was less busy on Wednesdays, hoping that no frustration will come my way again.

Early Wednesday morning about 4:15, I got to the Passport Office and waited and waited for about two hours. One of the police officers who saw me later at the frontiers of the building inquired about my mission and upon hearing told me that the office is only open to the public on Mondays and Tuesdays. What! I nearly blurted out.

Why couldn't someone tell me the whole truth if there is no mystery surrounding this whole passport renewal? Chai! Who am I to challenge a GH security officer with all their "Do you know who I am" attitude? Quietly, with all my thought buried in my head I headed to the workplace.

I was there again the next Monday morning. Indeed, there were many people applying too. With all self confident that nobody dares tell me that the day is not right for me, I was quiet in the queue for those of us applying for the release of our data. Then for a moment something struck my attention. I heard some people discussing their frustration with others and some in the process showing their application document. Attached to their passport forms were their receipts. Quickly, I rummaged through the polythene bag containing my documents and nowhere was my receipt. Then I asked one of the officials at the gate and she clearly explained that without the receipt I could not get my application through. Why has success so eluded me in the passport renewal process? Why? I wish I knew where it was. Without wasting much time I set off straight to the house and lo and behold, there it was in my drawer.

It was so obvious that if indeed I was bent on getting the application done, then the following day was the day to go there again. I went to work.

Tuesday morning I was there and now everything went through. I mean my documents were briefly scrutinised by the officials and I was asked to submit it in one of the offices in the building. I did and I was asked to return the following day at 2 O'Clock for it. Now I could heave a sigh of relief after clearing step one.

I went for my application form with my old passport the following day as said. Another smile creased my face.

Part 2 soon... Please!!

Impoverishing Teachers versus Developing Education

“Education can break the cycle of poverty and abuse” – J. D. Mahama (SoNA - February 25, 2016). Without a doubt, the essence of education cannot be overemphasized. The impact of sustainable and developmental education permeates positively all aspects of our lives and all sectors of the economy.  And suffice to say, in the centre of education is the teacher. The teacher is a resource. The teacher is an absolute gem. The teacher is also part of the development of education.

Too many times teachers just like many other professionals have had to embark on strike to press home their demands on what is due them. The three professional teacher bodies namely Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) and the Coalition of Concerned Teachers have all on many and separate occasions called on their members to put down their teaching materials to embark on the strike euphemistically referring to them as attending a series of negotiation meeting.

Just within last week, what is deemed to be unprecedented in the usual strike threats was issued by the teachers. The three professional teacher unions together made a case to impress on government through the Ghana Education Service (GES) to pay their salaries outstanding. The ultimatum was given as Monday, February 29, 2016. After this date, the country according to the executives of these unions would experience a massive country-wide strike action.

The GES vehemently denied the fifteen million Ghana cedis (GHC15million) owing them by government. This is the accumulation of amounts outstanding over the period from 2012 to 2015. However, the Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu noted the truth in the claims of the unions and was rather swift after a negotiation meeting with the executives of the union to order the ‘immediate’ release of One million and seven hundred thousand Ghana Cedis (GHC1.7million). This is just about a tenth of the teachers’ demand.

Just two days after the ‘order to release the money’ was issued, the president of the Republic and Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces, His Excellency Dr John Dramani Mahama delivered his State of the Nation’s Address. I was very happy when I heard him speak about the state of education in the nation right after the usual vocatives and sympathizing with parliament over their loss of a member. This is evidently a demonstration of the importance with which the president attaches to education.

So in the state of education, the president spoke about the increment in the enrolment made possible by the implementation of the free education policy, free exercise and textbooks, sandals and uniforms distribution and the school feeding programme. The few schools built out of the two hundred (200) community day Senior High Schools are also contributing to the increased access to education.

The statistics given in what the president called ‘Evidence-based State of the Nation Address’ was indeed impressive and one could not but agree with the fact that there has been a monumental increase in access to education. This is what a developing nation poised at reaching developmental goals must do in spite of all problems bedevilling the economy.

With all these wonderful policies and their implementation, one wonders why the teacher is so marginalized. The teachers are directly under the GES and for the service to refuse to work in their interest leaves much to be desired. But how could they not know or better still refuse to know about such gargantuan amount owed their employees?

Make no mistake about it, this has been the number one reason teachers in the country have always embarked on strike. But is that all there is as far as things militating against the teacher development are concerned? A big fat no! Many are the problems that the typical Ghanaian teacher is confronted with in both the private and public sectors.

About a year and half ago, I called an English language teacher at Tanoso Model Junior High School located in Sunyani in the Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana, Mr Peter Suaka, on phone. I had never met this gentleman before and we have never met since I made the call to him. The message was simple; I called and congratulated him on an interesting and thought-provoking article he had published about the plight of teachers. As a professional and practised teacher, Mr Suaka brought his experience to bear in that no-nonsense article titled, ‘But Who Speaks for the Teacher?’ I was just fascinated by the analyses he made while he gave a direct response to the cause of teachers’ plight in his assessment.

I have decided to give highlights from that detailed article. In which case, I urge you to read directly the about 1700 word document published on October 16, 2014. His call on teachers to be assertive and speak openly about their plight was direct rubbishing the unscripted but widespread ‘culture of silence’ on their part.  (http://myjoyonline.com/opinion/2014/October-16th/but-who-speaks-for-the-teacher.php)

Trained teachers, professional teachers, great teachers, experienced teachers, graduate teachers and qualified teachers are but a few of the names we use to give ourselves some morale booster to stay in the job. Chai… Just a little diversion; did I say ‘we use to give ourselves’? Sorry, I just remembered I’ve not mentioned that I’m a teacher too. But quite unfortunately, I don’t even know where to put myself oo... Still, as pointed out by Peter, how could the great teacher likened to a great hunter be given only a catapult to kill a lion? You may argue that with dexterity, it is possible. I agree. However, the main issue in this is the survival and success rate of this expert using this inadequate resource to achieve that end. Obviously, poor resource and motivation lead to poor performance.

The twenty-first century teacher is no longer content with the popular age-old ‘motivational’ saying that the teacher’s pay is in heaven. Who said why not? The teacher just like all other professionals needs to pay huge sums of money to get the needed training. The teacher trainee allowance has even been scrapped off. Student teachers have had to take student loans to be able to complete their courses.

Then later the teacher seeking professional development pursues an exceedingly exorbitant Post Graduate Diploma or Master’s degree in Education programme. Take it or leave it, it is only the most austere living of the Ghanaian teacher that can help afford. These high amounts charged as fees are to be paid fully before the beginning of each semester. Respectfully, I ask, how possibly could such an excruciatingly elephantine earthly expense be made only for one to be asked to just cool off with the expectation of a heavily heavenly reward while others enjoy? Oh yes, while others enjoy. Hmm… I just sighed, nothing else.

For one thing, Mr Suaka commented on the rather monetization of our society. The society including the church with its clergy is even so corrupted that one is offered a particular status depending on her or his wealth. The depth of one’s reasoning, experience and capabilities are relegated into the abyss of irrelevance. To a very large extent, many do not even question the source of one’s wealth today. What is important is the wealth.  

What is the position then of the deliberately impoverished teacher in this situation? Sure, deliberately impoverished. Teachers are recruited by the Ghana Education Service and for the first two years, they do not receive any salary. Throughout these years or even more, recruited teachers have to go through a very tall and unpalatable bureaucratic process in order to get what is due them. This sad story has been made sadder with the recent introduction of the ‘victims’ getting only three months’ salary after serving for the two or more years. And quite sadly again, only those who are closer to the powers that be are those whose applications are processed quicker.

So we indeed impoverish the teachers. After which, we expect miracles from them. The students must pass their exams. The students must become responsible people. The students must get a high earning job. The students must have national recognition in their future endeavours. When these fail, the teachers are to blame. These expectations come in the midst of all the confusion. And a time when even the students know how impoverished their teachers are and of course do not want to aspire to become like them. Fortunately, I have not experienced any outright rudeness from any of my students. But even if it does happen, my conviction is that I am rich no matter what.

It’s very commendable government’s commitment toward improving educational standards and access in the country. However, it’s high time real recognition was given to teachers. The government must make a conscious and concerted effort to improve the lot of teachers, if not more than the politicians. The government must remove all the bottlenecks to ensure that teachers get what is due them, if not more, on time. While these are being done, the government must ensure that the teachers in the private sector also get what is due them since every Ghanaian child deserves the best of tuition from Ghanaian motivated and resourced teachers.

My name is Sir Joseph Appah (Sir Joe, for short), a title given to me by my students which I never trivialise. My slogan has always been, “Still a teacher…”

You can also call me MC Sir Joe. That is when you meet me at your next event clad as the Professional Corporate and Social Master of Ceremonies to give you a red-carpet treatment of your life. With this, my slogan has always been, “the PC&SMC, u can trust…”

LOVE'S THE SWEETEST THING...

Love’s the simplest but sweetest thing created

Wishes best for present, future and even belated

Love’s achievements abound and unprecedented

I concur; love without real reason leads you delusional

Emotionally unemotional --

On a path, unwanted

Certainly setting the agenda to engender hatred

Love’s the simplest but sweetest thing created

Wishes best for present, future and even belated

Foetus’s umbilical cord tautly tied to mum

Keeping them tightly together without gum

All in love

The ordeal, trauma and sleepless nights wait

The vomiting, spitting linger as if it’s fate

The D-day’s agonising agony

As if of the torture of first degree felony

Alas, the sight of bouncing baby’s all things above

Love’s the simplest but sweetest thing created

Wishes best for present, future and even belated

The massaging, cuddling and fondling

What a sweet bubbling feeling

 Patiently nursing the seedling

As the enema of love administers

And the soothing lullaby overpowers the sensational cry

While breast nourishes playing its roles

Connecting the stronger and fragile souls

Love’s the simplest but sweetest thing created

Wishes best for present, future and even belated

A daddy’s eye flicker

Gazing admiringly while the object of his fatherhood frogs

Playing in the sand with dogs

Taa taa tuu tuu the tiny legs on the road as they mould

A sight to behold

The splashing of surfeit hugs and kisses

Replacing misses

When the day gets longer

Love’s the simplest but sweetest thing created

Wishes best for present, future and even belated

  

Those years in the sweet adorable teens

Using every possibly impossible means

The boy finds the girl and after her he goes

Every move, every pose

Finding Gehena snowflakes for her he must

Emulating adults

Till the die is cast

I call it love, they call it lust

Love’s the simplest but sweetest thing created

Wishes best for present, future and even belated

When maturity finds the man

In his room his Eve places her gun

In an institution societally touted

Bringing a man and a woman so united

Into their bosoms they clench

As their sensual inferno they quench

Deep locomotive love like an abyss

 Refreshingly refreshes, striking to eternal bliss

A gift unseen yet massively appreciated

Love’s the simplest but sweetest thing created

Wishes best for present, future and even belated

© MC Sir Joe, February 2016

Inside the Bishop's Bible

How could I decide to stop writing my opinions on issues making the round? Or was it a break? For whatever that it was, I’m back and that is the good news, I guess. In any case, even if I earlier decided to stop, like Jeremiah of old said about the preaching of word of God, I cannot stop for I feel it burning within my bones to speak.

For about three weeks now the media has been bubbling with the news of our Osofo one… the ‘chameleon’ pastor, Bishop Daniel Obinim of the International God’s Way Church. Many are those who have written extensively about his outburst concerning his ability to change into whatever that he desires when he ‘enters the spiritual world’. Indeed, his interview on the OB TV, a television channel he owns, was not the first time he was making such a pronouncement about such ability. Sometime last year, I mistakenly, yes mistakenly, tuned my television to his channel on the MultiTV and heard him rant about how he is ‘spiritually’ capable of turning into an armed robber to rob his critics. Or is it enemies? Where were the security agencies? Chai! I’m scared too oo…

I read an article in Manasseh Azure’s Folder titled, “If Mensa Otabil and Daniel Obinim were Muslims” published on Sept., 25, 2015 (http://www.manassehazure.com/2015/09/manassehs-folder-if-mensa-otabil-and-daniel-obinim-were-muslims/). What a fine comparison the senior journalist made between these men of God. And this was about four months before this ‘animal talk’. Kobina Ansah, the satirist and Mirror Newspaper columnist also touched on the recent unprovoked explosion in his article title, “When Snakes wear Cassocks…” published in the Friday, February 19, 2016 issue of the Mirror. And of course, in his usual satirical stance, the playwright posed the rhetorical question that “There is a Lion of Judah. Aren’t we glad to have a Snake of Ghana?” Hahaha! Koby paa…

So who is he really? And I’m certainly left wondering. Supposing I were to introduce this man of God at any gathering in my capacity as a Professional Corporate and Social Master of Ceremonies (kindly don’t ask me who baptised me with that title. Hehe!), what would be the appropriate message about him?

Let me hazard one: “Discussing our next topic, ‘Animals in the House of God’ is a man who has risen steadily from a humble beginning to become a great snake, ei, son of God. He has shattered, ei as3m oo, I mean shepherded, many and has still not relented. Some call him Diabolo, others call him Opete. Osofo Broni I call him. Haha! With a resounding and thunderous round of applause, let’s welcome the bishop who stamps on the belly of pregnant women, the only bishop who is in town, Bishop Daaanieel Ooobiinim!”

For one thing that I have noted, Bishop Obinim is that man who loves to play to the gallery. I mean he has the penchant for using any possibly impossible means to garner attention that is not due him. That reminds me; how on earth a man of God worth his salt would for whatever reason that there is pick up masonry tools as pickaxes, shovels and hammer to beat up media men who were discussing issues concerning him in a live radio programme. Sure, he had the attention. For over a month, the media was talking about him.

Then later, there was the alleged issue of how he slept with one of his female congregants. This issue did not just end at the level of the amorous relationship but also he confessed, no, stated quite frankly without remorse that he had also cursed the baby that was conceived out of that relationship. What a man of God!

This is the part where one could not but agree with the assertion that our Bishop Obinim loves the publicity stunts. I have absolutely no doubt in my mind that this is the case. While many young men and women are struggling and working their hearts out to come to the limelight with their works, others just like the bishop are using shortcut. And believe it or not, the hype is great for them.

The Bible was clear in the book of Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned…” So I’m a sinner and you are a sinner too. Apparently, that is not debatable. However, the issue of contention is when the individual is in a position where his actions or inactions have a preponderant effect on a large following. Then it calls for alarm.

Kindly forgive me for sounding like a pastor. Unfortunately I’m not and I cannot also make the claim of being a bible scholar. That’s why I want to know if there’s any part of the Holy Bible that makes it clear that power is given to those who are called by God to be able to turn into anything including snakes when they enter the spiritual realm. I shudder to hasten to a conclusion, but I believe it’s only inside the Bishop’s Bible.

British Council's Connecting Classroom Workshop Organised!

Some twenty-nine teachers in about fourteen schools in the Greater Accra Region can heave sigh of relief as they have been taken through a training programme to ease their work. 

The training programme, Connecting Classrooms, is a British Council's flagship global education programme which is co-funded by the Department for International Development  was facilitated by an ace Life and Personal Development Coach, Ekow Mensah.

The workshop took place at the plush Alisa Hotels in Accra on Thursday, December 3, 2015 between the hours of 0900 and 1700 GMT.

According to a letter dated November 25, 2015 and signed by the British Council's Northern Regions Manager, Maxwell Osei, and distributed to the participating schools, the one-day workshop was aimed at helping "young people to develop knowledge, skills and values to live and work in a globalised economy and make positive contribution locally and globally".

The teacher-participants who were drawn from different public and private schools were taken through different activity-based discussions on how to teach their children the core skills. 

The six core skills which are worthy of incorporation in the education of every child include Critical thinking and problem solving, Collaboration and Communication, Creativity and imagination, Citizenship, Digital literacy, and Student Leadership and personal development.

The ever-eloquent Mr Mensah advised the participants against using any of the bad questioning approaches. He however emphasised the need to use improved questioning strategies based on Bloom's Taxonomy to guide their students into deep learning.

The teacher-participants were made to collaborate on different levels to achieve activity outcomes. These collaborations range from a whole-group brainstorm to small group role plays. After experiencing all the different collaborative activities, the participants were asked to think about which of them were they most comfortable with and which were they least comfortable with. The outcomes varied.

The whole workshop was in three sessions with a coffee break and lunch. The least said about the buffet for lunch the better. I'm only praying that another Teacher workshop be organised at the same place as soon as possible. Haha! 

Joseph Appah (PC&SMC)

-still, a teacher...

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