Category: Human Dignity

I once heard someone say, half-jokingly, “Keep feeding a hungry man every time he is hungry, and he will remain dependent on you forever.” People laughed, but I couldn’t. The statement lingered in my mind because beneath the humour was a disturbing philosophy that has shaped many relationships. 

I have often reminded myself that every story has more than one side. I was not present in their home, so I cannot claim to know every detail. Yet there are moments when the issue is no longer who was right or wrong in every argument. The issue becomes what we do with truth when…

Some years back, a group of colleagues and I underwent a compulsory assessment as part of our programme at a higher institution. Like every student, we waited our turn, followed instructions, and tried to complete the process as smoothly as possible. 

A few days ago, I found myself thinking about a cousin whose life has quietly become a lesson I never expected to learn. She is a single mother raising her children with the help of her ageing mother. 

I have often wondered why two people can possess the same potential, the same determination, and even the same qualifications, yet arrive at completely different destinations. Then, I realised that ability is only one part of the story. Access often determines whether ability is ever seen.

I remember sitting quietly at a company’s reception, waiting for a scheduled meeting with one of the managers. It wasn’t my first time there. I knew the environment well enough to recognise the faces at the front desk, the rhythm of the office, and even the familiar excuses that sometimes floated through the corridors.

I recently stopped by a mini supermarket to pick up a few items before heading to a meeting. As I walked in, a heavily pregnant woman was at the security checkout, being cleared for the two packs of bottled water she had bought. 

There is a story that was shared publicly by the Director of the Ghana Institute of Languages, Dr Emmanuel Kobina Kuto on the OMG Voice page, after the heartbreaking loss of his wife. 

I remember making a simple phone call to check on the progress of my friend’s sister. She had earned a scholarship to study abroad, and everyone was hopeful that the journey was unfolding as planned. 

One of the most painfully unforgettable moments of my life happened in January, 2020. My father had been admitted to the hospital and had remained unconscious for several days.