Is Experience the Best Teacher?

Can We Learn From a Bitter Experience at T.K.S.S?

On one sunny afternoon in the Tweneboa Kodua Secondary School's dining hall, one Mr. Boampong, the then Chemistry and Twi tutor (master), mounted the podium to announce that one Asma, pronounced in English as " as ma", (an Arabic for "listen"), a Lebanese student who was worshipped by his mates and the whole school as the only Whiteman amongst the lot, and hence superior, to contact him after the dining session. Asma had committed a minor truancy and that he was in for a rebuke. Asma with his flying shoulder-length hair, his false assumption of being superior to the others all because of his skin colour coupled with his "Lebanese richness", with a little ceaseless prodding from his friends that got on his nerves, stood up, walked towards the podium and rained insults on Mr. Boampong to the utter bewilderment of the entire students in the dining hall. Some of us were those that got shocked to the point of being unable to continue with the meal. Asma's attitude was very disgusting and uncalled for. Within minutes of his bravado, he was summoned to the Headmaster's (Mr. Bang's) office and was summarily dismissed, ordered to leave the school premises within two days. The next morning at breakfast, Senior "Audacious", the Assistant School Prefect (ASP) who was fair and firm, with command over the English language and was noted for employing long (big) words, made for the podium and broke the news of the sacking of Asma to the whole school. He further warned that any friend of Asma seen to cross the school park when seeing him off, would be sacked as well. He was so stern a leader that his warning sent a chill up the spine of his audience. What interests me, needing a notice, is, "whoever crosses the school park seeing him off would get a sack". Those friends who had instigated him while at table on that fateful day, would surely have been those to accompany him to the Kumawu town centre to get a "passenger car" to Kumasi , from whence he came. Could they violate the order, one may want to know? No! Were they those that urged him on to insult the Master in front of the whole school? Yes! Would he have done it without been instigated? No. There we go! Senior "Audacious" further advised that those of us who allow ourselves to be negatively influenced, ill-advised, had better learn a bitter lesson and an experience from the situation of Asma. He then asked, "if you were the one, what would you tell your parents?"; continuing with, "when you reach the outskirts of Kumasi with the signboard "Welcome to Kumasi, the Garden City", appearing in a distance, ideas will start running through your mind as to what and how best to inform your parents of your mishap. Would your parents accept if you told them you were goaded by friends to act the way you did?

Dear reader, be your own intelligent judge.

Who suffered the brunt of the blame or the punishment? Was it the coward friends of Asma or the silly brave boy, Asma himself? It was nobody other than Asma, the naive little White young man. His friends could not see him off according as ordered or warned. They saw him as far as the middle of the school's football park, waved at him and advised, "Asma, do please get/stay in touch, make sure you keep up with correspondence" This is the lesson I expect our Dear Kumawuhemaa to be cued on. The perpetrator of the crime themselves often suffer the consequences of their actions, though their accomplices in some circumstances may share the repercussion. But in the case of the much mentioned student, he was the only one caught with his pants down. One Nana Boamah Adjei, a supposed " Kumawu Nkabomuhene" resident in London, who has never united anyone to the other, but noted for sowing seeds of discord, has since the death of the Kumawu paramount chief been ill-advising the queen. He has teamed up with one Thomas, also noted for mendacity and evilness, to instigate the queen to hold on to her selfish greediness which will surely culminate in a horrible situation for her as decreed by God the Father Almighty. These two devil incarnates are sauntering in the streets of London and Manchester presumptuously claiming how influential they are in the queen's decision to nominate, select and enthrone the next Kumawu paramount chief. As at writing, they claim to have scheduled a meeting of the Kumawuman elders in London upon the consolidated instructions of the Kumawuhemaa-and their advice. They are bragging that they will do whatever necessary is there to assist the queen install her choice of a candidate by getting the Kumawuman elders in London to support them consequent upon which a letter would be sent to the Kumawu Traditional Council as to who they support. This method is excellent as it is democratic but limited in extent. For not getting a majority of the Kumawuman citizens to attend, I deem the process as faulty in advance, not representing the real views of Kumawuman. Who constitute the "Council of Elders" that are meeting? These two guys are doing whatever possible to assist the queen realise her mischievous dreams. She helped them bribe their way into the positions of sub-chiefs so to them, now is the pay back, or pay in kind day. What a shame? They have no conscience. They don't care about the majority of the suffering masses but themselves. They should note that the God the Father Almighty will thwart all their evil machinations.

-- Could the following be an advice to the "Nkabomuhene" (Nana Boamah Adjei) and the "ahenenananomhene" ( Nana Thomas)? Prov 6:16-19 These six things the LORD hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him:

(17) A proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood,

(18) a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil,

(19) a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren.

The "Ohemaa" will suffer alone as did Asma. She should be wary of those who as selfish as she is, are offering her bad advice. The fight for the People's chief continues unabated. God is now in full control as He has always been. I am now staying away as my duty was to reveal to her God's plans until the expiry of the ultimatum which expired on 29th February, 2008 at midnight.

Long live Kumawuman, Long live Ghana .

Email: j.fosu@hotmail.com