I have a personal friend whose opinion I value a lot. I told him that I wanted to organize a special programme to thank God, and after he had looked at the draft brochure, he asked: “Captain, haven’t we thanked God enough already?”
I beg to differ.
Charles Wesley, a founding father of the Methodist Church wrote a beautiful hymn: I WILL PRAISE MY MAKER WHILE I HAVE BREATH!!!
Thousands of children are born everyday, all over the world, but it is NOT every child who survives. I thank God that I survived infancy, saw both my parents and lived to bury each of them. To God be the Glory.
In spite of the fact that the world has advanced so much in science and technology, believe it or not there are thousands of children walking in our land who have NEVER sat in the classroom. Thank God I had the best of education my country could offer the youth of my generation – I enjoyed full scholarship per Government policy in elementary school, CMB full scholarship in Achimota School and studied law under fee free University education at the time.
I thank you, God, for my education. To God be the Glory.
Youthful idealism, youthful exuberance, blind ambition drove me into the Ghana Armed Forces, through association with Major Boakye Gyan and Flt Lt JJ Rawlings I was trained as an officer Cadet in the world famous Royal Military Academy, Sanhurst, UK and for four years I saw rough action under the colors – The current Chief of Defence Staff Lt General Obed Akwa was a subaltern like me in Michel Camp, IBN, Tema. I saw the 15th May 1979uprising , I took part in the operations of the 4th June 1979 when I commanded a contingent of troops from Michel Camp to Brigade Headquarters on the orders of the Battalion Commander, Lt Col MM Achel. I saw, on the 4th June 1979, the killing of 2/Lt Agyemang Bio, my intake mate, I saw 31st December 1981 in action, I saw the brutal senseless killings in the Recce Guardroom and Air Force Guardroom in those heady days – including the sad loss of another Intake mate, 2Lt Quarshie……oh Lord Jesus…… I saw the unforgettable brutal callous killing of flamboyant S/Sgt Mathew Awar…….. oh God, I saw the inside of condemned cells at Nsawam prisons, and endured the terrible stench of a corpse for 24 hours…………..in spite of all this, I walked out of the military, 28 years old, retired Captain, safe and sound……..TO GOD BE THE GLORY
To God be the Glory. To God be the Glory.
On 3rd October 1986, out of uniform as a retired Captain, the Chief Justice E N P Sowah called me to the Bar, and from there on, my economic circumstances changed. Through law practice, God brings me a new issue EVERYDAY, all these years. How can I thank God ENOUGH? How?
He has given me two houses to live in Accra Psalm 40 Lodge, and Berekum Exodus 14:14 Villa, He has given me cars to drive, and most important of all the daughter of my father in law is the Sisera of our time according to my eyes, the most beautiful grandchild of Eve, holding Masters degree from Legon.
I thank God that I am the husband of Gloria.
As if that is not enough, God has blessed me with fruits of our marriage – my first born Hyebere is a university don in China, the second, Adom is a furious businessman, the third born Divine is following me, in law, and the last born David, a medical doctor at 25!!!
How can I say that I have thanked God ENOUGH?
One day after church service, a friend told me of how an elderly man, slated for surgery, collapsed and died immediately he was put on the surgical table. With this story at the back of my mind I was always very scared of doctors and the surgical theatre.
Until I found myself in 37 Hospital, a year ago, and the doctors insisted that they have to perform surgery on me. I protested that I was afraid of the theatre, but the doctors spoke to me – especially Dr Amissah who actually showed me on his mobile phone a picture of the theatre.
And so, on Thursday 2nd February 2017 at about 10:00am when my colleague lawyers were busily making submissions in the High Court, medical doctors were also using the surgical knife on my human body.
I was wheeled to the Recovery Ward where I spent only ten minutes and then to my main ward, and a few days later I was back at home.
How can I say that I have thanked God enough?
But of all that God has done for me, the greatest of all His gifts to me is the gift of life, the fact that I am alive and breathing, to see my wife and children, to see my loved ones, to go to Court and say “my lord”, to branch to some corner and eat yam chips with pork, and bottle of something……………..oh God, am I better than my friends…………….Hon Kwadwo Baah Wiredu, Lawyer Badza Lumor, Efo Kodzo Maugbe……………..no, I am not better. It just pleases God to keep me alive.
Three times soldiers came to my room in the officers’ mess to pick me to go and kill me, but God saved me. Five times I have been arrested and handcuffed because of politics. I have been a prisoner twice for a total of seventeen months, and, on top of all this, God has saved my life from as many as 63 motor accidents!!!! Lord, God of Hosts, to you be all the glory.
And so, my friend, I for one cannot thank God enough. His goodness for me is manifold. Together with Charles Wesley I will praise my maker while I have breath……..praise shall employ my nobler powers my days of praise shall never be past……
TO GOD BE THE GLORY!!!!