POVERTY DOETH ALL THINGS

Contrary to this old saying that "Money doeth all things.." I am encouraged to feel that "Poverty doeth all things" I know you have jumped to a hasty conclusion that I am crazy. Why should you think like this? Please stop thinking that way otherwise your thinking will be placed under poverty induction. Poverty doeth all things indeed.

What you forgot to inquire is whether all the things poverty doeth are positive or negative. I am happy to announce to you that it's a mixed bag of good and bad things with positivity leading the chat. The top ten events chat will usually have about 8 top items done out of one's own will happily.

We are so used to this situation that living poor itself is luxury. Anytime I visited one of my very poor friends, I have more, realistic and nature filled fun than my rich friends. Do you understand this? Open your mind and read these two scenarios.

I visited a friend at Tapa Alavanyo to introduce him to my all time dream project, cage culture (in-situ aquaculture). Due to the poor communication network, I sent him a message three days earlier through a fish monger I met at Tapa Abotoase. On arrival, I met him waiting along the river for me beaming with smiles. His broad smile was enough to infect me with chronic smiles through out my 6 hour stay with him.

The smile was not the only natural gift I received. Efo Agbevivi welcomed me at home with a calabash of pure, chemical free water. It did not end there. There was 'sodabi', local dry gin distilled from palm wine. It burns the chest and forces a frown on your face but forces a smile after spitting. All along we have not had any discussion at all. All the above was part of the welcome process. I even forgot the long and 'violent' hug when I got out of the canoe. It was refreshing.

We then proceeded to discuss my mission. His interest in the idea and the level of understanding of his fishing job was amazing. His questions and follow up questions were hectic than any formal interview section I ever went through. Not even the 13 man panel interview in the hands of the NDC in 2009 when I vied for the DCEship of Biakoye District. After the serious academic exercise with Efo, I was put before a mountain of banku with pepper and a basketful of fish.

My shirt was soaked in sweat because I had to dig my portion of the banku mountain whilst Efo also dug his. Immediately I pulled the last layer, I shouted 'ele afima haaa'? (are you there) to which he responded in the affirmative. After the competitive food show, we placed some 'lazy' chairs under some airy trees and enjoyed short sleep.

Your next mistake is the conclusion that I am recommending poverty, over eating and sleep. Another is that you are concluding that everyone living along the lake is poor. The owner of one beautiful storey building, a mini super market, 2 large motored canoes, 2 buses and a kia truck at Abotoase lives at Alavanyo. There are such other investors like him living along rivers and so many poorer people living in Accra and Kumasi.

Not all is well because my friend's wish as he expressed to me was to own a phone and mount a solar panel on his mud/thatch house. These he did not have because his work as he put it is hand-to-mounth. The man is enjoying living without his desires happily because poverty has presented it to him. I bought him a small phone with a registered sim card, well charged to last him 3 days at least before he sends it to Abotoase for charging. Expression of gratitude by my friend was shocking. GHc 30.00 phone to merit such expression of gratitude was surprising. Poverty fuels gratitude also.

I have a lot of rich friends who look at you with a lot of disrespect and wrong assumptions. What is maturity? The poor Efo asked questions on the verbal business proposal but my rich friend tells you to write a proposal and tells you there is no time to read yet. Poverty teaches respect and giving. Sharing and mutuality.

It is good to be knowledgeable and ambitious as me but who are you if people believe in you and you do not have money to support your words. I asked a friend, will you support my bid to be the mp of my constituency? why not? He assured. How much will you give me? I quizzed. I don't have money ooo, you know if I have money, I will give you. He teased. This guy above has a lot of money but will not give freely as Efo did with the little he had.

What I want friends and family to understand is that we all have dreams and aspiration but there is the need for people to believe in us and support us. I am insisting that all my most helpful pals are not rich. In their poverty they still squeezed water out of stone to get me some cash to pursue my dreams.

I will not bore you but my friends and family, help me thank some poor friends. Thank you to the Gyampos, Douglas, Evelyn, Ofosu, Adisam, Ayambah, Ofori-Dansohs, Dwomoh and others. You made some space in poverty to help me in cash, kind, encouragement and direction.