THE FAITH OF A DRUNKARD

It was a Saturday, 20th June, 2015; `the launch of the National Democratic Congress (NDC)Agenda 50/50 (kyem p3) for Eastern Region held at Suhum. I was there in my capacity as Dennis Kwame Ofori-Asiedu Modeccai Agbeli (aka; Kwame Dennis) and as a former formal NDC National Communications Team Member, well trained and prepared to communicate and advocate for our party at all levels. Interestingly I was introduced as the incoming NDC Member of Parliament for Biakoye Constituency. Truth is, I am not yet but INSHA ALLAH, I SHALL BE, COME 2016. Going to such functions in public transport is not something I do because of some bitter experiences in the past. I did not have a car that morning; my old BMW 520 has an electrical problem. Sending it to such a function will be as good as walking from Accra to Suhum. Ask Kwesi the tiler his experience travelling in that bad car from Amanya to Accra sometime last month. My more reliable Hyundai Atoz Prime has also been at the shop undergoing major transformation to suit the projects ahead. After three days of refusal, my mechanics decided to fix the Atoz half way for me to send to suhum. That morning, I had to replace two tyres and fix the alignment before setting off. Worse; the battery had to be jumped to get the car's engine started. We set off to Suhum at 9.30am. The journey was smooth until we got to Adoagyiri. The car was overheating so I stopped. Efo, the mechanic saw us and walked to us himself. He managed to fix the problem for us to continue our journey. At Suhum, we went straight to Apollo to eat fufu. Boys couldn't have taken the fufu without 'appetite'. Looking at the bad parking at the station, where the function was going on, I Parked the car very far away from the station for easy movement after the programme. We joined the people at the station. I did two live radio discussions and interactions with some known and unknown comrades. Then it started drizzling, then pouring, then it stopped. Hurriedly, the operation 50/50 was launched. The rain came again to stop the programme completely. The only group that refused to move was the borborbor group. We met at the MCE's residence for refreshment and further discussion of earlier events. It was great being part of the occasion. I am sure you are wondering why I am giving you this long and winding story. Just wait, I need to give you the whole stuff so you can associate. We left Suhum around 7pm, We entered the first fuel station but there was no attendant. Moving to the second, which was just few meters away, there was protest so I drove in another direction, hoping to see a fuel station ahead. We were four in the car. Myself, a Muslim in fasting mode, a drunk broadcaster and a lady. Because it was still raining, we were moving very slow yet steadily. At Kyekyewere, we ran out of fuel. I hurriedly got a gallon from the car and stood in the rain. The Capital TV crew helped me to a filling station very fast. I got the fuel and stood in the rain again to seek help. A truck driver stopped to assist. I got the fuel into the car, sat in the driver's seat to move then we realized the battery had ran down completely. Now, what do we do? My hungry friend and drunk friend started pushing the car but there was no good result. My hungry friend took over the steer for me to join the drunk man but nothing came out. After all attempts to get help failed, we gave up. This drunk man said, let's push again it will start, We agreed and they started, after about 500m, my hungry friend gave up and sat in the car. My drunk friend kept pushing alone. I tried and tried and tried but it was not starting. He instructed me to relax; I obeyed, he called me to try again; I did. For about three times and it started. He ran ahead of the car for another 150m before joining the car. This time, it was almost 9pm. We were all touched by his faith knowing his state at that point. This is not to promote the drinking of alcohol. This man here did not allow his drunk state to sway his desire to get home. We have learnt not to stop because of small challenges. We have learnt to push till we succeed even when our batteries run down and we are drunk.