A Trickster - Ex-convict Preacher Caught In A Bus (True story).

It was a cool sunny day around 4: 30pm, where I got onto a bus. As I got on the bus, there were few people onboard which made me question myself that, when will this bus be full? I spotted a pawpaw seller down the pavement, I observed as she peeled the pawpaw appealing and ordered her to bring me some to buy. As I was enjoying the slices of pawpaw, I looked through the opened window and right beside the pawpaw seller, a young man in an ash short sleeve graph shirt with a bag at his back and who was also enjoying an orange stood at the entrance of the bus. He threw the finished orange onto the pavement and entered the bus.

I immediately paused the music on my ipod as this young man begun to speak to us. He started that, he was an orphan and that, sometime ago, he was working at the harbor, some items got lost and some other colleagues and himself were wrongly accused and they were sentenced into prison. He was released not long ago and even a police officer around the area taught he was lying as he shared his story of the experience in the prison cells. This made the policeman to enquire from other police officers to certify that he was actually not a fugitive.

Moreover, he needed to get to kpando (a village in the Volta region) where his relatives were and he could start something on his own (All this while he had a small blue Bible in his hand covering his mouth). He continued that, he was left with nothing to travel with and he was so hungry. He even drew people’s attention to the fact that, if they had diaries, they should note today’s date and write that they made a donation to an orphan prisoner and that, it’s a seed they have sown into the lives and they will reap it in thousand fold in the future. He said a lot about the sad life of prisoners concerning; the way they eat malnutrition diets, how they sleep on their sides, forty people are clustered in a small room and men selling themselves for food (gay). He also talked about how he was transformed by a visited preacher’s book and how he also helped others by not letting them involve in gay but taught them the word of God. He also quoted the Holy Bible in some instances and counseled passengers to be prayerful at all times.

Passengers on the bus felt sympathetic and started giving this man some monies. When this man collects the money, he says a very big thank you amidst expressing God’s blessings onto your life and even started prophesying to an old man who donated that, “if he had a daughter, he should make his daughter do a day fasting on the day she was born and she will become a great lawyer for the family” (Holding this old man’s hand as he says all these).

Other passengers who wanted God’s blessings gave to him and he also said a lot unto their lives. Gradually, the bus was getting full and he needed to get off the bus.

Before he left, I felt to also give this orphan and a wrongfully prosecuted ex-convict something to feed with, I called him closer to my seat, he made a step forward and stretched his hand as I give him the money. I made a suggestion to him that, he could write a book from the experience he had from the prison and that people are going to buy and it will also earn him some income to carter for some of his necessities.

He replied that, “he had a jotter in his bag and he had started already with that”. I then said, “fine! And I will not expect to see him begging for arms again” and he joyfully replied that, never, he will be going to his hometown to start a farm.

As he was about to get down, I ask of his name and he replied that, he was called ‘Mark Apoh’ (even spelling the ‘Apoh’ for me to note it well). He got down and the bus moved us safety to our destinations.

On the next day, which was on the 21^st September, 2012 around 12 – 1 am midnight, after I had completed with an event I was participating in and was been escorted by my cousin and her husband who came to support me. I got to the bus station and gladly there was a bus ready and waiting to send us to our destinations.

I was the first person to get onto the bus, feeling very hungry, I called an ice cream seller to bring me one ice cream and one pastry. He hurriedly brought it and he also got me some credit for my phone. All this while, other passengers were on boarding the bus and soon the bus was ready to move.

As we moved, I heard a voice from two rows back near the window, this man was holding a New Testament Bible (the small blue Bible in hand covering his mouth with it). He told us to bow down our heads for him to pray with us. He offered a touching prayer (fluently in English) to the Most High God and started with his plea for passengers to help him with some money and that, he was an orphan and he was then a prisoner and he needed money to transport him to his home in Tarkoradi.

I realized this was Mark Apoh again! I waited for him to say all that he had to say. This time he was no more going to Kpando but to Tarkoradi, that was where his family was. Once a man gave him money, he said, if the man had a daughter, her daughter should do fasting on the day she was born. He uttered the same words as he said in the other bus to the old man.

I asked myself, how could this happen? I called out his name ‘Mark Apoh’ for the first time, maybe he didn’t hear so I called him again and this time he responded, all the passengers turned to watch me as I started that, 

I had met him the day before in another bus and the passengers in that bus had contributed some amount for him to use as transportation home and not to be begging for arms again in Accra. Mark was trying to defend himself but the destination of going to Tarkoradi and not to Kpando this time exposed him that he was a trickster. I turned and could see Mark bowed down his head his in shame.

All passengers in the bus were astonished, they started murmuring and groaning. One man told the driver to alight ‘Mark Apoh’.

The long and short of this true experience was that, we should be careful with the people who in the name of God come and ask for our help. Mark Apoh, that night smelled massively of drugs which the people seated beside him complained after he had gotten down, however, due to his confidence and public speaking ability, he was able to outwit me and other passengers to give him monies.

We are in the end time and there is no doubt about that, people and devising strange and bad ways to make money for themselves but I will say ‘caution’ so that you don’t fall a prey to someone. Let’s be sober but vigilant in all our ways. There are some false ministers of God also going round in the name of the Almighty God and dubiously making money for themselves. Not left out are also some politicians who will come to fill your bellies with words and if you vote them into power, you already know the results.

 Lets be cautious and not to be taken for granted or deceived. Thank you for your time spent with me, let’s keep a positive attitude, expect the best and believe everything is working together for our good. Cheers and have a good one!

The Love For Our Nation Must Come First.

“Let our pupil be taught that he does not belong to himself but that he is a public property. Let him be taught to love his family, but let him be taught at the same time that he must forsake and even forget them when the welfare of his country requires it” – Benjamin Rush

There was an incident I encountered at the Taxis and buses station one evening. It was around 5pm, where normally most workers after work come and board cars to their various destinations.

This place is commonly characterized with long passenger queues waiting for their turn to onboard a vehicle which is heading to their destinations, hawkers selling, buses trooping in and out of the station. At this point, as some passengers acquire their need from the hawkers, they also take advantage and sell their wares to them.

I was in one of these long queues waiting patiently for a bus, when a young man infront of me just dropped an empty water sachet on the floor, immediately my conscience triggered me that it was not the right thing the man had done. I quickly suggested to the young man that, he should pick it because it was not right. He agreed and willing picked the sachet and added it to the things he was carrying. I thanked him for that gesture.

In some few minutes, a gentleman who was actually even well dressed than the guy infront of the man who picked the rubber just called a hawker who was selling water, bought one, drunk it and after threw the rubber on the floor. I questioned myself, ‘is this intentional?’ because, if he might not have seen what happened, he might have heard it.

I moved two steps forward and suggested this gentleman to pick the waste, he boldly turned and told me confidently that, “some people will come and sweep the premises so he was not picking the trash”. This was because a waste management company has been contracted by the government to clean various parts of the country.

I then picked the empty water sachet and held on to it. This situation let me understood that, this gentleman did not care about the multiple effect his action will have on other citizens and the nation as a whole - if the rubber was going to end up in a gutter by either wind or rain, it will cause stagnation of water, breed mosquitoes which cause malaria and also can even cause flooding, which can take other people’s lives and displace others, if there be many rubbers choking the gutters to prevent free drainage.

He didn’t think about it this way too: that it does not speak well of his country, if tourists visit this country and find out how filthy the country is, and what will be the effect of that on the country and many more.

If you have the sense of nationalism as a citizen you will behave otherwise.

I have also observed that, most of the politicians have lost their sense of nationalism. They first speak from their parochial interest, then their political stand and later the country. This shouldn’t have been so, for a politician, the interest of the welfare, wellbeing of the citizenry and the utmost development and progress of your country must be your prime aim and objective. But some of our politicians nowadays are blinded by greed, cheap propaganda to win cheap political scores and this makes them forget about their sole duty for which they were elected into office – to bring about development and better living conditions for the people.

I have also observed that, some party supporters and sympathizers most often cloud at party offices and demand money from these politicians instead of them edging the politicians to implement developmental projects in their communities. These politicians see this as a way of luring these people to vote them again into power. I ask the question that, “where do the politicians get the money all the time to satisfy these money-minded party supporters”?

It’s my prayer that the spirit of nationalism will rain in the hearts of the youth and especially the budding young leaders of this nation. Let the love of our country outweigh and surpass any other motive in your cause and doings, if we cultivate this, I believe strongly that, there will be a paradigm shift in the state of our country and its inhabitants.

“Every good citizen makes his country’s honor his own, and cherishes it not only as precious but as sacred. He is willing to risk his life in its defence and is conscious that he gains protection while he gives it”. ~ Andrew Jackson

“A man’s country is not a certain area of land, of mountains, rivers, and woods, but it is a principle: and partrotism is loyalty to that principle”. ~ George William Curtis

PERSONAL CREED (All Rights Reserved)

I will believe in GOD through CHRIST Jesus;

For everything is working together for my good,

I will always have a positive mental attitude,

I will smile and laugh to living creatures I meet,

I will always see something positive in every situation,

I will learn from mine and others mistakes,

I will be generous in my capacity to anyone who needs my help,

Be a lifelong learner,

Will inspire others to create positive change in their communities,

Be an active world citizen,

Give all back to my community through my service and contributions,

Always acknowledge GOD and everyone who contributes positively to my life.

by Patrick Adjei Nketia

All poems and quotes on this blog, unless attributed are copyrighted property of Patrick Adjei Nketia

QUOTES by Patrick Adjei Nketia

MY QUOTES

1.      “Education is not a justification of better life but the dynamism of your personality”. - Patrick Adjei Nketia

2.      “Think deep to analyze and envisage the state of your life”. -  Patrick Adjei Nketia

3.      “Broken homes break the hearts of the children”. - Patrick Adjei Nketia

4.      “To try is better than to stay put”. - Patrick Adjei Nketia

5.      “The way you carry yourself reflects the way you think about yourself”. -  Patrick Adjei Nketia

6.      “It pays for one to be emotionally matured and mentally strong”. - Patrick Adjei Nketia

7.      “Nothing is better than generosity; never regret you did a favor”. -  Patrick Adjei Nketia

8.      “Brainstorming is the key to business startups”. - Patrick Adjei Nketia

99.      “Don’t mind the rubbish I write, but seek to understand the wisdom it connotes”.- Patrick Adjei Nketia

10.  “Speak and write who you want to become”. - Patrick Adjei Nketia

11.  “Things happen in my life which I have seen already”. - Patrick Adjei Nketia

12.  “Creative imagination begets invention whilst synthetic imagination begets innovation”. - Patrick Adjei Nketia

13.   “Appreciate others and you will also be appreciated”. - Patrick Adjei Nketia

14.  “Positive self talk builds a positive self image”. - Patrick Adjei Nketia

15.  “A man of prayer is a man with power”.- Patrick Adjei Nketia

16.  “Things happen in my life, which I have seen already”. - Patrick Adjei Nketia

17.  “I jump to the sky when you comment on my creative work” -  Patrick Adjei Nketia

18.  “We are royals to a heavenly king”.- Patrick Adjei Nketia

19.  “Move from your comfort zone to make strides, stay to regret in future”. -  Patrick Adjei Nketia

20.  “Ignorance and naivety is not an excuse, personal development is the key”- Patrick Adjei Nketia

21.  “Share happiness and you will receive it back”.- Patrick Adjei Nketia

22.  “I have a wide appetite for knowledge and wisdom, so I read to satisfy myself”.- Patrick Adjei Nketia

23.  “Life is not measured by wealth but by the grace of God”. - Patrick Adjei Nketia

24.  “Education must enhance an individual to think and progress for the greater better good of his people and their environs”.  - Patrick Adjei Nketia

25.  “Today is made for your good, smile and be grateful for it”.- Patrick Adjei Nketia

26.  “Upon becoming a good writer, one ought to read good books”.- Patrick Adjei Nketia

27.  “To become a great writer, one ought to be a great reader”.- Patrick Adjei Nketia

28.  “If you are willing to work, you are willing to succeed”. - Patrick Adjei Nketia

29.  “To have a definiteness of purpose is to operate at your extreme potentiality”.- Patrick Adjei Nketia

30.  “Do beyond expectation and you will be rewarded beyond expectation.”- Patrick Adjei Nketia

31.  “Depend on yourself and take actions and not on your government”.- Patrick Adjei Nketia

32.  “Admit self-responsibility in your failures and defeats”.- Patrick Adjei Nketia

33.  "Always build your credibility as a leader and your followers and other people will definitely buy into your ideas". ~ Patrick Adjei Nketia

34.  “Let prayer leap before you step” ~ Patrick Adjei Nketia

35.  “Through dreams and visions, God whispers into our soul”. ~Patrick Adjei Nketia.

36.  “Be a solution and not a pollution to your generation.”- Patrick Adjei Nketia

37.  “‎Don't look at the length of the script or the size of the book... just begin to READ." ~Patrick Adjei Nketia 

38.  “Do the uncommon to realize the uncommon.”~Patrick Adjei Nketia

39.  “Look not into the past with guilt, let your future be the remedy.”~Patrick Adjei Nketia

40.  "What do you stand for? I stand to create positive impact in the lives of people and my communities”.- Patrick Adjei Nketia

41.  "Am most grateful for this life and the pleasant people I harmonize and fraternize with"~ Patrick Adjei Nketia

42.  "It’s the meaning you give to the situations, I see something POSITIVE in every negative situation."~Patrick Adjei Nketia

43.  “Affirm your affirmations, be grateful for the day, laugh at yourself, smile to others, act with kindness and expect the POSITIVE”.~ Patrick Adjei Nketia

44.  “LIVE every moment to the fullest, make the BEST out of every minute, every hour, every day and every week. For when its spent it can't be retrieved.”~Patrick Adjei Nketia

45.  “Education is not intelligence”. – Patrick Adjei Nketia

46.  “Leaders are initiators and participators”. – Patrick Adjei Nketia

47.  “I don’t just look outside for the beauty but I look inside for the attitude”. – Patrick Adjei Nketia (27/7/12

48.  “We are on a journey with no timebound but we can’t afford to waste time”.- Patrick Adjei Nketia (24/7/12)

49.  “The seed decays before it geminates, endure tribulations and hard times so that you will appear refined and matured”- Patrick Adjei Nketia

50.  “Once you cannot sure of the happenings in the future, you need not to procrastinate your doings” – Patrick Adjei Nketia



All poems and quotes on this blog, unless attributed are copyrighted property of Patrick Adjei Nketia

3 Tips You Need To Know As A Young Woman.

Few days ago, I was with a colleague worker on the field checking up on some clients. It was a sunny morning between the hours of 10 to 11GMT, people were busily following up on their daily routines and others were trooping to their work places.

We meet a client (an accountant) at the car park of their premises, he was talking on phone. As we stood observing him to finish with the call, so we could begin with our mission at their edifice - this man who was in a well ironed pink shirt with a pink tie which had blue spots was holding a book.

I exhibited a gesture to have a glance at the book of which he easily gave out whilst on the phone. The book was entitled ‘What Makes Great men Great’ written by a coauthor of ‘Think and Grow Rich’ the black choice.

After his conversation on the phone, we exchanged pleasantries and talked at length about the relevance of books. I could tell he was happy with the subject matter and he expounded some worthwhile knowledge he had about books.

Some profound statements he made after we took seats at his office were, “books are the only things he does not budget before he buys and that, if he wants to communicate with the great leaders in the past and present, he does that through reading”.

We had a wonderful talk, discussed business matters and we left for our other duties. There were other interesting learning experiences we encountered in the course of executing our duties.

Later in the day, we came to relax at our usual spot to take a drink and discuss what transpired in the course of carrying out our duties. As I sipped on my drink, I remembered the incident with the accountant at his office. I busted out with a question to my colleague, what she had learnt today?

She snapped! What have I leaned today? Nothing of course!

My eyes widened whilst I gazed at her surprisingly. I said to myself, “maybe due to the work through the day, she might be tired and find it difficult to reminisce”.

I then helped by given a glimpse into the office of the accountant and suddenly she busted out “aahh”.

As we tend to grow and improve upon ourselves, I see women to be important and precious companions to men. Almost everyman will love a woman who speaks gracefully, be a supportive backbone, a woman with a teachable attitude (Always willing to learn), a cheerful, hardworking and prudent woman to chat this arduous life. I humbly suggest these 3 tips to every woman who desires to be in this ilk.

“If a dove associates with crows, its colour remain white but its heart grows black” - Proverb

ENGAGE IN MEANINGFUL DISCOURSES; this speaks of your associates, the people you spend most of your time with. It may be your boyfriend or other girlfriends, ask yourself if the discussions and issues you debate or employ among yourselves add value and help you to improve upon yourself to be a better person (have a change in attitude).

Let’s remember that, what we discuss and talk about most tends to have a deep influence on our minds and of which reflects in the states of our lives. Our minds are influenced by what we listen to, what we see and the way we feel. You will bear with me that; as you associate with the rich, you will grow rich and vice versa. Therefore, the situation and state we are in now are as a result of what these had on our minds.

Therefore, as you desire to have a responsible husband and live a wonderful life, be with people who share meaningful discourses and these will have effect on your mind and it will reflect in your life so as you desire.

MAKE TIME TO REFLECT; every day in and out, life provides us with worthwhile learning opportunities which appear to us in different shapes and forms. It will require us to mull over these lessons and understand their worthy wisdom, knowledge and experience they connotes.

In our quest to improve upon ourselves and our lives, life presents to us with these lessons to help us learn some virtues and morals such as: self confidence, persistence, courage, positive mentality etc. - to refine us. 

These morals and virtues will neither be taught in our schools nor in the universities.

Then the onus lies on us to take up the challenge and reflect on our daily encounters to figure out these moments and re-think their reason and purpose for happening. See the positive side of every incident and be empowered by it manifestation.

MAKE USE OF IT; I have seen some young women who made mistakes, although humans are bond to make mistakes but these women don’t learn from their mistakes but repeat them and continue to leave a mediocre life. I then ask myself why? Is it that they don’t realize it or they just don’t learn from their previous mistakes?

“We should regret our mistakes and learn from them, but never carry them forward into the future with us.” ― L.M. Montgomery

I will edge young women to make critical use of these learning opportunities; learning from yours and others mistakes, making time with elderly people and you will be amazed at the enlightenment that will be shared with you. You will acquire knowledge that might have taken you years to gain in a matter of minutes.

What is the essence if you have knowledge, experience, wisdom and you don’t make use of them? Let’s make it a habit to engage in meaningful discourses, reflect and ponder about situations, challenges and circumstances that come our way by seeing the positive side of every situation and make use of the latent learning opportunities that unfold during our daily lives - for as we apply these; they enhance our growth, maturity, refinement and our quest towards perfection for a better and richer life.

A million thanks for your time shared with me and I believe it will worth it as you practice what you have read here! Cheers and let’s keep in touch.

He Was Declared DEAD Prior To His Actual Death; President Of The Republic Of Ghana.

I had returned from a wonderful learning working hours to the office, where a friend who had his workplace near the headquarters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC, the ruling party) in Accra, phoned me that the President of the country is dead.

With extreme astonishment, I exhibited my skeptical attitude towards the information from my friend. I then told her, she was not lying but I would like to enquire from other sources to confirm.

Immediately, I run to the washroom. After urinating and I was about to wash my hands, I heard my phone vibrating and it was my elder sister Sharon calling. I picked it and in a hesitant voice, she told me that, “the President was dead and I should be careful on my way back home”.

I rushed to the common room to inform my colleagues about the confirmation from my sister. Immediately, another colleague called her dad and it was confirmed again.

Instantly, the mood of my colleagues and mine were changed.

The radio was switched on and all we heard was the presenter reiterating the sadden death of H.E. the President of Ghana, John Evans Atta Mills (1944-2012).

The late President celebrated his birthday 3days ago (21/07/12), returned from a medical check-up 2 weeks ago, 5 months to elections for him to complete his first term of office and the inevitable death angel came knocking on his door today, 24^th July, 2012 around 14 – 15 hours GMT at the 37 Military HospitaloHosH.

The late H.E. President J. E. Atta Mills was defeated two consecutive times in his quest of becoming the 3^rd President of the 4^th republic, but won on the third account and was sworn into office on 7^th January, 2009.

He was a professor of law, a lecturer for 25 years, a sportsman, a tax expert, a scholar, a peace ambassador and a true leader, who had the welfare and concerns of his citizens at heart.

The country is really left in state of anguish and mourning for a big tree has indeed fallen. Every citizen is sympathizing and you could read from every citizen’s mood that, when the leader of a nation and an institution is absent, it leaves the followers disheartened, perplexed and uncomforted.

This is a gargantuan and unprecedented loss to the nation of Ghana. It’s historic in Ghana’s history for a sitting President to depart from the land of the living.

It is also sad and pathetic to hear some citizens making partisan remarks concerning the death of the president. He was even pronounced dead prior to his actual death, this was when he went out on a routine check up in the United States about 2 weeks ago. This man has received a whole lot of accusations, nonconstructive criticisms, mockery and negative pronouncements from the citizenry and other astute personalities in the country.

No matter which kind of person you are on this land called earth, you will not live forever, so let’s always appreciate the fact that it not by our might but the grace. This is indeed a blow to me at this time of my life. We pray that may his soul find a peaceful rest.

And to we Ghanaians, this wake up call, for the sense of nationalism and patriotism to rain in our hearts and sink into our souls. Lets now think GHANA FIRST and any other thing last.

I take this opportunity to extend my deepest condolences to the family of the late H.E. John Evans Fiifi Atta Mills. We share the grief with you, our mother of the nation, Ernestina Naadu Mills. Be consoled and be strong, we can’t understand, for there is a divine interpretation. DAMARIFA DUE Atta Mills!!

 May bless the newly sworn in President H.E John Mahama May God bless mother Ghana. Amen!

Thank you!

How Do You Give A Handshake? Do You Know What It Can Mean?

Sometime in my final days in the university, I was fascinated by the wisdom expounded by a speaker who was a lecturer back then at a church gathering. I felt intrigued to get closer to this adroit man and express a word of appreciation for the knowledge he shared with us.  I forced my way through the crowd and finally entered the zone of this gray-haired man. He was attentively addressing some concerns from other participants, so I waited for a moment.  As he finished with them, I went closer with a smile and my hand stretched. Immediately he reciprocated with a smile and held my palm with a firm grip (not crushing). I told him, “I was thrilled by his message and that I’ve leant a lot from it.”

The crux of this moment that I want to emphasize is that, I had a pre-knowledge about handshake depicting your personality through a non-verbal communication pdf book I read. So this lecturer replicating this gesture confirmed it in my thoughts and upon subsequent meetings with other business associates intensified the belief for this truism in this approach.

Handshaking has been with us since time in memorial. Handshaking exhibited that am not armed or with no weapon. Handshake can also express trust, honesty and a symbol of peace. Handshake in other parts of the world signifies sealing of a business deal. Nowadays it is done upon a first meeting and a departure.

The dead fish is a type of handshake, where one of the people’s hands is cold or dank. This makes the handshaking uninviting and speaks of a weak character to the one with the soft and placid gesture.

The glove or politicians handshake is often exhibited by politicians. The initiator covers the others hand with his other hand during the handshake. This demonstrates trust and honesty, exhibited to a newly met person speaks otherwise.

The cover hand also from the initiator signifies the level or intensity of sincerity and trust when placed at the elbow or at the shoulder level of the other person. This is perfect when the people are close relatives or friends.

The knuckle grinder is when the initiator is crushing your hand; it’s normally from people with aggressive character.

The finger-tip grip is when the initiator doesn’t get the full arm or palm but the thrust falls on the finger tips of the receiver. This speaks of lack of confidence in the initiator himself.

Handshake sends a distinct message from both parties. Handshake shows your character or personality and that ladies are not an exception. The best is to thrust your palm interlock with the person’s hand and offer a firm grip but not crushing. It will worth it if you can practice with a friend and listen to his/her comment. Let your handshake speak for you because actions speak louder than words.

Many thanks for your time and until we meet again here; keep winning.