OUR YEAR IN REVIEW

OUR YEAR IN REVIEW

This post is dedicated to each and every reader of mine, who helped to make the 2016 Changing the Status Quo journey a memorable one. Here is a recap of the memories we had together, and I hope you will be blessed by it.

The New Year begun with so much hope and excitement, coupled with the uncertainty of the unknown. There were many labels attached to the year, such as My Year of Glory, My Year of Influence, My Year of Restoration, among others. CTSQ always had a way of summing up each experience we had, and this year would not have been the same without people like you.

There were times when we felt like we were going through a DRY LAND where things were not going according to plan. However, we did not lose sight of the fact that we were still capable of creating a RIPPLE EFFECT wherever we found ourselves, whilst being a CARRIER of hope and love wherever we went.

Various events throughout the year also reminded us of our need to appreciate the fact that we are Ghanaians for a reason, as we heard in GHANA’S CRY. We were also blessed with family, friends and people who served as VALUABLE MIRRORS through which we learnt important everyday lessons. Though things were not always easy, the AUTHENTIC LOVE we share made our lives much warmer, renewing our hope that we have a FIELD OF PLAY on which we can achieve our hopes and dreams. In working towards our goals, our belief was renewed that through us, Ghana can become the STAR OF THE WEST she is destined to be. When circumstances even threatened to discourage us, we held on to the power we have to CREATE OUR WORLD with our words and the right attitude.

In being the best we could be, there were times when we needed to look BEYOND THE SHINE to what truly mattered…a genuine heart. The year was certainly a LONG HAUL, but our efforts eventually paid off. Along the line, we took some time off for some REFLECTIONS THROUGH THE RAIN, being reminded that even during the BUMPY RIDE of life, we still have one another and above all God; there were still some valuable lessons we went home with.

The ride was much easier because we constantly remembered to say a PRAYER; and as a result, the BLUES we sometimes felt as the GHANA MAN were much easier to handle.

There have been many blessings in disguise this year, like we saw in CAR TROUBLE…OR BLESSING? Including the ELECTIONS witnessed THROUGH MY EYES, which were a stark reminder of how blessed we are as Ghanaians. We ended on a warm note, through A LITTLE LESSON ON LOVE which reminded us that we can make others’ lives better with just a simple act of love.

We do not know what the year 2017 holds, but I do know that we are still alive for a purpose, and the world is waiting to be impacted upon by us. There is a song that encouraged me throughout the year, which basically says:

There’s a race I must run,

There are victories to be won

Give me power, every hour

To be true.

It is my prayer that in the coming year, we will remain true to our purpose, which includes being a shining light wherever we find ourselves.

Changing the Status Quo could never be half of what it is now without you, and for that I say a big thank you and God bless you! May whatever talents you have within make a difference in the lives of others far and near. I know we are going to have a great 2017 together, God willing!

Stay blessed and Happy New Year in advance!

P.S. What was your favorite post this year? To view all the posts mentioned in today’s post, just click on ghblessed.blogspot.com, and please don’t forget to like our Facebook page on https://m.facebook.com/ChangingTheStatusQuo

*photo credits: Google

A LITTLE LESSON ON LOVE

The Christmas season is here again, and I would like to share this heartwarming experience with you:

A LITTLE LESSON ON LOVE

After quite a busy day, I just decided to take a little break from everything and reflect on whatever was going on around me. I had momentarily forgotten that I was in the classroom of life and was bound to learn a lesson or two before my ‘break’ ended.

A young girl passed by happily holding a cone of ice- cream in one hand and some food in another, obviously a treat from her father, who was beside her. Not taking much notice, I looked elsewhere to see what next could catch my attention, when I realized that the little girl was walking back, her treat still in hand. She was walking back alone, with her father watching her from a distance. In a few seconds, I learnt something a thirty minute sermon may not have been able to teach me. Our little lady walked up to a young boy who had been sitting on the curb (and whom I had failed to notice) and handed her ice-cream to him. Though she did not look too pleased, she did not seem to hold any grudge with her young neighbor, and quickly went to join her dad, with just one hand occupied now.

Some questions popped up in my mind, which I would like to ask my fellow Status Quo Changers as well:

©      First of all, how often do we take time off everything to just reflect?

In our times especially, life seems to be getting busier and faster by the minute. We need to make a conscious effort to pause, revitalize and then advance. No doubt if I had not gone on that little break from everything, I may have missed out on a great lesson, no matter how little it seemed; a lesson that will stay with me for quite a while.

©      What do we as parents (or potential parents) teach the children around us?

This little girl most probably could not believe her ears when her dad asked her to hand over her ice cream to a total stranger; but the practicality of the teaching will definitely be imprinted on her young mind for quite some time.

Our present attitude is most of often shaped by the little things taught us by our parents. In return, the attitude of the children who also watch us will be influenced by what we say and do. At this point, I would like us to take a moment to just whisper a prayer of gratitude to God for our parents. They have in one way or another been channels of blessings, paving the way for us to also make an impact.

©      Give in order to receive

Before the girl gave out her ice-cream, both her hands were occupied. After her sacrifice though, she had one hand free, with which she could have received something else from her dad. Sometimes, we hold on to what we have so tightly that we end up missing out on our blessing. No matter how difficult it may be to give at times, there is always a blessing, be it direct or indirect, hidden or obvious. A step of sacrificial love could just be the key to that door of blessing you have been waiting for.

©      How sensitive are we to the needs of those around us?

Surprisingly, I had not taken much notice of the young boy sitting on the curb. As such I did not fulfill any need the boy may have had. There are so many people on our streets these days, yes, who seem to be in need and it may sometimes seem so mundane that we no longer feel the need to reach out. But we still need to keep our eyes open to spot the particular people God has sent our way to be a blessing to them. Today you may be a blessing, but tomorrow someone may in turn be a blessing to you.

I forgot to add…the little boy in his surprise took the ice-cream, savored how it felt in his hand, and devoured it hungrily. Your gift to someone may not necessarily be an ice-cream, but it could certainly be a little act of love that would make our world a much warmer place!

Even as Christmas is here again, let us not forget the true reason for the season, JESUS CHRIST, Who is the ultimate Example of true sacrificial love. People may never see Jesus physically, but you could be a signpost of His never-ending, all-encompassing love.

©      A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU WITH LOVE!

*Please don’t forget to like and share our Facebook page on https://m.facebook.com/ChangingTheStatusQuo

ELECTIONS THROUGH MY EYES

ELECTIONS THROUGH MY EYES

The Election Day was finally here and I was determined to make it to my polling station as early as I could, so I would not have to spend the whole day queuing to vote. It turned out my ‘early’, which was 4.30am, was not as early as I thought, as I was welcomed with the sight of numbers of people who had obviously spent the night there. I wondered whether it was out of patriotism or out of convenience (like in my case). Before I could come up with an answer however, my thoughts were drowned out by the ruckus going on about how we should queue and where. The slight confusion was quickly settled, though not noiselessly, by a polling agent who finally gave us some direction as to what to do.

By the time I had found a comfortable place to sit in my zone’s queue (a poor cement block had now become my chair); the sun was already rising, making the clearly tired faces more visible to me. Despite the obvious anxiety to start voting, people were still willing to volunteer information to ‘newcomers’ as to which line they should join, or at least to give a smile to an occasional joke that was cracked to ease any tension that could be felt in the air.

By 7.00am, people had started yelling “Aban, 7 abo oh”, which indirectly means “it is 7.00am Electoral Commission. Let us vote.” That was of course after they had made it very clear to the polling agents that they wanted the booths to face us, so we could see everything going on. We needed every form of transparency we could possibly get at that time. Not too long after, the voting process began and went on smoothly due to the commitment of a self-appointed ‘queue monitor’, who took it upon himself to make sure the line moved smoothly with his constant “Hey, you are next.”

All the way over at the other side of the polling station, in another queue, I could hear loud exchanges which I later found out to be from irate people who did not understand why people were trying to jump the queue, or simply why they had been directed to join the wrong line because some people did not know the difference between the alphabets ‘G’ and ‘J’.

By 7.45am, I left my zone, a satisfied first time voter, now waiting till evening to hear the results trickle in, no doubt like every interested Ghanaian was. In waiting back home, I kept flipping through television channels to remain updated on what was going on in various parts of the country. One thing that struck me was the constant number of peace songs that kept being played to remind Ghanaians that “Peace is all we need”. This made me wonder: Should our peace or stability be tied only to elections every four years? Is our peace really a tradable item for political power?

Sadly however, some people are willing to give up their lives and the little they have, not for their country, but for the people they support. The reality is that the people we are sometimes willing to ‘lose our lives for’ have not even met us directly or been of much help to us. Yet all it takes is a clarion call, and people will gladly pour out onto the streets.

It is often said that ‘Experience is the best teacher’; but sometimes we need to learn from the mistakes of others. Wrongful or misplaced zeal has never helped any group of people or country, as seen in civil wars and other terrible prices paid. It is up to us as Ghanaians not to place the destiny and peace of our nation into the hands of just a few people. Ghana belongs to us all, and this is a truth we need to be aware of not only during the election period, but every moment of our lives. Better yet, our prayers for Ghana should not be tied to selective moments in the nation’s life, but should rather be the constant burden we carry for our country each and every day.

Have you ever stopped to ask yourself why you are a Ghanaian and not a citizen of any other country? Your purpose could be as hidden as praying in your closet for the nation’s wellbeing, or as big as being the President of Ghana someday. Whatever our purpose may be, Ghana depends on us for posterity as much as we depend on her. Ghana could be much better because of you. May our interest in the country span beyond any number of elections we may ever have to witness.

GOD BLESS GHANA.

LONG LIVE GHANA.

CAR TROUBLE...OR BLESSING?

CAR TROUBLE ….OR BLESSING?

I needed to get to town for a meeting and thankfully had a car I could use to make my journey faster and more convenient. Of all the days however, this car chose not to start! I called a few friends of mine, since I did not know what exactly to do, and they were there in minutes to help out. The car eventually did start, and I thought I could pull a fast one, dash to town and get back before it pulled another stunt on me. Well the car, and let me say God, had other plans!

About fifteen minutes into the drive and after a short prayer, the car’s engine gave out once again! Even worse was where it stopped.....right in the middle of an outer lane at a busy traffic light. Dejected, I just stepped out, not knowing what to do once again. Little did I know that this was yet another opportunity to learn some valuable life lessons.

Some of the sellers nearby found their way to me, asking what had happened. This included one I had met and spoken to a few months ago, and who I had completely forgotten about. Almost every one of the sellers wanted to help in their own way, with one willing to leave his wares to go and find me a mechanic, whilst a few others offered to help push the car to a safer location, and others just standing around to keep me company.

Feeling a bit at ease, I tried to make a few calls before spotting a police officer heading towards me on a motorcycle. “I’m definitely in trouble”, I thought to myself. Stopping right where the car was, he got down to ask what the issue was. I later realized my fears were unfounded, as he proved to be very supportive and resourceful throughout the period of time I was stranded. Quite a number of truths hit me that I would like to share with you today.

·         Treat everybody right, for you never know when you will need them.

It was amazing how quickly my friends came around in the first instance of car trouble, and how willingly they did everything they could to help me out. It reminded me of how important each and every one is in their own way and of the truth that you never know when you will need someone, and in what circumstances their help may prove beneficial.

·         There are still helpful people out there.

Ranging from the sellers to the police officer to even a few concerned people who were in traffic, I had a refreshing reminder of the general helpful attitude of Ghanaians. It was good to know that this warm attitude is still dished out in huge doses. I never for a moment, during that period, felt alone or lost, thanks to the warm company I had.

·         You never know who remembers you or what impact you have made.

One of the sellers clearly remembered me, even though I could hardly recall where we had met. He reminded me of our brief encounter some weeks back, which had left him blessed. This was a humbling reminder of the truth that the little we do for others could go a long way to make someone’s life a bit better. Even more startling was the reminder that we need to be careful what we do…in this case, I was remembered for a good thing. But what if I had been rude or done something untoward? No doubt, it would not have been forgotten for a long time.

·         Be knowledgeable.

I was clueless about how to charge a car battery or even where a car’s alternator is located! Due to my lack of knowledge, I was absolutely helpless. Though this situation taught me a few more things about cars, I chided myself for not bothering to learn about these things that seemed so basic to my friends (who were guys). If you are a lady reading this, do not leave all the ‘handy’ stuff to the guys. You never know when you may need to change a car tyre or charge a car battery!

·         GOD orders our steps.

Above all, I learnt that when we commit our plans to the Lord, He has the last word, for our own good. I could not get to my destination after all, and even though I initially felt disappointed for ‘wasting’ most of my day, I realized that I had learnt some pretty great lessons I may not have been able to learn any other way. God always knows the best step for us to take, and we need to learn to fully trust Him.

Eventually, the car did get fixed, but not before I learnt a few things the hard way in the hot Ghanaian sun.

Let us learn to keep our eyes open. That seemingly uncomfortable situation could just be another opportunity to be blessed!

*A special dedication to my three special friends, who know themselves :-)

You are a blessing and may God continue to use you to be a blessing to others!

GHANA MAN BLUES 13

Esiaba and Fiifi, Dede, Nana Yaa, Lanre and Mrs. Jones Snr. all meet up at the hospital to support Nii and Naa in what seems to be a crisis. Missed out on Episode 12? Catch up on ghblessed.blogspot.com/2016/11/ghana-man-blues-12.html?m=1

And now the curtains fall on Ghana Man Blues with Episode 13:

EPISODE 13

It had been three years since that night when Nii had almost lost his wife and beautiful daughter, who they had named Nhyira Jones, defying their Ga roots. That baby was just a miracle that had brought so much joy to the Jones household. Nii had decided to renew his marriage vows to his wife, and was waiting for her to walk towards him, through the pathway they had created in their lovely back garden. They had moved into a new home and had taken a firm decision to enjoy every single day they had together. That night at the hospital had put a lot of things in perspective for Nii, and he quickly brushed away a tear that was threatening to tarnish his manly image, before turning to see his beautiful wife walk towards him….

Naa could not believe how far she had come. She had almost given up that night when she was in labor with Nhyira, and wondered why God had allowed her to go through so much pain over the years. God had however come through for her in the end, and she knew that she and her daughter were a living testimony of His goodness. She looked around as she walked towards her husband, with her bubbly daughter ahead of her walking excitedly towards her father, in a white flowery dress. Naa felt so much warmth as she caught a glimpse of those who were present; all those she loved, including Dede, Nana Yaa and Lanre, Fiifi and Esiaba and Lanre’s adopted son, John the Great. She managed to give her mother-in-law, Mrs. Jones Snr. a smile as well, making a decision to leave what was in the past behind….

Nii and Naa’s renewal of vows just made Lanre think. He had finally allowed himself to admit the true reason why he did not take the job offer outside. He briefly glanced at Nana Yaa before realizing she had stolen a glance at him too. She boldly slipped her hand in his, ignoring John the Great who was making funny, teasing noises at Lanre and Nana Yaa from behind. Lanre suppressed a smile before squeezing Nana Yaa’s hand in silent response. He had finally made his decision….

New love for her daughter arose in Dede’s heart, as she watched Naa Aku walk towards Nii with their three year old daughter in the lead. She felt grateful to finally have her daughter Safoa with her, without any fear. The custody battle had ended abruptly when Something Different suddenly passed away from an illness he had apparently been battling with for years now. How he gathered the energy to have been attacking Dede so much, still beat her understanding. He apparently needed to gain custody of Safoa, so he could look like a responsible parent in order to get a decent job that could help him cater for his medical bills. All that was in the past now; Dede sighed as she realized that what mattered the most was that she could start her life afresh….

John the Great just looked around, overwhelmed by how it felt to be truly surrounded by family. He had never known that so many people who were born of different parents could be as close-knit as he had seen these people be.

John had started an NGO that helped to make sure those on the streets got at least two warm meals every day, as well as an opportunity to learn a vocation. He could not have done it without Lanre, who had been of tremendous help over the past few years. John had decided to put his political desires on hold for now, and was about to congratulate Nii and Naa, when Esiaba and Fiifi caught his attention. These Danquahs were something else, with Esiaba always giving Fiifi one reason or another to laugh.

“Love indeed makes the world a better place.” John chuckled to himself….

Nii and Naa, Dede, Lanre and Nana Yaa, Fiifi and Esiaba, as well as John the Great held hands in a circle, reminiscing on good times, whilst Safoa and Nhyira were in a world of their own in the center of the circle. Esiaba volunteered to round everything off with a prayer:

“Thank You Lord for how far You’ve brought us, through the good and bad times, and for the fact that You have brought us here for a reason. Thank You for reminding us that it’s great to be Ghanaian, and that no matter the Blues that the Ghanaian man goes through, You’ll be there through it all….”

Everyone shouted a big AMEN in response, before Nhyira caught their attention by repeatedly saying “Ghana Man Bluueeeeesssss”, amidst laughter.

THE END

*What are the lessons we have learnt over all from this series in the past thirteen weeks?

*What does Nii and Naa’s new attitude towards life teach us?

*What do we finally learn about not forgetting to give thanks to God when all is said and done?

A heartfelt thank you just cannot sum up the gratitude I feel for all those who have supported me in diverse ways, no matter how big or small. Thank you for everything, and for your role in making Ghana Man Blues a success. Together, we can indeed Change the Status Quo and make Ghana a better place. Please help me spread the word, and also like our Facebook page on  https://m.facebook.com/ChangingTheStatusQuo

Thank you and God richly bless you!

GHANA MAN BLUES 12

Mrs. Jones Snr. tries to make amends with her son; Something Different seems to be in some trouble, and so does Naa Jones. Missed out on Episode 11? Catch up on ghblessed.blogspot.com2016/10/ghana-man-blues-11.html?m=1
With just one more Episode to go, what happens next?

EPISODE 12
Nii was frantic and blindly rushed to his room when he heard Naa scream. Something was very wrong and he had to act fast. Naa had grown pale and was sweating even more profusely than she was a few moments ago.
“Nii, please do something!” she said desperately.
He said nothing in response, but instead grabbed a pair of shorts and a t-shirt, and lifted his wife up before locating his slippers and car keys. He had to get his wife of almost six years to the hospital as soon as possible. He just could not afford to lose her.


“Hello”, Esiaba responded sleepily, before sitting up and shaking Fiifi awake. She handed the phone to him and quickly got out of bed.
“Hello?” Fiifi said, confused.
“Fiifi, I need you and Esiaba right now. Something is wrong with Naa.”
Fiifi rubbed his eyes in an attempt to be alert, before responding “We’ll be there as soon we can.”
He had never heard his friend Nii sound so afraid before.
“Wait, what hospital again?” Fiifi quickly asked before realizing Nii had hung up….


“Dede!”  Nana Yaa said, barging into Dede’s room. “Please get dressed; we need to get to the hospital now.”
“Oh what is it Nana Yaa, that can’t wait till morning?” Dede replied sleepily.
“It’s Naa. It seems she’s in some kind of trouble. Nii couldn’t really give details.”
The name Naa was enough wakeup call for Dede. This woman had been a priceless friend to her, and Dede wanted to do anything she could to help her out, even if it meant just being there.
“I guess I have to postpone my visit to Safoa”, she said to herself, a bit disappointed as she joined Nana Yaa outside a few minutes later, to head to the hospital.


Dede did not know whether to be shocked or sorrowful. Not long after they had reached the hospital, she had seen a man being rushed to the emergency ward. She had looked closely only to see none other but Something Different looking terribly ill and almost shriveled up. Naa being her main concern right now, she made a mental note to go and pay S.D. a visit later when his condition stabilized, to find out what exactly was going on.


Nii felt calmer after all those he cared the most about made it to the hospital in record time. Fiifi and Esiaba were there, and Nana Yaa had managed to get Dede and even Lanre (who was almost always busy) to come along as well. Even his mother had managed to make it, obviously trying to make amends for her previously cruel attitude towards Naa.
After the tension of trying to get proper medical attention for his wife, Nii just could not sit or eat anything. Naa was losing a lot of blood and he could not stand the sight any longer. The doctors were doing everything they could to save her and her baby, but they had been in the labor ward for close to three hours now. He desperately whispered a prayer to God for His intervention, before the doctor stepped out and said,
“Mr. Jones…” with an expressionless face……


*Today’s episode draws a little attention to our medical systems in Ghana. How efficient are our emergency and response services, and what can be done to improve them?
*Everyone that was most important to Nii was present, helping him to be at ease. How promptly are we there for our loved ones when they need us the most?
*Despite S.D.’s cruel treatment of Dede over the past years, she still made a decision to later check on him. Also, Mrs. Jones Snr. had managed to make it to the hospital when Nii needed her the most. What do these two instances tell us about forgiveness?

With just one more Episode to go, how has Ghana Man Blues made an impact on our lives so far? And how far have we come in putting the lessons into practice?
Thank you for your support and for sharing it with others as well. Let’s keep the Status Quo Train moving, and be the difference together!

GHANA MAN BLUES 11

Nii is finally in on Naa’s pregnancy secret, Dede’s custody battle with her ex-husband is getting worse, and Lanre keeps postponing the commencement of his new job outside. Missed Episode 10? Here’s some catch up on ghblessed.blogspot.com/2016/10/ghana-man-blues-10.html?m=1.

The blues continue with Episode 11:

EPISODE 11

It had already been 7 months since Nii found out his wife was pregnant, and those months had been some of the happiest they had ever witnessed together as a couple. Mrs. Jones Snr. had eventually become a silent party in their marriage and Nii felt grateful that he had had the fortitude to stand by Naa. He was nervous and excited at the same time, and virtually did not allow Naa to lift a finger. His friends, Fiifi and Esiaba Danquah had been of great help, as they had two kids of their own. He chuckled to himself when he remembered how stubborn and inquisitive Esiaba could be, and how firmly Fiifi handled her. Nii’s phone vibrated, breaking his train of thought. He put his phone away when he realized who it was…

Mrs. Jones Snr. had been feeling terrible over the past few months about how she had treated her daughter-in-law, Naa Aku. She was so ashamed and had been trying to reach Nii every day, but she understood why her son never picked or returned her calls. She wondered desperately what she could do to get her son back, but could not think of anything to make up for lost time. She decided to pay them a visit, whether she was welcome or not…..

The custody battle had had a draining effect on Dede, and she had lost weight drastically, not having enough time for herself or her daughter. She had not seen Safoa for quite some time now and was missing her terribly. Nana Yaa was briefing her on the progress of the case so far, but Dede had zoned out, making a mental note to go and see her daughter at the Danquahs the next day. She knew Safoa was safer there, at least till she was sure she had her for good.

“Dede….Dede!! Have you heard a single word I’ve said?” Nana Yaa asked, irritated.

Dede snapped back into reality, not by Nana Yaa’s question, but by the constant vibration of her phone.

“What does he want?” Dede grumbled, rolling her eyes when she realized how many times S.D. had called her.

Nana Yaa grabbed the phone and was about to snap at Kojo when she noticed how feeble he sounded. Alarmed, she asked, “Kojo, what’s wrong?”

“I’m…..I need help” he responded, sounding desperate…

It had been a long night for Naa, and Nii noticed she had grown extremely quiet over the past few days. She had tossed and turned so many times during the night, getting Nii worried. He thought of calling Esiaba for help, but decided against it, wondering whether he should call his mother instead. Naa had broken out into a sweat, causing Nii to dash to the bathroom for a towel and some cold water, before he heard his wife scream in agony.

“Niiiii! Nii, please help me!......”

*Do you think Nii is being too harsh on his mother? Did Mrs. Jones Snr. have a point in treating Naa the way she did?

*Kojo seems to be in some trouble. Do you think Nana Yaa and Dede should pay any attention to him?

*Are there any lessons on forgiveness we learn from today’s episode?

Thank you for your support so far in diverse ways. Let’s join hands to Change the Status Quo and spread the word by sharing with others as well. Please like our Facebook page on https://m.facebook.com/ChangingTheStatusQuo.  

Thank you and till next week, stay blessed!