I am in the process of completing my third year at my present residence in Sofokyere. During the course of the thirty months that have transpired since my arrival here in November of 2019, I made some new friends. A few men and several women to be exact. Some of the men are tradesmen. Some are small business owners. Others are artisans like barbers, tailors, and painters. The women in my circle of friends are hairdressers, seamstresses, shopkeepers, and teachers. I treasure my relationship with all of them. Because they all treat me like a first-class member of the community and seek out my society. The only dispute that I have encountered since my arrival here. Is, the one I had with Mr. Sam, the son and personal agent of the landlord who is living in Belgium. A pipe had ruptured beneath my kitchen floor and after I tried to bring the matter to his attention, he did everything possible to worm his way out of his duty to effect the required repairs. Finally, he came to the property and gave me an ultimatum. “That if I wouldn’t make all the repairs at my own expense then I would have to leave.”
Since the rate of inflation in Ghana is 60 percent; cozy apartments like mine are hard to come by, and since I actually like it here, I simply did as I was told. Not only did I make all the necessary repairs. I also installed hot water heaters in both of my bathrooms. The heat in this country is almost unbearable during the summer months. Therefore I also installed air conditioning units in both of my bedrooms. Several months before the dispute arose I spoke to Mr. Sam about the possibility of enclosing my front porch. At that time he agreed and gave me permission to proceed. A few months after the dispute about the repairs I reminded him of our agreement. He said that he would speak to the landlord about it and later advised me that she wouldn’t go along with my request. I knew that this development was retribution against me. For daring to challenge his decision about the repairs. This custom of requiring tenants to repair the buildings or apartments in which they live is a widespread practice, among landlords, throughout the Republic of Ghana.
At the beginning of August, I was standing outside the large iron gates at the entrance of this property. Looking across the lane at the empty lot on the other side of this thoroughfare. Contemplating all the grass, and shrubbery that had taken over that plot of land. Along with all the trees that had shot up there from the rich soil. In just a matter of a few months. Wondering when the owner would see fit to come and clear it. Shortly thereafter I was joined by the caretaker who happens to be one of the relatives of Mr. Sam. While conversing with me he casually informed me that Mr. Sam had died. I was surprised at the reception of that piece of news. Even though one of the phrases that I had learned while employed as a clergyman was, “In the midst of life there is death.” Mr. Sam happened to be one of the owners of a gold mine in Obuasi. The largest gold-producing area in the Ashanti Kingdom. He also happened to own several houses. A wealthy man by any estimate. Yet he was dead at the tender age of 33. If as mere humans we had any control over our own existence then he would still be alive today. Tall, and handsome yet his body was wracked by disease, exacerbated by alcoholism.
He is not alone in his achievement of exiting life’s portals at an early age. There is a very long pantheon of famous people who’ve died in their thirties. Such a list includes Alexander The Great, Bob Marley, Nipsey Hussle, Misty Upham, Brittany Murphy, Anna Nicole Smith, John F. Kennedy Junior, et al.
“The 30s tend to be a decade where people settle down and their lives fall into place when it comes to families and jobs. Obviously, there are endless exceptions, but generally, the 30s are seen as a good decade, when you’re still young, but old enough to have a bit of knowledge about the world that saves you from the pain and mistakes of your teens and 20s. You can see where your life is going and make some concrete plans for the future.” (GRUNGE, Famous Celebrities Who Died in Their Thirties, by Kathy Benjamin, June 17, 2022).
“In fiction: we find the predictable boring. In real life: we find the unpredictable terrifying.”
― Mokokoma Mokhonoana
“Life is like the oil within a lamp. It can be measured, but the pace at which it burns depends on how the dial is turned day by day, how bright and fierce the flame. And there is no predicting whether the lamp might be knocked to the ground and shatter, when it could have blazed on a great while longer. Such is the unpredictability of life.”
― Margaret Rogerson, Sorcery of Thorns
What exactly were Mr. Sam’s worldly plans, I wonder? Did he envision building some more beautiful homes? Did he possibly contemplate acquiring a luxurious motorcar? Is it possible that he might have thought about getting himself some glamorous and beautiful woman? He might have been planning to purchase a large estate that produces thousands of bags of cashew and cocoa each year. Did he ever experience the love of a woman, or did he have any enemies? He told me once that he wanted to go to America. I wonder why? Was it so that he could purchase and eat some original Kentucky Fried Chicken? Or indulge himself with some real Pizza? Or he might have planned to spend countless hours before a small cozy fire roasting peanuts and cashew nuts whenever he felt like it. Whatever his plans were. Grandiose or modest. They have all come to nothing now.
“For the living know that they will die; But the dead know nothing,
And they have no more reward, For the memory of them is forgotten. Also, their love, their hatred, and their envy have now perished; Nevermore will they have a share In anything done under the sun. Go, eat your bread with joy, And drink your wine with a merry heart; For God has already accepted your works. Let your garments always be white, And let your head lack no oil. Live joyfully with the wife whom you love all the days of your vain life which He has given you under the sun, all your days of vanity; for that is your portion in life, and in the labor which you perform under the sun. Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going.” Ecclesiastes 9:5-10. (NKJV).
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