Writing is my religion. In fact I am doomed if I don’t write because I can’t live fulfilled without pen and paper.
My flair for writing emerged in my early teens. I wrote a short story once when I was an adolescent, I can’t remember at what precise age though. My father stumbled upon it and gave me a flat file a day or so after reading it, encouraging me to write more and put into it. I cannot recall writing another thing thereafter—that’s often the way it is when we are young.
The old man also made reading a part of me (of course one couldn’t be a good writer without being an avid reader). Immediately I came back from school and had had my lunch I had a compulsory nap; he didn’t permit me to play with my peers. Then as soon as I‘d done the dishes after supper I would read until about nine pm.
Each time I came across any word I could not read I took it to my father who watched me keenly as I read to teach me. In no time I’d learned to read many English words.
At the senior secondary school my interest in reading doubled. I got some of my friends into a contest where each one tried to finish reading a selected novel ahead of others.
I was also very much interested in writing. When I got my first short story “The Toxic Ten” published in a national weekly (don’t ask me for press cutting because I couldn’t afford it), I became convinced of my writing capabilities.
Subsequently, I had poems and essays published in our school magazine; short stories, letters and articles published in national dailies and weeklies. Though I never received a dime for any of these, I was happy just seeing my name in print.
…In October 2007 I enrolled at The Writers Bureau—Manchester, England for a creative writing course by distance to position myself for this great calling—writing for social change and promoting literacy!
…On October 5th 2011, World Teachers’ Day, the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) awarded me for my commitment to teachers’ right activism. The citation accompanying the award, a laptop computer, reads:
“Your vision is to see a literate and just world where everyone becomes aware of their inalienable rights and responsibilities and is able to demand and pursue justice for all without fear. This vision has guided your leadership roles that you played in the various institutions that you attended.
Your literary work has in no small measure projected the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) in positive light.
Your dedicated service to your colleague teachers particularly in the Asogli Local is cherished by all. Your prompt response to the Municipal and Regional GNAT Secretariats to carry out various assignments is highly acknowledged.
For your readiness to offer dedicated service to teachers and defend the cause of GNAT, we hereby on this day honour you with this award.
Accept our congratulations and may the Almighty God bless you.”