Stories

Serwah’s most mind-boggling discovery was the magical art of confidently strutting through life like a superstar! She can’t quite remember where this newfound superpower came from, but one day she woke up and decided, “Why spend all my precious time worrying about what others think of my decisions? It’s my life’s stage, and I’m the headlining act!”

The handsome seven-year-old lying on the mattress in a corner of the room, opened his eyes slowly; looking all around as if startled out of sleep. Then looking outside and seeing that the sun had started to rise, he stretched himself sleepily and got out of bed, still eyeing his pillow, longing to sleep some more but not daring to do so. It was time to fetch water at the public water standpipe.

I wonder sometimes what it would be like to have advance knowledge of the future.  Like, if I knew years ago that my desire to be a lawyer would not come to be and I would end up doing a myriad of things that I didn’t even know when I was young to be possible.

Our choices were limited as teenagers in Accra, Ghana in the early 80s. 1983 saw a famine and a mass exodus of the middle class to the UK, leaving us to fend for ourselves.  The word creative cannot exist in such circumstances and automatically, we were steered towards careers that would put food on the table.

“I can’t afford to have you treat our customers like royalty,” he said angrily. “The customer is not always right.” I have watched you for some time, and I can’t work with you. You are more interested in pleasing the customer than being loyal to me. “You are fired!” Those three words shook me to my core. I felt completely downcast. I could not imagine that doing the right thing would end up this way.

He had always known that he would celebrate his fiftieth birthday by giving back to the less fortunate, and had discussed it with his wife Clara. He just wasn’t sure how to give back. Until ‘Sintim,’ the dispatch rider who normally delivered his waakye from Asylum down told him his life story.

At the age of 45, as I reflect on my journey, I realize that my childhood desire to be the go-to person has manifested in a unique way. I have found fulfillment in mentoring, challenging, inspiring, engaging, and rooting for others. Initially, as a child, I used to think that my name was cheap, as if it was randomly assigned to me by my father from my grandfather’s name. However, as I grew older, I began to feel honored and recognized the significance of carrying my grandfather’s name. Over time, I embraced the role and responsibility associated with the name “Papa,” even though I don’t have biological children. Many consider me a father figure, which initially surprised and unsettled me, but now I have come to appreciate my role in their lives.

It was 3 months before my 40th birthday. Taking a walk on the beach, as I so love to do occasionally, I thought how blessed I was to have another year added to my life.

It’s a privilege to be part of a process that helps clients identify strategies that can lead to a more fulfilling life and uncover a greater sense of freedom and agency. I believe that therapy must involve exploring and integrating clients’ cultural context and identities in understanding their lived experiences and addressing their concerns. My