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Just in time part 4

‘I quite understand the situation you are in’, David said as they approached her house, ‘The situation as you have described it is quite difficult. But I wish you did not have to leave your parents’ home on a sour note. If I make a suggestion, I would ask you to wait for just a few days, and try not to react to any provocation. If the sit­uation gets worse, then of course you can leave.’ ‘Well, I agree with you. I will take your suggestion. Hopefully, they will leave me alone to make my own decisions. ‘Esaaba, I have never forgotten about you. Is it possible for us to start our uncompleted project?’ ‘You have a way with words, David. Uncompleted project. Well, I have told you my current status. If you don’t have any skeletons hiding in your cupboard in Denmark or in your hometown, then I am ready to listen to what you have to say.’ ‘I made friends and went out with a couple of ladies, but I never entered into any commitments, and I don’t have any cupboards anywhere. Maybe you and I will buy some cupboards, and store some interesting things’. ‘You did not tell me where you are working.’ ‘Ah. I was offered a position here at the local office of Eurofood, the company that gave me the schol­arship. And I have been penciled in for some teaching at the Depart­ment, so hopefully I will be seeing you often.’

Esaaba went back to her room a much different person. She sat on her bed again, and this time she wiped her mental slate clean, and said a quiet prayer asking God to confirm if this is the relationship He planned for her. She felt thank­ful that she was able to forgive her parents and Beesiwa for treating her so badly. They certainly meant well, but they certainly went too far to have tried to force a husband on her. She enjoyed a deep sleep and woke up well rested.

Soon as she had arrived at work the following morn­ing, Marian called, and wast­ed no time to ask questions. ‘Esaaba, so what happened yesterday after I left the two of you alone? Esaaba broke into uncontrolled laughter. ‘Ei, Esaaba’, Marian contin­ued. ‘See how you are hap­py. You can’t even talk. Da­vid will have to pay for this.’ ‘You did well, Marian. We had a great evening, and we will be see­ing each other.’ ‘I’m happy for you two. I pray that ev­erything goes well. David is a great guy, and I’m happy you found each other at last.

Esaaba saw notification of a message from Stanley Forson, and she opened it. It was short and not friendly. ‘Good morning. Now that I have told you about the circum­stances under which I made the marriage proposal and gave you the ring, I withdraw the proposal, and would like you to return the ring to my parents. Thank you’. Esaaba’s reply was also short, but polite. Thanks for your note, Stanley. I agree that my parents were wrong to have bullied you into making the proposal. I am very sorry for the inconvenience. I will return the ring to your parents’ home this evening. I will call them now and inform them. Thank you’. Stanley replied, to her surprise. ‘On second thoughts, please don’t call them. Just wait till I tell you what to do with it.’ ‘I’m sorry Stanley. After the insulting messages you sent me, I don’t want to keep anything of yours. I don’t need to call your par­ents. I will send it to them now.’ ‘Can you please wait, even if for a few days, Esaaba? I’m really sorry. You are a really nice lady, and beautiful. I have had too much to contend with since coming to Handover. If you will kindly give me a little time, I will clear my head, and we can restart. I think we have the basis for a really good relation­ship’. Esaaba replied after an hour. ‘Stanley, your ring is on its way to your dad. It should be there in a few minutes. Sorry, I cannot wait. I’ve put your indecision and your insults behind me. I wish you the best’.

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Soon after she sent the message to Stanley, Baaba called. Esaa­ba answered, ready to exchange verbal blows with her sister. But to her surprise, her tone was much different.’ ‘Big sis, I want to apologize for what happened yesterday. Mom and Dad should never have done what they did, and I should not have support­ed them. Please forgive me. I am truly sorry. I called them a couple of minutes ago, and they are very sorry. They are really afraid that you will carry out your threat to leave the house, and I want to plead with you, don’t leave. They have promised never to interfere in your relationship issues again. Please!

‘Don’t worry Beesiwa. I’ve put it all behind me. I’ve for­gotten it all. No hard feel­ings. I’ve turned the page.’ ‘Really? What happened? What has changed so suddenly?’ ‘I will tell you everything lat­er, but I have a visitor now. Let’s talk later. Esaaba looked up and said hello to David. ‘Good to see you, David. I wasn’t expecting to see you’. ‘Well, after what we discussed last night, I thought I should come and see you, and if possible, take the discussion a little further’. ‘Thanks David. If you will give me a few minutes, I will make a few arrangements, then I can go out for an hour’. ‘No, I will go to the Depart­ment and wait till lunch time, then I will come and pick you for lunch. If it’s okay with you’. ‘Yes, certainly. I will be waiting.’

David and Esaaba were insepa­rable from then, and after some month’s courtship, he proposed. Esaaba gladly accepted. ‘You came at just the right time, Da­vid. I had just had a bad quarrel with my parents and my sister, and was about to leave home’. ‘You were saved by the bell’, David said. But perhaps it was just the right time for us to meet.’

By Ekow de Heer

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The Prophet part 2

Some young men queing for visas
Some young men queing for visas

“I can see in the spirit, that some of you have been trading for years without seeing any mean­ingful profits, some young women have been disappointed by men who have either abandoned them and left for foreign lands and forgotten about them, or stopped sending money for the upkeep of their wives and children.

I can see young men who are desperate for visas to travel abroad but have either been duped by visa contractors or refused at the embas­sies. From tomorrow, I assure you, the visas will be given.

Young women, I have news for you. You will receive telephone calls, and you will hear very good news. Handsome young men with money in their pockets will come and marry you, and take care of you. Traders, you will get big business and big profits from today. From today, you will see that I am a true prophet who has come to deliver you.”

Shouts of “Amen,” “thank you Prophet” and “I receive it” greeted his sermon. After a final prayer, he asked the congregation to come early the following day, and bring others, because there would be many testimonies.

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There would also be “special anointing” for great miracles. Although he did not ask for an offering, most of the people came and dropped notes, and coins at the “pulpit.” When they left, Antobam counted the money.

“GH¢900!” he almost shouted, ‘and I did not even ask for an offer­ing. This is fantabulous!’ Going to the Nana Kofi Broni shrine, he told himself, was a very wise move.

He started making plans……He had to choose a few assistants who would carry out his orders……. He had to hire some chairs as soon as possible……He had to find a suit­able piece of land and, if possible, build his own church……. He had to start looking for a nice car, befitting the status of a popular preacher …… And, most importantly, he had to select two, three or four nice, young women to take care of his needs, apart from the servants who would cook, wash, iron and do other errands for him.

Abruptly, he told himself, this hungry, scruffy Kukurantumi boy was being transformed into a man of power and money, with some of the most beautiful women in town at his beck and call. Wow!

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After a shower and supper, he shut the door to the very small room that served as his bedroom and dropped on the bed. Almost immediately, the shrill sounds, like whispers, began.

This time he did not express any fears. He realised to his great sur­prise that even though the sounds were not in the form of any lan­guage, he could understand them.

Tomorrow there will be testimo­nies……they will give money……. some rich people are being prepared …….they will bring big money ………. we will give them what they want, and they will bring money ……. big money …….big, big money……the women will also come, a number of them. ‘

He went to sleep smiling and whis­pering to himself, ‘big, big money, and women!’

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He woke up at 5 and took a shower. After a breakfast of tea and several slices of bread he set off. On reaching the venue he saw to his great surprise that the place was full.

Very full, and quite a number of people rushed to embrace him and give him the wonderful news. The excited people narrated the testi­monies about big sales, telephone calls from relatives directing them to go to Western Union, and impo­tent husbands who had miraculously rediscovered their magic powers.

He was truly glad that Nana Kofi Broni’s magic had already started working, but most of his attention was focused on the ladies in the congregation. He noticed to his great delight that some of them were really nice. I must start mak­ing my selection, he told himself. Today!

“Give a mighty clap offering to the great, mighty one for his won­ders among us!” he started, and the response was very big.

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“I said yesterday that you were going to see signs and wonders, and I am very happy that my word has been fulfilled. Even though we have taken allowed one hour for testimo­nies, many more of you would like to testify.

Tomorrow, I promise you that there will be ample time. I will only preach a short sermon. The rest of the time will be taken up by consul­tations, after which I will give direc­tions on what to do to ensure that you defeat your enemies, secure your marriage and, most important­ly, continue increasing your profits in your business.” His sermon was interspersed with ecstatic shouts of “Amen,” “it is true,” “God bless you” and “I receive it.”

His final word was emphatic; “Big miracles are coming your way. Keep attending church, and don’t forget to give thanks to God.”

By Ekow de Heer

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Full Gospel Businessmen Fellowship launches project to transform young lives

• Members of the Full Gospel Businness Fellowship
• Members of the Full Gospel Businness Fellowship

The Full Gospel Businessmen’s Fellowship International (FGBMFI) Ghana has launched the Senior High Schools and Colleges Project (SCP) aimed at empowering and transforming the lives of young people.

Speaking at the launch, Professor Mike Ocquaye, the former Speaker of Parliament, emphasised the need to catch them young and train them as the current times were challenging.

He lauded the project, calling on all to support it, saying “In fact, it’s very important to catch them young, train them, lead them, guide them, and men­tor them because the times are indeed rough,” Prof. Ocquaye said.

Mr Ekow Egyir Dadson, the Director, Schools and Colleges Directorate, stated that since its inception in 2018, the SCP had reached over 70 educational institutions with countless testimonies of transformation.

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“We began with the Presbyterian Boys Secondary School (PRESEC) Legon, and now in 2024, we have visited 74 schools and impacted the lives of over 100,000 students, some of whom were personally mentored and now have graduated from the universities.”

He explained that the SCP, a vision by FGBMFI Ghana, was a bold outreach pro­gramme designed to call young people to Christ, train and equip them for the future.

He cited testimony-sharing, mentor­ship, career guidance, entrepreneurship and counseling as some of the unique approaches to be used in reaching out to the targeted students.

Mr Emmanuel Baba Mahama, the National President of the FGBMFI Ghana, launched the SCP Manual, which would help the FGBMFI Zonal Family Chapters across Ghana in order to adopt schools and colleges within their catchment areas.

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The Schools and Colleges project is making a great impact; we have had first-hand testimonies from school heads, teachers, and students (mentees) about the SCP. This project has come to stay, Mr Baba Mahama assured.

He, therefore, called for more vol­unteers and partners to help the SCP shape the next generation of leaders and citizens.

Findings by the FGBMFI revealed that Ghana’s senior high schools, colleges, and university students face growing challenges like addictions, indiscipline, poor academic performance, pornogra­phy, homosexuality, broken homes, and a lack of godly guidance.

That had been a concern to many parents and society, “but the FGBMFI believes there is hope to rescue and re­store these young students,” Mr Mahama said. –GNA

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