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Big catch – Part

A big catch

 I was very confident that I was about to hit the big time financial­ly. I resigned my job with Lever Brothers, and was well rewarded for my ten years loyal service. In addi­tion to starting my own publishing firm, I had also invested my earnings in a fishing venture, after my friend Pa John had advised that it was very profitable.

Knowing that the publishing busi­ness would start providing returns after three years, I was prepared to work hard to succeed, with the as­surance that the fishing investment would take care of my needs. Pa John, in addition to being a Project Manager at the Agricultural Bank, had also invested in the business, and assured my that I would receive decent earnings very regularly.

His boat was as big as mine, but he chose the long voyage type of fishing, his crew going out for three weeks at a time, while I chose the short, one-day type.

He assured me that my nets were better than his, because they caught both medium sized fish like tuna and cassava fish, as well as sharks. He introduced me to Kofi Prakor, the Chief Fisherman at Tema New Town, who helped me recruit a crew of eight. With everything se­cured, I started out with such great hopes that I asked my fiancee, Sa­bina, who had just finished National Service, to manage the business for some time, and apply for a job if she wanted. I was so sure that with money about to roll in, she would prefer to take care of the business that spend time in an eight-to-five job that would pay very little at the end of the month. Moreover, she did not need to do much. She only went early in the morning to ensure that all their supplies were set, and returned home when they set off. She returned about four in the evening to supervise the sales, give them their due and go home with the money.

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But one year on, we had very little to show for the investment. Apart from Sabina’s monthly salary and the fish which she took home, there was virtually nothing by way of profit, and I had started digging into my savings. I discussed this with Pa John, and he suggested that i meet with the crew and talk things over, and let them know that I would have to take some drastic action if things did not change.

If, Pa John said, there was no im­provement, then he would assist me to recruit a new crew. It was certain that the current crew were up to some tricks. But before I could even have the meeting, Sabina came home and dropped the bombshell.

‘Yooku, we’ve been together for two years, but things don’t seem to be going well. Your publishing business will not bring any earnings until after two years, at the very least, and the fishing investment appears to be a waste of time. I go there twice a day, and come home with virtually nothhing. I have been trying to help, but frankly I don’t like the environment at the fishing harbour. And my parents are worried that one year after my National Ser­vice, I don’t have a job, and my in­volvement with you doesn’t seem to show any good prospects. So Yooku, even though I am very fond of you, I want us to end the relationship. I am really sorry. If it will help you, I will ask my friend Tamara if she is willing to come in temporarily until you find someone. She is not work­ing, so she will appreciate the little you can give her’. As I sat dumb­founded, she got up and left.

The following morning Tamara called, and I went over and dis­cussed the business. She was inter­ested in the job, which surprised me because she was quite an elegant girl. I said I would try to offer her a better salary as soon as things improved, but she shook her head. ‘Yooku, I know the situation on the ground, but I also like a good challenge. Let’s go to the fishing harbour, meet the crew and talk to other boat owners, and see how we can change things’. ‘I am very grateful, Tamara’.

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A week after she started, Tamara called one afternoon, very excited. ‘Yooku, are you in the office? I will be there in an hour. I have something interesting to report’. She came, and over the next thirty minutes I sat with my mouth open as she spoke. ‘Yooku, your boat is very popular among the fisherfolk, because your net is unique, as it catches both medium and large size fish. Your crew have been playing a wicked trick on you. Everyday, they stop some distance from the landing bay, sell the bulk of the fish and bring only a small amount to the docking bay. I be­lieve that if Sabina was just a little watchful she could have detected it. Now, it will soon be time for them to dock. Let’s take a taxi. We should be there in another hour. I want us to catch them in the act’. We hailed a taxi, and headed to the fishing harbour.

By Ekow de Heer

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Features

The power of change: Understanding the process and catalysts

CHANGE is an inevitable and essential aspect of life, shaping individuals, organizations, and societies. It can be transformative, leading to growth, innova­tion, and progress. But how is change created?

This comprehensive article explores the process and cat­alysts of change.

The Change Process

The change process involves several stages:

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1. Awareness: Recognising the need for change.

2. Assessment: Evaluating the current state.

3. Visioning: Envisioning the desired future state.

4. Planning: Developing strategies and action plans.

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5. Implementation: Execut­ing the plan.

6. Evaluation: Monitoring progress and making adjust­ments.

Catalysts of Change

Several factors can catalyse change:

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1. Internal Motivation: Per­sonal or organisational desire for improvement.

2. External Pressures: Market trends, technological advancements, or regulatory requirements.

3. Leadership: Visionary leaders driving change.

4. Crisis: Forced change due to unexpected events.

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5. Innovation: New ideas and technologies.

Types of Change

Change can be:

1. Incremental: Gradual, small-scale changes.

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2. Transformational: Radi­cal, large-scale changes.

3. Strategic: Planned, delib­erate changes.

4. Emergent: Spontaneous, unplanned changes.

Change Management

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Effective change manage­ment involves:

1. Communication: Clear messaging and stakeholder engagement.

2. Training: Developing skills and knowledge.

3. Support: Providing re­sources and guidance.

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4. Monitoring: Tracking progress and addressing chal­lenges.

Resistance to Change

Resistance can arise due to:

1. Fear: Uncertainty and anxiety.

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2. Habit: Comfort with the status quo.

3. Lack of Understanding: Insufficient information.

4. Power Dynamics: Threats to authority or control.

Overcoming Resistance

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Strategies to overcome resistance include:

1. Education: Providing information and context.

2. Involvement: Engaging stakeholders in the change process.

3. Support: Addressing con­cerns and fears.

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4. Leadership: Demonstrat­ing commitment and vision.

Sustaining Change

To sustain change:

1. Embed Change: Integrate new practices and behaviors.

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2. Monitor Progress: Contin­uously evaluate and adjust.

3. Celebrate Successes: Recognize achievements.

4. Maintain Momentum: Keep the change process moving.

Conclusion

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Change is a complex and multifaceted process. Under­standing the change process, catalysts, and management strategies can help individ­uals and organizations navi­gate and create meaningful change.

Recommendations

1. Develop a Change Mind­set: Embrace change as an opportunity.

2. Build Change Capacity: Develop skills and resources.

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3. Foster a Culture of Change: Encourage innovation and experimentation.

By Robert Ekow Grimmond-Thompson

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Features

 This question of love

 The question of love is something that will be talked about until king­dom come.

A discussion I observed on the internet about a 19 year old who had accepted the proposal of a 67 year old man reminded me of the preaching of Pastor Mensa Otabil.

He talked about the a scenario where a 60 year old man enters into a relationship with a 22 year old lady and the lady tells him I love you, when he has a protruded bel­ly, with all the accompanying creases and he believes what she says.

He further went on to say that a whole grown up man, allows a young lady to call him “babe” and he does not feel offended.

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He further went on to preach that, this young lady, young enough to be his daughter, says “babe, I love you” and this man sheepishly laughs and does not realise, he is being taken advantage of.

What keeps ringing in my ears is his statement that “what is there to love about a protruding sagging belly?”

There is no regulated way for how a person falls in love. It reminds me of a funny statement that Pastors or marriage counsellors often use, that if you fall in love, you may hurt yourself.

Love I believe is a beautiful thing but it is not something that should be toyed with. People getting into relation­ships should consider the realities that are bound to happen as the years go by.

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Jealousy is a very de­structive influence. It can influence a person to harm his wife or her husband or to even commit murder. There has been countless reported instances where a man has poured acid on his wife or girlfriend, slashed his wife to death with a cutlass because he suspected, the wife was cheating on him.

It is something that blinds one to right reasoning and once your reasoning stops functioning, then the wrong side of us takes over and the result is nothing to write home about. In most cases, it comes out after the horrible act has been perpetrated, that there was no truth in the issue that caused the jealou­sy, after all. However, a life would have been maimed, disfigured or destroyed for­ever.

One of the causes of jealou­sy in marriage is the age gap difference. Whether we like it or not we shall grow old one day if God by his grace enables us to live long. When we grow old, a lot of changes occur in our bodies and things we used to do with ease, suddenly become a huge challenge and it could be very frustrating.

One of the things that drives a man crazy is when he has grown weaker in bed and sees the wife interacting with younger men in a suspicious manner that seems to suggest that there is more to it than meets the eye.

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Jealousy will definitely be kindled in the heart of such a man whose wife is far young­er than him like this 67 year old man wanting to marry a 19 year young lady.

In 30 years’ time, this man will be 97 and his muscles would have become weaker affecting his erection. His wife would be 49 and will have to be satisfied in bed in a manner that this man cannot execute. What do you think is going to happen?

Marriage Counsellors advo­cate that the ideal age gap between marriage partners should not be more than 10 years. This is one way to eliminate suspicions which results in mistrust when the man grows old and gets weak­er because it is a known fact that sex is very important to men than women.

A man becomes very wor­ried when his sexual perfor­mance level drops. This is what causes some men to act in a manner that is condem­nable. My advice, walk into love, don’t fall into it. God bless.

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NB: ‘CHANGE KOTOKA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TO KOFI BAAKO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

By Laud Kissi-Mensah

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