CHAMPION: ANCESTRAL DENIAL

'Awogyann'

'Champion' is a found root of an indigenous Ghanaian hard tree that has been fixed — cleaned, trimmed and varnished for interior and exterior decoration. The root has a compact base on which sits three major out stretched projections. These projections have smaller protrusions that springs from them. The middle projection is set in a vertical pose of twist and turn while the other two moves in opposing direction that is to the left and right of the composition. The bark of the root structure has bumpy texture that manifest the termites work on the root.

This makes the root to assume some tactile surface texture. The root has a natural ocher colour, a colour that portrays honour and wealth of royals. The root sculpture depicts the head mask of conqueror — a raised face and upper arms appearing from a pivot. It suggests the posture of a celebrating social hero. A person who has endured denial and rejection from his own but through the assistance of the cosmic world he has been able shoot into prominence.

There lived some time ago, a two-month old baby boy whose mother has bolted away and was just at the care of an ailing less- employed youth father. Hmmmm! as the story got unfolding, it came to the attention the community that, this baby boy was not the only offspring (dependant) of this father but there were two additional siblings as well. Mother, an adolescent errand- girl and a migrant had thrown her hands in despair, given up her responsibilities and preferred restarting a new and better life elsewhere, a practice that has today become acceptable to Ghana's less-endowed youth. The father, an alcoholic, an untrained cobbler, stationed at a popular lorry station and a market place in Agbogbloshie a densely populated community in the capital city and could only do with a merger proceed from his trade, a size of income which in the Ghana is referred to as 'hand-to-mouth' income. Agbogbloshie, a populous suburb-environment where the hustle and bustle prevails for only the survivors, life trials are counted on daily basis. What you earn today takes you to the next day. There is the Ghanaian parlance that goes 'heaven helps those who help themselves', or in the popular Ghanaian highlife musician, Amakye Dede's rendition; se ekuro dosuaa wontsina fakor na wonngye enyenguase, meaning 'if you continuously sit in one spot you sit on your worth'. These indigenous clichés here mentioned propelled persons to be on the constant move just to meet the social pressures and dictates of human sustenance. These and other acts create neglect and abandonment within the Ghanaian society, something that leads to hopelessness among infants and the youth. Therefore, the less hearted will always offload their burden unto others who are ready to bear.

In his admonishment to his followers, the celebrated speaker and preacher had inferred that any set-back is a set-up in the journey of success — Joel Osten. Mankind certainly possesses opaque lenses that prevent us from seeing afar in the realm of the unseen world. Donald Trump, the celebrated American's speech to the Americans on his perceptions on Africans and Arabs, insinuates that Africans refuse to see far, they only and always just perceive their immediate stretch of space, they do not see into the future and this eventually affect their development. In most situations, mankind is always limited by the cosmic perception of enabling us see that far. Being able to see into the future of persons is a scarce reality. We are definitely not able to anticipate the future associations, positions, and successes of people we rate low or disregard along the line of human relations.

Stunting one's prospects to life is a normal practice to witness. Therefore in an attempt to overturn the speculations and anticipations of observers, mankind usually abandons God's times and ways to make choices that are equated to the quick-fix and easy-fix syndromes, an option that usually leads us to return to the starting point or regret our earlier decisions. Inspirational and motivational speakers of both local and international stature, and the Akan culture have always reiterated that, 'say good things about yourself, or tell yourself you are the best, but quit remembering your negatives because they will eat you up at all times'. Just like the David story of the Bible days, in spite of all the set-backs of David, he always declared himself as the best and the best arrived at his doorstep.

In our modern day, child bearing has become one of the major challenges to several middle class couples. Today, several efforts are being made for people to become mothers and fathers as being one is certainly an honour to oneself, one's family and the society. To the African society, children are believed to be the reincarnation of the ancestors and that their appearance on the physical world provides joy, honour and continuity to the society. Several questions are being asked as to why and how orphanages are springing up everywhere and everyday in spite of the numerous challenges the elite class faces with child birth. Yet the Lower class, the least educated and the less financially endowed continue to be the repositories of child itinerary, yet inability to bear the needs and wishes of these children. Is the African cosmic more benevolent to the marginalized rather than the economically, socially and academically upright persons? or Are they less sympathetic to the affluent rather than the less endowed? Maybe the affluent is not recognized enough or well sighted by the by the cosmic world. Or are they created to take care of the less endowed infants and orphans?

The question being asked in recent times is: Is the establishment of orphanages a quest to improve upon the plight of the unfortunate children? or Is it an attempt to enhance the financial stature of owners? or Is it to make marginalized children really happy? or Is it to put food on their table? or Is it to put shelter at their disposal? or Is it to offer them education?, or Is it to put clothes on them? or What? These are but the requirements of the Millennium Development Goals, a global policy that is enshrined to provide child development and safety by all nations and individuals. Yet in the African communities, child neglect and abandonment is pervasive and gradually becoming a canker. The teeming youth are turning in off-springs at their earlier ages, creating lot of teenage parents that are weary and unsupported. The elderly group or the aged parents are also giving birth at their later stages in life, creating what is known in Ghana as pension babies — children giving birth to at the blink of their parent retiring age from active employment. Even though the middle age group is touted as the sexually active and reproductive bracket, the political and economic policies of the nation has rendered majority highly unemployed and are therefore unable to take good care of their children as they may be expected.

Coupled with the social and cultural demands of the African...