Where do I start?

You are and will always be a great mother, friend, beautiful lady, caring, funny, energetic, loving, protector, helper, healer, supporter, entertainer, guardian, educator, religious and so much more person to me. You had the most perfect skin, slim lovely legs, the best laugh, oh and you could dance. You taught us to be respectful and appreciative. You were so giving, no one left your presents without a gift and the way you looked after your family, you even built a house for your family in Sierra Leone, pushing to build schools in Ghana. When you went out, I don’t think you ever came back empty handed with things for the grandchildren or us, your bag was always filled with surprises for them. 

You were also straight talking directly and didn’t beat around the bush.

What a mother, we were all so lucky; it’s funny how you REALLY know how lucky you are after someone like you has gone.

Mother to six, lost one before I was born (he was only a few weeks old), and you never forgot him and talked to us about him. You were grandmother to 16 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild, what an achievement, and you kept us close. You were all about family, family came first no matter what, and you were so proud of us. In your eyes we each were the best at whatever we were doing, which helped to push us more to succeed even more. Your support was immense, now who is going to give us that wisdom and guidance? But I promise you, what I have learnt will be passed down to your grandchildren.

I remember how you danced around the house, when I told you I was pregnant. So happy you were present at both of my births, what an honour.

My heart is broken in several places but is held together with the knowledge that I have to pass your knowledge and memories down to your grandchildren, who will always love and remember you. They miss you and keep asking for you even though in their way, they know where you are, looking down on them.

The younger grandchildren never met granddad but they talk about him like they had done and this will be the same for you, they will NEVER FORGET WHO YOU ARE! You brought them a keyboard and ucolay, for Christmas, which they love, and you wanted to provide them music lessons. I will keep your promise to them.

You taught me so much and the older I got the more I understood and appreciated your wisdom. I wish I had spent less time cleaning the house and more time sitting and talking.

We were supposed to have written your cook book and life story, we were supposed to have travelled more which we talked about, we were supposed to have done more things together and you are supposed to be here with us!

My friends were her friends, you taught us how to pick the good ones and watch out for the ones to avoid. I miss our talks, oh how you used to advise me, I just hope I have learnt enough to pass down.

You were so strong when Daddy was taken from us and didn’t shed a tear until he was safely in the ground. Oh how you protected us and were there for us.

Samuel George – will miss watching trains with you and sleeping in your bed.

Samuel David – wants to get a baby, wait for her to grow up and then call it grandma. (Mr. Solutions man).

Amelia – says she is missing you and your canya you used to make (just hope I can make it as good as you?)

Naa-Sika – just says she is missing you and wants you back.

Having your lovely grandchildren around me is going to help with this pain, they hug me when I cry and tell me it’s going to be OK.

Things you have taught me:

– If someone takes from you, move on and call it charity.

– You always used to say ‘Don’t follow them’, meaning help your loved ones, if they don’t call you, you call and check on them or don’t waste your time with revenge.

– Oh the lessons I’ve learnt about how to bring up the children; I can hear your sweet voice.

– Cooking okra – don’t hit the spoon on the side of the pot it will cut the okra and always use a wooden spoon.

– Jealousy can kill so just walk away from them.

– You should never chase a man, he should always chase you, but leave some breadcrumbs so he knows…..

My last words I whispered in your ear was ‘I love you, I love you, I love you…… ‘ and I ALWAYS WILL.

I love you my wonderful, beautiful and intelligent mother.

Your daughter Akuah