There is nothing more pleasing to the heart than a genuine confession.
And, on the day Africa celebrated it’s rather fragmented “union”, I embarked on a journey that had more for its confessions than it had for its object – the unity of Africa.
It was a journey that elicited excitement from its initial mention – a trip to the highest point of Ghana, Afadjato.
It was however an excitement that did not last, at least for many people who embarked on this journey.
I am a member of the SSNIT GREDA Keep Fit Club in Teshie, Accra whose members embarked on this trip.
The road trip which was estimated to take a maximum of four hours from Accra, rather took close to six hours for reasons “members only” are allowed to know.
The most important thing is that we all made it to the base of the Afadjato and right at the tip of the mountain where the Tour Guard gave his briefing, rather uninspiringly, was when the smiles on people’s faces made way for nervousness.
This was particularly accentuated by the Tour Guard likening the adventure to a war – a war against a giant mountain that conquers even the almighty mountains of Kwahu.
As was expected, war is not for the fainthearted so there we had our first segment of those who wouldn’t even dare to “go to war” with a towering mountain they have read about as children in primary school.
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Akin to a general leading his troupe to war, the President of the club, Kingsford Boateng wanted to give some hope so he remarked “I have done this in 25 minutes before so we can do it”.
Unfortunately for many of us, we were destined to set a new record by multiplying the 25 minutes in many folds but that will be a subject for another day.
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For many, the reality of the war dawned on them too early as they failed to make it past the first quarter of the journey.
An executive member is reported to have remarked as he visibly shook against one of the many forest trees that adorned that slippery routes of the mountain as follows: “if I take another step, I’ll collapse”.
That executive member never made it past that point but the rest of us will soldier on.
That frank statement – you may call it a confession, opened Pandora’s Box for many other confessions.
Harassment, a taboo word in a current global lexicon, was thrown to the dogs as ladies pleaded with guys to support them by pushing their backsides so they could win the war.
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Some others descended into the realms of absurdity as a gentleman we met on our way up remarked in Twi, translated loosely in English as “what at all did I come to do in this Godforsaken Ewe land?
Another gentleman remarked: “never again will I make this attempt of climbing this mountain again and neither will I advice any of my descendants to do so”.
For many who have never attempted this journey, these comments may sound preposterous but the reality of climbing the highest mountain in Ghana in a rainy slippery weather condition is enough to make you curse even the one you love most.
These were words of soldiers who were momentarily despaired for a war they weren’t sure of but as it is with all wars, there was celebration at the end.
Cameras flashed in admiration of efforts made as the war was won; but for a few fallen heroes, SSNIT GREDA Estate Keep Fit Club, went, saw and conquered the 885 metres tall Afadjato.
Many who dared, won the war and as it is with many wars, there were casualties and there were spoils but whatever the case, SSNIT GREDA Estate Keep Fit Club returned a more united club than the African Union with its many artificial boundaries.
