The unexpected reunion

She didn't witness what is called fatherly care. She grew up with her grandmother but her mother was always there for her whenever she needs her. Her father works with the Ghana PWD in the '30s but they weren't living together because her parents were separated. She only gets to see him once in a while when school is on break. She grew to become an adult and her dad wasn't around to see her as he used to. He was no more in Ghana. He retired from work and went elsewhere without informing anyone

She looked for him everywhere but all her effort proved abortive. She wanted to see him by all means because life wasn't treating her well. Grandmother had died and her mum was struggling to earn a living. She couldn't further her education because there was no money and she learned handwork and became her own boss. But she wasn't complete without her dad around. Then she remembered a small note her dad gave her a long time ago. It was still in one of her bags. She took out the note and checked the address in it. It was a house address in Nigeria. Could he be there? She braced herself up and travelled all the way from Ghana to Lagos (that was in the early '80s

Getting to Lagos through canoe from badagry was another story that almost claimed her life as the canoe almost capsized from thunderstorms. She spent some days in Lagos trying to navigate her way to Osogbo following the address she was holding. She knew no one in Nigeria but she had to take that bold step to see her dad. At last, she got to a town not far from Osogbo and traced the address to a building not far from the king's palace

Good evening sir (She greeted an elder sitting outside the building). The man answered but they could not communicate well because he didn't understand English. When she was attended to by one of the man's daughters, they found out she was the daughter of KZM. They all rejoiced and welcome her to the house. (That's her dad's compound and the man was her uncle). But one key spoiled the dog's teeth. Her dad has not stepped in that house since he left Nigeria. They never knew he was alive. In fact, they wouldn't have believed her if she wasn't carrying one of his pictures

Now she became terrified and exhausted. The journey to Nigeria is only a waste. She began to blame herself for going on a journey that ended in regret. She didn't know what to do. Maybe her dad is a ghost, she wasn't sure. She was taken to his dads, apartment. Everything was intact the way he left them. ( The TV set, chairs, bed refrigerator and so on). She stayed in the apartment thinking of what to do. After a while, his uncle's wife started treating her badly out of jealousy because she seems to have a different lifestyle. After waiting for some months. She decided to leave

But when the divine has planned ones journey in life, one will always walk through the path. She packed her belonging and travelled back to Lagos. She would from there find her way back to Ghana. (It was always not easy to get bus shutting Nigeria/Ghana in those days). Sometimes, only one bus would be available in two weeks. So she had to stay in Lagos waiting for the next possible bus that would convey her to Ghana

One night, she was at the bus stop buying a Ghanian local meal (Donkunu with pepper and shito) and he saw a man eating the same food by the corner. His white beard and full hair look like his dad's. Lo and behold, it was him. It was like a dream. They both couldn't believe their eyes. The joy and excitement forced tears from her eyes. His dad was deported from Germany and was finding his way back home before crashing on her daughter at the bus stop. It's a long story. They both went back home and when they arrived, the house rejoiced. The story went viral in the small town and the man was from then called "Baba Ghana"

She lived with her dad until she got married. She lived all her life in Nigeria and she's still here to date. Who is this woman? That's my mum. My sweet mother. My one and only. My everything. She told us the story. . It all ended in joy. It's like a movie. Each time we look at some part of our life story, there's always something to be thankful for. Her dad is still alive. (I think he should be in his early 90s) still strong and upright. He only travels to Ghana once in 3 years to collect his pension