CHILDREN moTHER A GOOD

Maa, Sansaa, Adwoa Amponsaa, Bertha and the well-known whistle dad you used to call you…these were how we used to address our mum. Expressing our grief as "heartbroken" hardly captures the depth of our sorrow. Accepting that you are no longer with us remains incredibly challenging. Truly, our hearts ache. Dearest Maa, we never expected to be writing a tribute so soon. We were eagerly anticipating your birthday this November and celebrating the joy of the Christmas seasonwithyou.

Ma possessed a serene and affectionate nature, always welcoming family and friends into her home, seamlessly embracing them as her own, and harmoniously coexisting with everyone. Adwoa Amponsaa was a passionate admirer of flowers, she cultivated and cared for various varieties, with the most remarkable ones being the queen of the night, lady of the night, velvet, and rose. We fondly recall her inviting us to witness the rare and enchanting blossoming of the queen of the night, which occurred only occasionally, making it an unforgettable sight. As a devoted Christian mother, she nurtured our faith in Christ and encouraged active participation in church activities. As a chorister in heryouthfuldays, she showcased her deep love for music, particularlyfrom Methodist and Presbyterian hymns, aswellas chorales. She frequentlysang hymns and chorales with us and radiated with pride and joy whenever her children ministered in church. In her capacity as our mother, she taught us numerous songs. Even during her illness, she made an effort to sing alongwhenwe sang hymns byherbed side.Although her ability to vocalize words was limited, we could perceive the tranquility that enveloped herwhenwe sang.

Ma occasionally shared her own childhood and youthful experiences with us. With her beautifully crafted appearance and graceful calves, she earned the nickname "anantu deeboos" from her school mates. We listened with admiration as she recounted these memories, reminiscing about her youthful days. One unforgettable characteristic was her passion for reading. She was an avid reader, particularly fond of Mills and Boons stories during her school years. She encouraged us to develop a love forreading aswell.

Twenty-three years ago, our father departed, leaving her as our sole mother and father. She embraced this challenging role and, with the help of God, fulfilled it admirably. Under her guidance, she nurtured unity and harmonyamong herchildren. Howcanwe evererase the memory of our cherished Sunday tradition - the kenkey and pepper breakfast? On Sundays, all of us (Maa and children) gathered around the dining table, sharing from a single large bowl and plate, relishing the delicious hot kenkey and pepper with its accompaniments before heading to church.This ritualnot only delighted our taste buds but also deepened the family bonds. We laughed, engaged in heartfelt conversations before we hurried to church. Looking back, we can say we had a great time! We sincerely appreciate your role in promoting this unity by allowing us to partake from the same bowl as you did. We also hold fond recollections of the traditional Christmas cakes she lovingly baked on the 24th of December and the carol services we attended as a family, celebrating the festive season with cheerfulness. Last year, during the Christmas season, we gathered at home with our families to sing numerous Christmas carols and hymns that brought her immense joy. It brings us comfort to know that even though she couldn't make it to a church carol service, she still reveled in the joy of the season at home. We are immensely grateful that we did not postpone this gathering, as it marked her final Christmaswith us on Earth.

Maa instilled in us a myriad of virtues, including love, humility, peace, and hard work. Despite her role as a homemaker, she had a keen eye for identifying business opportunities in her surroundings. Maa engaged in various entrepreneurial endeavors to stay active and financially stable, ensuring that our household always had an adequate food supply. On days we came home hungry, we called out to her from a distance in Twi, saying, "Ma, ek)m di me" (Ma, I am hungry), her response was often a humorous "k)m na di," to wit "perform magic and eat.” On other occasions, when we inquired, "Maa y3 be di d3n?" (What food are we eating?), her playful response was "ye be di beela," meaning "we shall eat rat." Another enduring virtue was her response to her baby last/handbag's discomfort with an unclean environment. She would advise Mavis, "Anytime you see uncleanliness all around you, use your hands to make it clean." This principle has remained a guiding light for all of us. Additionally, she encouraged us as parents to be physically present and financially supportive in our homes.

Maa, although your physical presence is no longer with us, we are keenly aware thatyou've left an indelible mark on our hearts. We hold deep affection for you, and we're grateful for the chance we had to openly express our love during your final days in the hospital. We stood by yourside, affirming ourlove and pledging to preserve the harmonyyou builtwith dad, even inyourabsence.

We longed for more time with you, yet we witnessed the painyou endured inyourfinaldays. Mornings, afternoons and evenings we were with you at the hospital. SisterYaa and Sister Effia were there every dawn to bath and feed you. We remember Sister Yaa’s sweet and affectionate names she addressedyouwith just to lureyou into eating your meals. It was tough for you and so was it for us. The evening before her passing, we all gathered around her and to our surprise, she opened both eyes to see us at the mention of her name. Something she had not done in a long while. On that fateful Tuesday evening, we filled the hospital room with the melodies of many hymns. We sang from the depths of our hearts, and we have no doubt that you cherished the sounds that guided you to your eternal home with your Heavenly Father. We are grateful to God for granting us the grace to facilitate a smooth transition. Saying goodbye is undeniably difficult, butwe drawsolace from the beliefthat the same God who consoles those in sorrow will provide us with comfort and strength. You assured us of your inner peace, and as the Scriptures say, we won't grieve as those who have no hope. We carryyour memorywith us, and the void you've left will forever remind us of your presence.

Many years ago, you made a specific request that we sing one of your favorite hymns at your burial. We often wondered why you chose a hymn typically associated with funerals as your favorite. We now realize that your understanding transcended the earthly realm, and the time has come for us to solemnly sing this cherished hymn, knowing that you'll still find joy in it, even though you're no longerwith us in the physicalsense.

We are grateful for all the love and support you offered us.

We loveyou Maa.We are pained,we are heartbroken,we willmissyou!

OurMaa, Sansaa,AdwoaAmponsaa, due, due neyarie, Due ne amanehunu

Nyame mfawo kra nsie

Tillwe meet again, Maa, rest in perfect peace.