Her weekday calls usually come in around mid-morning, with Yaa Yaa’s next question, “Wa yɛ free?Wo bɛtumi akasa?” — to wit, “Are you free? Can you talk?” To respond “yes” is to make her feel listened to, but you risk rushing her off the phone. To genuinely respond “no” when you are indeed busy makes you feel guilty until you return the call. Either way, the trick is to test Yaa Yaa’s tone for an emergency before making that judgment call. As the ever-loving mother she’s always been, it always turns out that her calls are about the welfare of us, our spouses, grandkids, in-laws, employees, extended family members, friends, her numerous “children” from all walks of life, and the occasional repetitive gist about happenings at home. An example is when she refused MTNpermission to mount a pole on her lawn without notice or a permit, or how she educates property rate collectors on land administration, having been married to A.Y.A. Asante, a pioneer of Land Economy and Estate Management in Ghana. With that, I introduceMonica Yaa Frimpomaa Asante, née Opuni, aka Yaa Yaa, Monique, Yoo Yoo — as her sibling Dr. Opuni affectionately calls her for crying a lot as a child. A nursery teacher, poultry farmer, baker, trader, member of ChristianMothers, singing band, harvest committee, Asante Congress… you do it all. We couldn’t be more proud and ever thankful to God for having you as a mum and for bringing you this far to the blessed age of 80 years — an age where my friends still refer to you as pretty, young, looking good, and strong, which, of course, has always made me a bit jealous since our secondary school days. On the occasion of your 80th birthday, I can proudly say howmuch of a hero and source of inspiration you have been in my life. Yaa Yaa, you are my HERO. We lost Daddy when you were 45, with all four children still in school. You singlehandedly picked up the dual mantle of mum and dad: quickly relocating us into an uncompleted house because you wouldn’t wait for KNUST to move us out. You worked menial jobs in London for our upkeep and school fees. You have relentlessly supported and guided us from our formative years through adulthood as we embraced life’s challenges and accomplishments. You would wake us up at dawn to share strong words of advice, faith, prayers, inspiration, resilience, and wisdom. Through it all, you never made us see or feel the hardships and pain a sweet 45-yearold prime chic was enduring. We knew it, we felt it, but we cherished and honoured you in our own small ways. Above all, yes, we indeed robbed you of any new romantic relationship — if nothing at all, at least for companionship. I’m not sure howwe would have embraced it, knowing a few intruders’ attempts were thwarted. Nevertheless, we are indeed thankful for your energy, focus, discipline, and spiritual guidance in raising us. You continue to play that same role today, with your grandkids feeling the same “wrath” of Yaa Yaa. Your deepMOTHERLY LOVE has always been anchored in God’s faith and word. You have been there 101% in our happiest and hardest moments. Your love reaches far beyond your children to countless others — each of whom you have touched and nurtured in a unique and special way. You nurtured a young shoe-shine boy who used to go around Tech campus on weekends as a son, supporting him through school until he became a prominent teacher today. John is a chef at Moti Mahal; the other John is a teacher up north. There are countless other stories of you touching lives at children’s homes, church, and everywhere you visit… practically every trip to town returns with a new “mi ba” (my child). Through it all, we have learned discipline, honesty, and the spirits of love, giving, respect for others, and cherishing the little that life has to offer. We often hear your friends and family wish Daddy lived to see how each one of us turned out in life, as he would have loved to see. Youmade him proud 100%, and he is unequivocally proud of you. You did it not by might but by intense and immeasurable faith. 60 The Birthday Journal
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