Storytelling  On  Corruption

THE BAOBAB SEED AND YOUR GRAND CHILDREN’S HOUSE

BAOBAB TREE

By Mawutodzi Kodzo Abissath

BAOBAB SEEDS

Once upon a time, there lived an old man in the Kalahari Desert. There was no water, no food, and no fruit. In fact, the old man had nothing for his living.   

One night, as he was struggling to catch some sleep he had a dream.

In the dream, God sent an Angel to tell him what to do for his survival. The Angel   instructed him to plant a tree. The Angel  then presented him with three different seeds and asked him to pick only one.

Those seeds included that of mango, avocado pear and baobab. Of the three, the baobab seed was the tiniest or the smallest, but the old man knew that when it geminated it would become the biggest three of all.

So he picked the baobab seed.  Then the Angel said to him: “Please my dear old man, because you chose the baobab see, I would advise you not to plant it on a spot where your children or grand children may want to build a house one day”

The old man did not understand what the Angel meant by that.  As he tried to seek further clarification, the Angel vanished and the old man woke up suddenly from his slumber.

The old man was so confused that he went to consult a dream interpreter to tell him the meaning of his dream.  He was told straight in the face that the baobab tree represents greed.

Thus corruption is like a baobab tree. Its beginning, like a baobab seed, may be very small but its practice can create a big problem for society.

Corruption can block the chances for future generations to progress and advance. That is why the Angel advised the old man not to plant the seed on a spot where his   children or grand children might want to build a house in the future.

Corruption can prevent sustainable development.  That is the moral lesson for this story.

NB: This story was written on Monday, 27 May, 2019 (c) abissath@gmail.com

Ghana's Chief Imam Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu (green cap)
at the Christ the King Church in Accra

WHAT A CHIEF IMAM OF GHANA!

Your High  Holiness Sheikh Osman

Ghana’s National Chief Imam

Aren’t you a global shining star?

Exceptional enlightened soul you’re

To enter Christ the King Catholic Church

To fellowship with Christians on Easter Sunday, 

Is like Pope Francis of Vatican entering a Mosque

To worship with Muslims on a Ramadan Friday.

Oh, Chief Imam Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu!

ALLAH did not grant you 100 years for nothing

Your wisdom surpasses King Solomon’s

When others are bombarding Churches elsewhere

You’re leading Muslim scholars to a Christian Church  

To praise GOD for your natal centenary

Aren’t you an icon of religious co-existence for the world?

  

Oh, Chief Imam Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu!

Your religious legacy goes beyond Ghana

Your humility as Islamic scholar goes beyond Africa

You have validated all religions come from ONE SOURCE

May ALLAH grant you more years with wisdom!

Mawutodzi Kodzo Abissath ©

21/04/2019

 AFRICA FED UP WITH WARLORDISM

You, Warlords of Africa

Africa is tired of wars

Mama Africa is fed up

When ‘ll you wise up?

You, Warlords of Africa

Mama Africa is bleeding

After over 300 years of slavery

That depleted her human capital

And over 100 years of colonialism

That ransacked her natural resources

You are thrilling your ego in warlordism

Do you need Pope’s kissing of your feet

To abide by your own accord of peace?

Why use scare resources for ammunitions

To annihilate starving souls of your nations

          And empower destroyers of human lives

         Shame unto demolishers of African lives

       Oh, Warlords of Africa

      Can’t you apply your gumption?

      Mama Africa is fed up

     When ‘ll you wise up?

Mawutodzi Kodzo Abissath ©

15/04/2019

Pope Francis on his knees  kissing the feet of
Sudanese Warlords at the Vatican to give peace a chance

KISSING THE FEET OF WARLORDS

Oh, Francis the Pope

You’re the Angel of Peace

Aren’t you epitome of hope

To what extent can you go

In massaging their ego

As warlords stand on their feet

With weapons of mass obliteration

Annihilating anguished souls

So you wobble on your knees

Kissing their rebellious feet

 To give peace a chance

Oh, Francis the Pope

You’re the window of hope

Aren’t you Pope Francis

Of the 21^st century?

Mawutodzi Kodzo Abissath ©

13/04/2018

Poetic Tribute to Kofi Annan

 

KOFI ANNAN, ONE OF THE GREATEST UN SECRETARY-
GENERALS THAT EVER LIVED 

BUT FOR HIS LIMITATIONS AS HUMAN…

Yes, God created the world in six days

Kofi Annan could not transform the UN in six weeks

Of course, God is God and Kofi Annan was human

God was and still is in a unique position

Kofi Annan was in a human situation

And has now passed into transition

God has no known UN Security Council

Kofi Annan had more than Security Council

God has no known nation with a veto power

Kofi Annan had five nations with veto powers

Kofi Annan battled for a world of peace and harmony

A world that knows of no weapons of mass destruction

A world that knows of no undue anguish and refugees

But alas!

Kofi Annan served humanity with humility

He tried to concretise peace and unity for mankind

United Nations recognised his humanitarian spirit

And made him co-recipient of Nobel Peace Prize 2001

God was and still is the Creator

Kofi Annan was a mortal

Thus he traversed the portal

As a seed planted by a man

In the womb of a woman

He was interred in a tomb

God endowed him with wisdom

BUT FOR HIS LIMITATIONS AS HUMAN

He could have done more for mankind

May his noble soul dwell in PROFOUND PEACE!

MAWUTODZI KODZO ABISSATH © 2018

NB: This poem was composed on Monday, September 24, 2018

and submitted To:  Anase Writer Society & Muse for Peace Foundation

Email: kofianantribute9@gmail.com