I remember Professor Ama Ata Aidoo, particularly, for an article she wrote in the Legon Observer.
It was written in pidgin English, castigating an insufferable, fastidious and pedantic colleague.
She titled it: “Weitin dey for comma?” Even in pidgin, the power of her craft stood out.
She was a great writer. Insightful. Felicitous. Committed. Mobilising. Prescient. Charming. Revolutionary. Scholarly. And more.
Often, I would meet her at the residence of the Watts, my neighbours. David, the son of Roy Watts was one of my best friends in childhood.
In his father’s home, there was space for them all. Aunty Ama. Uncle Wole. Uncle Kofi (Awoonor). Uncle CBK (Zwennes). Uncle Ngugi. Aunty Maya. And many, many more.
As children, we took no notice of them. David and I were more interested in getting mangoes from the tree.
Only later in life, when I encountered her book ^Anowa”, which I studied for English Literature at O Level, was I to become aware of her greatness as a writer.
This was all before selfies and social media. Incidentally, I was taught her book by a then young, pretty and very encouraging woman. Her name was Gertrude Sackey.
Trudy, as we called her then never stopped being amused by Mitchell Debrah and I. In Form 4 then, we were not too fond of school rules we saw as stupid. Like not being allowed to wear socks.
Therefore, we were constantly having run- ins with the prefects of the day. But she saw something in us, and she always encouraged us.
Today, I am told I cannot call her Trudy. She is Her Ladyship Justice Gertrude Torkonoo, the nominated Chief Justice of the Republic of Ghana.
I remember that ìn her very first exam, I came close to the top of the year group. For a class that included outstanding scholars and well behaved students like Kofi Laing, David Abankwa, Charles Ofori, Akosua Bame, Mary Liverpool and so on, a rebellious Yaw Nsarkoh – I suppose – was not expected to be so close to the top.
But Trudy had shown confidence in me. I wanted to impress her. And I did.
Scribbled on my exam sheet when it was returned, in bold, firm and clear writing were the words: “Nsarkoh, you have really impressed me.”
I fell in love with Literature partly because Trudy cared. Had Ghana not been so full of contradictions, I may have become a Professor of Literature.
I refuse therefore to hear anything about the stern no-nonsense judge. My teacher is one of the kindest and most caring people on the face of the earth. End of argument.
Teachers matter! Teachers really matter!! Both my parents were teachers. I know.
In the end, Ama Ata Aidoo was a teacher. God bless her.
May she find rest across the river. With all the true greats gone before her.
She is a worthy ancestor.
Yaw Nsarkoh,
1 June 2023.
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