Why I did regret attending the clinic

Research outcome showed that, the human mind has an inbuilt clock. I can attest to this. I hate that loud, piercing pitch of phone alarm clock. For me, an annoying, alarming sound, capable of resurrecting a 3-day dead man to ask why he's being disturbed even in the far land of the dead.  I always open my eyes 20 to 30 minutes early, to just turn it off before it starts making noise in my ears. So, the sound of alarm clock does not wake me up from sleep, the fear of it does, no matter how tired and deeply asleep I was.

It was not different on June 20, 2025, a day to the program.  I set the alarm at 1am, but as usual, the fear of its sound woke me up at 12:35am. I began my final preparation since I was determined to beat the heavy traffic at Kasoa stretch of the Cape Coast- Accra Road. The first task was to catch the first bus and interestingly, I didn't know its departure time. But I convinced myself it should be no more than 3am. In order to achieve this, I left the house exactly 2am and walked several miles through a lonely darkness of thousand midnight with no streetlight in sight.

When I got to the bus stop, I was expecting to see other travelers around; instead, from the buses, I was greeted with loud pitch of snoring that almost sounded like a deliberate hit on piano, mimicking an army of frogs calling for more rain.

I called out to enquire if the first bus had left. One of them responded in a typical tone of a stubborn child dramatically woken up from sleep by heavy-handed lashes on bare back for his crimes a day before. There, I realized I have been hit.

I began to wonder why I left my humble cozy bed when an involuntary cardinal sign of sleep deprivation- a 5-minute-long uninterrupted yawning set in intermittently. I sat down thinking about how terrible the next nearly 24-hour is going be for me.

Indeed, by the end of the program to the time I arrived home at 11pm, I agreed with my joints and muscles that this is certainly one of the most stressful days in my entire existence.

Despite this, I just couldn't help it but pull out my laptop and at least, type the title of this write up. I succeeded in doing so while almost losing the voluntary control over my eyelids to open.

In the morning, sitting down joyfully to write, I discovered that, I made a mistake by omitting the negative word, ‘not’ in the headline statement.  This resulted in a false headline that clearly stated a regret for attending such a noble, expensive but free workshop organized by undoubtedly, celebrated personalities within media/journalistic field.  I wasn’t too harsh on myself for such error because it’s clear evidence of the stress I endured. And to you my reader, I apologize for any inconvenience or even furor such not-intended headline might cause.

Having given detail account on why the title is wrong and misleading, let me share with you details of the correct headline which says; Why I did not regret attending this maiden writing clinic despite the neck-breaking stress I went through.

first and foremost, meeting one of my idols in person a second time is an opportunity I did not want to miss. The first time I saw him about 6 years ago, I was expecting to witness an outright imposing and intimidating personality but I was wrong. He looked and acted calmer than the calmest individuals I know. I thought I am not tall enough, but I am even taller than him. He appeared like a timid, bullied houseboy.

I even ‘chop’ his money on that day; I gave him a copy of my first book, never expecting a dime. I had a sense of pride that, a great national figure like him would hold copy of my book. A book that at the time, I knew was not even in the best of state yet for sale. I was surprised when he gave me money for the book.

So, I thought to myself, is this the guy, who is capable of setting national discourse for days? Is this the guy that the most powerful in society fight with in the media as though he is the one withholding the oxygen tank from which they breathe?

in substance, if one wants to consider his persona, look or whatever extrinsic, to accord him the respect that comes from professors and even presidents, you are likely to make a fool out of yourself.

Mr. Manasseh Azure Awuni's power that shakes up the powers of even Idi Amin-like presidencies, comes from within and the expression of that intrinsic enormous power to do and stand for right and justice, leaves you with no option but to watch him with strange admiration and unintentional respect and honor.

in the final analysis, I told myself, it’s better to be feared out of intrinsic power expression than false sense of superiority that accompanies extrinsic power. (I pictured the then incumbent President Akufo Addo, commanding chiefs to rise up like a French teacher in a Ghanaian basic school).

At yesterday’s program, I was fortunate to see, for the first time one of the biggest personalities in Ghana’s television (media) history.  Not many could recall his name today, but no one can make mistake in identifying his face with Ghana’s national television-GTV.

Well, I have not been following him on social media and so, do not have that sort of attachment to his person and works like Mr. Azure Awuni. However, yesterday, sitting in front of him and listening, I was more amazed about an affable, extremely intelligent person Mr. Abdul Moomen is. The way he expresses himself, relates with audience has the magical power to hypnotize even the most impatient individual to never want to get out of his 12hour long uninterrupted lectures. And I emphasize that, this is no exaggeration at all.

Mr. Moomen joked that, all of us seated listening to tips on creative writing don't need it really. He suggested we should end the presentation and mingle among ourselves instead.  well, there's some truth in that joke, at least half truth. But the reality is that, many of us actually employ several of the points they were presenting but we just didn't know or value them. So, having astute and accomplished players in the field basically educating us on those lessons, me personally, it was a powerful moment of validation. It reinforces my determination to learn more and to do more despite little results currently.

Let me add this; in Ghana, as a writer, it's not advisable to prioritize making money through writing. The jurisdiction doesn't allow that. Majority of us are thinking about where the next meal will come from while seated quiet on a bus and you expect him or her to worry about getting a book to read? It's not common.

I think, one needs to view authorship as means to building strong personal credibility and validation which helps other personal and business endeavors. Let me share with you my personal experience briefly.

I have a registered primary health organization where I write letter to institutions to grant permission for health talk and basic screening.  At the onset, I realized that most of the MDs were not interested in such health initiative at the work place or church. So, I seldom get positive feedback. Then, I decided to add a book authored on public health to the letter.  I noticed that some managers were enthused about the book and want to read more or keep it.

So, I came up with a plan by saying, "oh, I am only showing you the book, but if you allow me to do my health program, I will let you keep it, I won't take it back". Some of them did laugh over such condition but it worked better for me. Many give better attention when they found out I wrote the book. A book by a nurse, endorsed by several medical doctors, including a medical director of a hospital, gave me that extra advantage over another colleague who might be involved in the same effort.

Just enjoy writing, don't worry much about returns and remember, it casts on you that ray of intelligence in the eyes of people who know you.

Once more, I am sorry for the long ‘lorgorligilorgorligi’ at the initial paragraphs of this write-up, explaining why the title was a mistake. "You could just edit or add not”, you say. Well, I just want to demonstrate a little to others, especially those in attendance yesterday that I have learned something out of yesterday's program and honestly speaking, I never regretted for the time and coins spent to make it there.

I thank the organizers, sponsors and every individual behind the scene for such transforming and enlightening program. Perhaps, if the true cost were passed onto attendees, it would be so high that, some of us, especially me, might not afford. I look forward to subsequent years’ writing clinic workshop as long as the chord of life shall lengthen.

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Thank you; akpe.