Your mummy has always been a piquant sort of lady with Tilapia and Fufu her guilty pleasure, though she has more of an urge for sweet things these days, which according to the grandmothers’ indicates that you are a girl, my sweet little and beautiful girl.If you happen to be a baby boy, I will be equally grateful and welcome you with pride. I hope and pray every day with very strong optimism that you are healthy and will not come into this world with any difficulties. But if you do, I promise I will step up and face the challenges for your sake, to give you the best life you can ever dream of. Sometimes I feel a bit anxious about the prospect of being a father of two with such demanding responsibility in light if Ghana’s current economic challenges. I worry that I may fail you in some way, that you won’t be happy when you grow up, and it will in some way be my fault but nevertheless, I am very willing and ready to stand tall for you.

I will try something extraordinary almost a month preceding your entry into this world. The problem is that I don’t know what it is am going to try, but I want it to be something I’m passionate about because I want to be a good role model for you. I want my life to be more than just about you, so that you can learn to be independent and follow your dreams as well. I hope that doesn’t sound so selfish sweetheart.

I want you to know how much I love and cherish your mother. We are lucky to have found each other, just pure luck; especially looking at the mystery surrounding it; lost her certificates and other documentary evidence but still got admission into College, tried all the ‘awam’ skills but couldn’t succeed during the Larteh days, invented a whole one year sabbatical leave but still got nailed at the end and other serious ones needn’t a mention. I hate to think we might have passed by each other after the “sekesua brouhaha”. Your mother is a good woman with the best intentions I’ve ever seen. She is kind, loving, patient and considerate and I can vouch that she is so excited about meeting and spoiling you with her unconditional love, which I will oppose anyway. I have the greatest optimism that I will still love your mother as much when you read this as I ink now. Life can be unpredictable and cruel but I hope and believe we are strong enough to keep our love beautiful and strong. One thing I know is that we will both still be madly in love with you; unless you turn into a murderer, drug-addict or an outcast, but well, maybe even with that …I wouldn’t let you off because you are my responsibility and blood!

I wonder what you will think of me when you read this personal letter to you. As I write now, I have no idea when I will give this letter to you. Perhaps you will be 18 and very hormonal and wonder why your beloved mother ever married such a ginger-sweet-husband. Perhaps you will be married with a beautiful partner and expecting a child of your own. Perhaps I will be dead or perhaps I will be the President of Ghana or better still the Finance Minister; YES your guess is as good as mine! with the New Patriotic Party of-course.

All I know is that now I am just a young trying handsome man, as your mother is just a young beautiful lady with a lot of passion.We have experienced great moments of happiness with family and friends at school,parties, festive seasons, holidays, traveling especially the duo sekesua trip etc. We had those heartwarming moments that you wouldn’t want to forget when you are told; from wild nights with friends at joints and most importantly lovely midnight atmosphere charged with cool tunes and others from Westlife, Celine Dion, Phil Collins and Senzo Williams etc…

I just want you to know that we were young once and that we are full of character and passion and love for simple things. I think this is something that children can’t quite grasp about their parents, I certainly couldn’t with my Old Tom and Awony3. I hope I am still the person I am today, but better and stronger and more open when you read this. I want you to know that I am so looking forward to meeting you, and that I love and want the change you will bring in my life. I hope you would like and love me regardless of my strict nature and “ecomini” status.

Your Proud and Loving Father in the waiting,

Fofo Kɔmi