With Sofo at his home in Akome, VR, Ghana

Sofo L.K. Kwasikpui, Servant of the Lord Jesus Christ.

One of my fathers in the Lord. Soft-spoken, yet firm.

District Pastor of the Dansoman District of the EPCG in 2011 when 'Boorsu' handed over to me as EPSU President. The one who signed our marriage certificate and the 'main' Officiating Reverend Minister at our wedding. The one who, being the teacher he was, lovingly corrected the way I pronounced the word 'vineyard' (do you know the correct pronunciation? :) Call me if you don't. :))

26th December 2009 - before we left for EPSU National Camp

Sofo Kwasikpui loved young people and made us feel welcome in Church matters. He would encourage us to be Bible-readers, liturgists, ushers, lay-preachers, finance-team-helpers, etc. He would come by the Church premises to see us off on those early mornings of December when EPSU was leaving for camp meetings. He sometimes be around to welcome us back when we returned on December 30th. 

 Celebrating a professional buddy, Ing. Calvin Bruce-Attuquayefio. FGhIE 🥳

Happy Birthday Mawunyo! 32 years ago, we were going about our home chores when Papa came to tell us of your birth. We then regrouped and went to the clinic which was just 2 streets away to see our new baby sister. Because of you, I know that if anyone is in Christ, He is a new creation. You are living a transformed and victorious life through the one man Jesus who came to die for us. You are going places as you stay connected to the vine. Once you do what Jesus says and go where He sends you, never fear only trust and obey. God bless you for all you do and all your support. Keep the crusade up for living life in all its fullness in Christ

'Eleven-eleven' remains in my memory as one of the last and largest gatherings of Papa, his family and friends at Wegbe-Kpalime. It was the Centenary Celebration of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church at the place Papa called 'home' and no one would take away the joy, excitement and preparation for this grand occasion. Papa was very happy - clad from head to toe in the anniversary cloth and ensured that all his family members had sewn and were wearing outfits made in the same cloth too.

 Children, in-laws, nephews, nieces, friends from church and whoever would listen had been told months ahead about this very-important occasion, and many had been invited to attend. I remember how some of us who had to do a return-trip that Sunday converged at my sister D'Emefa's home before 6am and were ready to set-off to Wegbe - all of us fully aware that we had to arrive way before the service itself began (Papa was not one to arrive late at Church services). My very good friend and maid-of-honour (Ayele), and my brother-in-law (Max) also joined in - to share in the joy of this 'Holy Village' we had said so much about. You can be certain that enough 'noise' had been made about the celebration! :)

Looking back at pictures from that day and remembering all that went on, I have smiles on my face. :) Papa was a 'GUY' - he knew how to let people share in his joys, and good news was never something to be 'hidden'. Good news had to be shared. Interestingly, today, I interacted for the first time with someone called 'Nyanyuie' - (i.e. 'good news' in Ewe).

Papa's legacy truly lives on! Life is more beautiful with relationships and we should all strive to build many impactful, truthful, well-meaning and lasting ones. May we shun the things that divide us and embrace the things that unite us. May the Lord enable us to let go of the things that have hurt us in the past and embrace a fresh start and a godly perspective on all issues. Amen.

Love God! Love people! 11-11 memories. 

Written in November 2021

....Interestingly, when I tuned in to Sunny FM around 11:15am today, I heard Rev. Andy Yawson preaching about forgiveness. He gave an example of how we sometimes join a friend or a relative to 'hate' or 'be angry' with another person - and said 'the day they reconcile, you may not know'. :) Imagine carrying a grudge 'on behalf of' another person, getting to a restaurant, and seeing that the said 'enemy' and the one you 'joined' are having a nice conversation over lunch. :) 

What I had wanted to share before my radio-listening session:)....

"I read a story about a wise older monk and his young apprentice who were walking together along a forest trail. Their monastery had a rule forbidding all contact with women. Coming to a river with a fast-flowing current, they saw an old woman weeping near the shoreline. She asked for help, saying that she couldn’t cross the river on her own. Without a word, the older monk picked up the woman and carried her to the other side. She went on her way while he and his young colleague continued on their journey. Two and a half hours passed without a word being spoken, but the young monk was seething on the inside. When he could contain himself no longer, he blurted out, “My Lord, why did you carry that woman across the river? You know that we are not supposed to touch a woman.” The wise older monk looked down at the young man and said, “I put her down hours ago. Why are you still carrying her?”

Good question. Why are you still carrying the burdens from the past? Isn’t it time to put them down once and for all?

Some of us are walking around with a heavy load of bitterness and frustration. It’s time to lay that burden down. God never meant for you to carry it around like you do. Maybe it’s resentment toward your parents or toward your employer. Maybe there’s someone who has done you wrong and it’s been eating your lunch. Day and night you dream of a chance to get even. Maybe it’s a friend who let you down in a big way. Maybe it’s someone you trusted who walked all over you. Whatever it is, it’s time to lay that burden down." - Ray Pritchard.

4th October 2024, Ghana

I am a beneficiary of this partnership and would like to celebrate this recognition! :)

In December 2015, just a few months after The Centre of Renewable Energy and Industrial Maintenance (CERMI) of Cabo Verde was officially inaugurated in order to build capacities in renewable energy and energy efficiency, I had the opportunity of 'experiencing' the Centre (with a solar farm on site, air flow considerations displayed, energy management in use, etc). My interest in energy efficiency and sustainable building practices peeked after visiting CERMI, during the "ECOWAS Regional Training Workshop on Energy Audit for buildings", organized by ECREEE. I stayed on for a two-day Workshop for the validation of the JTA - Regional Certification Scheme for PV off-grid Installers, also organized by ECREEE, in partnership with IRENA and GIZ (with CERMI as the venue!)

The collaboration between ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE) and CERMI for 10 years has been beneficial to West Africa, especially with respect to capacity building.

Congratulations and kudos to the teams!

 https://www.ecreee.org/ecreee-recognized-as-a-regional-partner-of-excellence-by-cermi/

Fast forward...I got to work with a team of three other young engineers - mainly via emails in an era where there was no Zoom or MS Teams, no working together real-time on documents, etc. The four of us were on 3 different continents. To cut a long story short - ours was one of the projects chosen to be presented at the World Engineers' Convention held in Geneva in 2011. We had to put in some hours of in-person final touches to our work; a great opportunity for knowledge-sharing and collaboration.

I got chosen at a point to represent Young Engineers on a panel, we had to present our paper together to a team of judges and other colleagues - and we also got to build some great friendships, go sightseeing and have fun :)

So...get involved. Start young. Start in your mid-years. Start 'old'. It doesn't matter when or where you start - just make a move today and keep walking.

 Meet the composer of the GhIE Anthem, Prof. Esi Awuah (PhD, FGhIE, FAAS) 👏

We each must be known for something (good, hopefully 😊 ) and Prof. has been known over the years for composing an ‘environmentally sound’ song for each year group she taught in KNUST (I don't know if she continued with this while at UENR. On her birthday last year, the WOMEN IN ENGINEERING, (WinE) Ghana platform was 'lit' with joy as we shared some of the songs Prof. has composed over the years.

Ing Sophia Abena Tijani wrote: "I still remember the song you taught us in 1998. "Cigarette smoking is not good for you. Neither is it good for the environment. It will impair your mental dexterity..."

Another class got these words:

"I am an environmental engineer. I seek the welfare of mankind....

I protect their health. I design to treat waste.

I am for the planet earth 2x

I couldn't remember our 'class song', but Eldad Kusi (PE-GHIE), EDGE EXPERT did, and sent this: "I'm a citizen of the earth and part of the environment. Yet I have abused the environment. I'm now transformed because I now know the impact...."

Long before 'sustainability' and 'resource efficiency' became familiar words, Prof. had us singing great songs about our environment.

Prof. Esi Awuah's response was: "I am so happy I chose to teach as a Profession. God bless you all."

Well....Prof. - we are also very happy you chose to teach us! You're celebrated!!

GhIE Anthem: https://youtu.be/86ox4zxeLdA?si=S4CgjTz9MxKzeTcQ