Alooma’s Tears: A Call to Hope and Nation-Building
At the recent Prempeh College reunion, what was meant to be a short five-minute address by alumnus Dr Samuel Anang Borquaye, popularly called ALOOMA, by colleagues and friends, turned into an unforgettable moment of passion, patriotism, and generosity. His words, delivered with emotion and followed by a monumental donation of US$75,000, left a mark far beyond the gathering of old boys—it spoke to the heart of Ghana.
With tears streaming, Alooma dedicated his gift to his late mother, a woman who never had the chance to step into a classroom, let alone earn a degree. Yet, her values of sacrifice, love, and resilience shaped the man who stood before the crowd that day. In that dedication, his message rang clear: education is a treasure, and those who have received it carry the responsibility to pass it on.
His speech rose above school loyalty. Though he stood among Prempeh alumni, he spoke to all Ghanaians. He urged us to wake from our slumber, to recognise that nation-building is not the duty of governments alone, but of every citizen who loves this land.
Like the timeless song Africa by Toto, which sings of Africa’s beauty and struggle, Alooma’s words captured Ghana’s own paradox—rich in potential yet challenged by deprivation. But his passion did not dwell on weakness; it celebrated strength and called for renewal. His tears became a sermon. His generosity, a testimony. His patriotism, a beacon.
The lesson is clear: we all have a role to play. We all must give back, in whatever measure we can, to brighten the future of Ghana’s youth—both born and unborn.
Alooma’s tears remind us that hope is not passive; it is active, sacrificial, and deeply patriotic. And through his example, we are called to do the same.
Joseph P. Owusu (AF73)
**The writer is the President, Akatakyie (Opoku Ware Senior High School Old Boys) USA
