Gifty New Man (“Vim Lady”): The New “Yaa Asantewaa” in Dodowa-Wedokum

It wasn’t because she organized the free medical screening program for the community as part of her campaign strategy that made her a house name now. Although her decision was also a contributing factor and actually, it has exposed her to the real world of politics.

“Vim Lady” as she is affectionately called by her lovers. I am still wondering; how I came across this young, vibrant and courageous woman in Dodowa, hiding somewhere call “Wedokuom. I learnt she is a trader and for once, the assembly election to be held in Wedokuom electoral area has never witnessed a woman contesting before, so I am still pondering how come a vibrant woman would take this bold decision to contest a sitting presiding member?

It will only take people decisions and consultations and lots of rally to come out boldly to do this. So when I learnt the election was postponed by the electoral commission, I felt for her because of her hope of winning the election and the amount of money she spent on the campaign. I listen to her on radio and even on TV when she was talking about her ambition for the people.

I decided to listen to the contestants during their open forum organized by the electoral commission at the Dodowa, Matetse ICCESS and one thing I witnessed was a young vibrant woman who did what I called “A motherly presentation” although the incumbent was more practical partly because he is the incumbent and knows what goes on in the assembly but this was a woman I understand went to Ghanata Secondary School and really knows the needs of the indigene.

After the open forum, I made a contact with her and I congratulate her because I believed in anything that intends to transform the lives of the dangme people, but although , during the question time when asked about how will she breach the gap between the youth and adult in the Shai-Osoduku district partly because I realized that there is what I called ‘a conflict of interest between the leaders and the youth in the district ; before I wrote my book ‘catalyst for change in the dangme land and I asked is the dangme land in a state of stagnation or retrogression?

In my conversation with the leaders on what pragmatic measures are in place to solve the employment rates in the district; the leaders answers has always be same , the youth are not serious in the district and if you also ask the youth they will also say that ‘the leaders are not serious in the district. So I always asked” who is right and who is wrong”

This problem is not solve in Dodowa and the youth are always blaming the leaders of their woes but as I always say that you don’t have to rely on the leaders to become successful, because you can make it in Dodowa without the leaders and relying on your parents. Most of the time the youth always, also blame their parents of not living to their expectation and when I was a novice I used to do that until the ball change.

So when I leant that the electoral commission postponed the election, I decided to approach this woman and proposed that she should organized a free medical screening program in her community, I did this just to know how she would respond to this; judging from the way her dreams and monies spent on campaigns came to a stand still, I thought she will reject the offer and there I will probably make my decision that for the promises she made during the open forum was just to win votes but not interested in the people, so when she accepted the offer even though she already spent lots of money on her campaign ; I said to my self that this woman is the real deal who is really ready to serve the people and not only making promises to win votes.

I realized she is not the kind of people who are into politics to enrich themselves at the expense of the people. She put the people first and in fact, I submitted the same proposal to other aspirants who claim to have the people at heart; that is why they want to serve the people but it rather proved that they are not. This woman has become ahousehold name and she is ready to take a huge risk to achieve her aim and I therefore linked her to the” Yaa Asantewaa of Dodowa, Wedokum”.

She exhibited a true love for her people, that whether she wins or not ; she wants the best for her people, in fact, one lesson I leant from this noble woman has to be “ You don’t need to win election or become an assemblyman or woman before you can develop your community or transform the lives of the people and I now see the reasons why she has finally become the people choice in the community and some even went on asking “whether she will also do the same mistakes some of her predecessors did after they voted for them to become assemblymen”

I have now seen the reason why the people are still waiting for the day of the election to cast their votes for her because they believed she is the best candidates.

As if that was not enough ; during the medical screening exercise she exhibited her cooking skills and trill the media and medical team with her food , she has become the heart beat of the people and the other aspirants want to follow her footstep which is the right direction because if your people are not in good health; how do they go and vote for you and I think as the elections campaigns draws close one key on the agendas has to be the health of the people especially tackling prostate and breast cancers .

I saw this lady “Vim lady” helping with the canopies on that fateful day and she was helping in everything that took place .

Gifty Newman literally enriched her people’s lives and she was the original life enhancer, whether in public or privately, whoever she was with. And, in many ways, she had become an institution in her own right; a presence in the Wedokum and in other realms and territories beyond these communities.

She is really what I called indomitable, somehow timeless, able to span the generations; wise, loving, and a completely irresistible mischievousness of spirit.

A massively strong character, combined with a unique natural grace, and an infectious optimism about life itself. Above all, she understood the Dodowa Peoples character and her heart belonged to this ancient land and its equally indomitable and funny inhabitants, whom she want to served with confidence, style and reliable dignity hopefully she gets the nod.

She will definitely be the hero and everybody would praise her; so no wonder she decided to take the leadership role in her community to serve the people more.

As an indigene myself; I know that Turning and turning in the widening gyre, things have fallen apart in the Dodowa land. The falcon cannot hear the falconer; because mere anarchy is loosed upon the land and it was evident as I saw almost about 70-80% of the people who came to the open forum was solidly behind the woman and I asked; whether because she is a woman?

I remember my late aunty one said as she used to operate a café, she realized that computers and the Internet now speed information around the world so quickly that the experience of change is like being caught up in a tornado. For her advice, to effectively manage change you must anticipate what is coming next, so you can prepare for it. If caught by surprise, you may be in danger of being overwhelmed. And it then drew my attention to the story of a boil a frog in a pot of boiling water

The parable of the boiled frog helps us to understand the key challenge in coping with rapid change.

Suppose you want to boil a frog. How do you do it? You could place the frog into a pot of hot water, but as soon as it feels the heat, it will jump out. So, what can you do? Put a pot of cool water on the stove and then add the frog. Not sensing danger the frog will stay. Next, turn the burner on low to slowly heat the water. As the water warms, the frog relaxes. The warmth feels good. As the water gets hotter it acts like a steam bath draining away energy and deepening the frog's relaxation. The frog becomes sleepy and has less and less energy while the water is getting hotter and hotter. By the time the frog realizes its danger, the water is beginning to boil, and it is too late to take action. There is neither time nor energy left to do anything. The frog perishes in the boiling water.

What is the moral of the story? Be vigilant. Don't let unexpected change creep up on you. Don't become a "boiled frog." Pay close attention to what is going on around you, so that you can notice when the "water" is getting hot.

Are we at risk of becoming boiled frogs in Dodowa? Are we aware of what is happening to us, within us in Dodowa? Are we able to pause, take care of ourselves and jump out of the pot before we are cooked in the Dodowa? These were Gifty Newman final advised to her people before they vote wisely probably this year. The other aspirant have now started and are currently panicking because she has mount a strong challenge and now they have become a boiled frog.

Dr. Raphael Nyarkotey Obu is a registered alternative medical doctor and a PhD student (A.M) –Indian Board of alternative medicines Academy, Kolkata, India.