Roberta Turkson Adds To Ghana's Literary Works

Madam Roberta Turkson, a Ghanaian based in the United States, has enriched the stock of literary works on Ghana's bookshelves with the launch of her books: 'The Children of Abuta Village' and 'Talking Robbish'.

Through her mind's eye, Madam Turkson welcomes readers to her beautiful creature, Abuta Village, to relive a fulfilled childhood in a community where children are communally loved, cared for and disciplined; as they turn the pages of the five short fascinating stories in her collection.

'We shouldn't lose these distinguished values that make us a beautiful people,' the author explained, at the launch of the books, in Accra. 'I'm motivated by my love for children who are so pure, so much fun and loving, and unpretentious…. Indeed, every child deserves the right to enjoy life in a secure environment filled with love, laughter and fun.'

When she was growing up, Madam Turkson said, many members of her extended family and family friends treated her to tender, loving care; while making sure that she walked the narrow path of responsibility, as the first of seven siblings.

As if to bring her point home, the launching ceremony was characterised by so much warmth and laughter from her family members and friends, who played varied roles to celebrate her.

In 'Talking Robbish' the 57-year old, through a collection of poems, candidly expresses emotions that many troubled people would otherwise would suppress for fear, favour, hypocrisy or threat of condemnation.

'I have been through a lot of challenges throughout my changing scenes of life, and these have inspired me to vent my emotions this way,' she said. 'In my poems, I tend to provoke the questioning of airs we assume in order to cover up our fears and complexes.'

So with 'Don't Disturb My Circles', 'Playing Truant' 'I lie', 'The Brave Don't Cry During the Fight', and other emotionally-powered poems, Madam Turkson wittingly asserts herself as one of the best gifts to the Ghanaian literary world.

The Cape Coaster, who had her secondary education at the Saint Louis Secondary School, in Kumasi, writes under the pen name, 'Robbie Ajjuah Fantini'.

Mrs. Irene Duncan-Adanusah, an educationist and former General-Secretary of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), tasked African writers to continually author books that would inculcate those cherished values in children.

'Ghanaians are losing the communal spirit, which sums up the proverb, 'it takes a mother to bring forth a child but it takes a whole village to raise him''. We need to revive this for the common good.'

Madam Turkson's parents, Mr Samuel Stephen Turkson and Mrs Mabel Turkson, jointly bought the first pair of books, which were auctioned for GHC750.00

In the end, virtually everyone one who was present, including some journalists, bought copies to have the opportunity to see the end of those stories that were read in parts at the event, to tease out their curiosities.

GNA