KRODUA PUBLISHING AGENCYTHE FATHER FORGOTTEN, THE FATHER REMEMBERED
Author
Gertrude Konadu Owusu
Gertrude Owusu is a Ghanaian creative writer and voiceover artist whose work blends emotion, imagination and meaning. She is the creator of Nighttales With The RoyalMic, a storytelling platform on YouTube where she brings original narratives to life through her voice, exploring themes of growth, resilience, dreams and human connection. Her writing style, poetry or prose, thrives on vivid imagery, dramatic depth and thought-provoking messages that linger with audiences. long after the final line. Her creative journey is driven by a desire to inspire, heal and spark reflection and positive change through both spoken and written art. She has had some of her poetic works featured in the Kente Journal, the official journal for the Department of English, University of Cape Coast. Winning this poetry competition marks another meaningful milestone in her evolving artistic path as she continues to use her voice and pen to illuminate stories that matter, stories that matter to all.
Long before I could write well, Nana told me of Nana Nyame, the father and watcher of all. I was excited, I saw these as tales she told to excite me, whenever I visited her at Nkoranza during school vacations. When I began to write a little bit, Papa sat me down, Telling me a story, His... A little boy, Fatherless and abandoned by his mother at 2, Forced to weed from his teens to put himself through school, Somehow becoming a graduate too. The valiant man who now stood, My father, the pride of all that is my youth. The man who shoved his pride down down, Bowed his head where it could be held high, Shut his mouth in places he had much to say, Drowned in deep thought so we could play, This is my father... the embodiment of Fatherhood. The man who wept secretly when we worried, Prayed tirelessly when our dreams tarried, Gave us wholeheartedly when we married, This is my father... the embodiment of Fatherhood. The man who did not mind praise, When he did little big things, The man who never requested for more, But went all out so we would soar, This is my father...the embodiment of Fatherhood. To me, Fatherhood is my dad. An embodiment of great sacrifice, An edifice of courage and endurance. Fatherhood is to all men who take responsibility and fight quiet struggles, Always belittling themselves so the family is without worry. The true picture of Fatherhood is of the valiant men, Those we forgot but still love us in silence, So much so that our neglect is still considered 'quiet love'. To me, Fatherhood is the edifice that keeps the bond, Of families, generations, Those gone, now and to come. The Fatherhood Forgotten was our negligence BUT The Fatherhood remembered is our deep pride. I REMEMBER MY DAD, The Edifice of Fatherhood means to me.
Published June 29, 2026