I first met A/Dorothy and Uncle Anum at a 31st December party in Cape Coast. They were then my parents’ friends. They had an adorable baby in a carrycot.
Many years later, they became our friends (Fred and I) From Korle Bu where we lived, It was very easy to get onto Link Road, turn 2nd left and we were in their house. Quite often, we met other people from all walks of life, there. One time, there was a 4-5yr old boy, sipping coca-cola and the two were carrying on a serious tete-a-tete discussion like equals. Uncle Anum’s memory was fantastic. He had a vast experience of Ghana and also information on the world activities so conversations flowed.
Some Stories of Vengeance
When setting up the clinic, he used to visit his patients in the evenings. What he did not know was, some children had taken serious offence against his injections and vaccinations. Uncle Anum spread his arms to hug one such boy. The boy responded by giving him a bite through his trousers! On another occasion, a little girl on seeing him enter ‘her domain’ moved as far as she could, showing him her thumb, said ”Dr Barnor, okiya hie fiye fiye” This was a girl from a home where she was not supposed to hear such insults, let alone say that to a very respected person. You can imagine the parents’ embarrassment! He loved them all.
Many years later, when professionals were striking against Acheampong’s Military government, President Acheampong invited the members of the Medical and Dental Council to a meeting, expecting the members to order the doctors to go back to work. After Acheampong had spoken there was a little silence, the first to speak was Uncle Anum. Cool, relaxed and unhurriedly, told Acheampong to his face that what the people were saying was that he Acheampong should step down! What followed? Free for all.
We were having lunch with Uncle Anum and some friends. I started telling them about the first time I met them. Suddenly Uncle Anum blurted-- he was working when a school girl ( that was me) finished school, studied medicine, married with fairly grown children and he was still working? No! he was going to retire and retire he did.
Having done so much for his country and knowing his maker, he died a very happy person. I was not surprised when Auntie Dorothy said she realized Uncle Anum was on his last journey to eternity and she said to him “Keep that smile”.
from Maude Engmann