She inspired readers, young writers
Margaret Safo, my friend and former colleague at the Graphic Communications Group has passed on.
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Many will either remember Margaret Safo as the Editor of The Mirror, Ghana’s major weekend newspaper; others, especially SHS students and lovers of short stories, will remember her for the legacy she has left behind as a storyteller.
But for me, Margaret Safo was a friend. This friendship developed when she came to work with The Mirror after I had been with the Daily Graphic for some time in the 1980s.
I found out soon after she came that she was married to Kojo Safo, my mate at the University of Ghana, Legon. This realisation moved the relationship between us to another level.
If I was not asking questions about whether or not she was treating my brother Kojo well, I would be accusing her of having monopolised Kojo!
Akwele Ajavon, my dearest friend, was also at the Daily Graphic then. She and Maggie were also very close. Almost every morning, the three of us would join Kwasi Gyan-Apenteng, the then Editor of The Mirror, to eat kenkey, shito and fried fish.
Margaret Safo was extremely bright and focused. She always told me she needed time to concentrate on her writing beyond her journalistic practice. After I left the Daily Graphic in 1989, Maggie and I maintained our relationship even though we did not see each other often.
Any time I visited the offices of the Daily Graphic, we would chat about our work, our children and also laugh about things we said and did in the past. We would also lament the many challenges facing our dear country, Ghana.
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She would also occasionally visit me in my office, find out new initiatives of the organisation and send staff of The Mirror to write about them.
She found the work of ABANTU relevant and specifically supported us in 2004 during the production of the Women’s Manifesto for Ghana, a non-partisan document which outlines issues of concern to women and makes demands for them to be addressed.
The last time I saw Maggie was at the Fidelity Bank on the West Legon-Haatso Junction road early this year. I had not seen her for some time and I tried to engage her in conversation.
She talked about how her early retirement was proving useful, enabling her to concentrate on her writing.
Maggie, why did I not hug you then?
As human beings, we always feel that there is more time ahead of us. How could I have known that it was the last time I was going to see Maggie?
I am shocked to learn about your sudden passing away, Maggie. But I am happy because very early on, you understood the purpose of life: to live simply, serve our maker, and leave a legacy for generations to come.
The indelible ink of your writings in The Mirror and your role as a worker and editor of the paper will always be there for generations to come.
Your story books, available both locally and internationally, will continue to inspire readers, especially young women and men who wish to become writers!!
So then Maggie, go on and Rest in Perfect Peace!
Amen.