Mama Pat In Custody
By Dr. Ato Kwamena Danso · 7 July 2025 · Culture
Last week was quite the rollercoaster, wasn't it? Mama Pat, our resident evangelist of questionable miracles, has been convicted and handed a jaw-dropping 15-year concurrent jail term. Opinions are split on this verdict, and frankly, I'm waiting for the judge's full reasoning. Personally, based on the evidence or rather, the accusers' inability to even prove they were within spitting distance of Mama Pat's church I'd bet my last cedi on her winning this on appeal. It seems proving "spiritual issues" in court is harder than her congregants found doubling money. Speaking of binding agreements, this whole debacle reminds me of the classic Carlill v Carbolic Smoke Ball Co case. You know, the one where a company promised £100 to anyone who still caught the flu after using their "carbolic smoke ball." The court decided that advertisement was a legally binding offer. If that's the case, Mama Pat's advertisement to "double money" could easily be interpreted as a binding contract. Shouldn't land her in jail Yet, this entire spectacle shines a rather uncomfortable spotlight on a disturbing trend: a pervasive gullibility that's ripe for exploitation. These days, some folks are so eager for a quick fix they'll believe a hibiscus drink loaded with sugar can cure all ailments including hypertention, cancer, and then we have others proclaiming themselves the Messiah, like "Kyeisu Christo." It truly begs the question of how we, as a society, navigate the treacherous waters between genuine faith and verifiable claims, especially when people's financial well-being and health are at stake. As they say, the law won't protect you from plain old stupidity. Then, just when you thought the week couldn't get any more dramatic, there's the unfolding saga of Thomas Partey, our renowned Ghanaian footballer. He's now facing rape charges from three "oyibo" women. It's a tale as old as time, or at least as old as the transfer window: African stars getting entangled with foreign women, only for things to spectacularly unravel into divorces or court battles like this. Being accused of rape by one woman is a serious offense, by two, it's grave. By the time it's three, your reputation is not just down the toilet, it's probably circling the drain in the sewer system of public opinion. And as Kontihene's "Esi" so eloquently reminds us, with all those lovely Ghanaian names our superstars could choose from, why do they often end up with these foreign entanglements? Perhaps the ghost of the Lamptey case, where it turned out he wasn't the father of those kids, looms large in their minds, making them wary of even their own. It seems the perils of paternity tests might be a stronger deterrent than legal advice sometimes. Time, as always, will tell how these fascinating narratives conclude. Sincerely, Ato-KD