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It is with a heavy heart that I write to you today. The last time we met, you complained that your pension pay was woefully inadequate to carry you through the month and so you had resorted to tilling the land to make ends meet. You told me that because of financial difficulties, your last born, Christiana, had dropped out of school and was learning a trade. You also told me that since you lost your dear wife about five years ago, life had become very difficult for you since you had to always be in the kitchen to cook for yourself. I was moved to tears when you told me that you wished you had not been born into this wicked world. In fact, you regretted ever holding the chalk as a pupil teacher for nearly 40 years. I looked straight into your eyes which bore into me, but I could not penetrate them. You looked sad, confused, desperate and above all, revengeful, as if somebody had stepped on your toe. Very sad in deed. Sir, after our meeting that day, I had tears on my pillows and severe pain in my heart when I went to bed. I remember when I pulled GH�20 from my pocket and gave it to you, you nearly went down on your knees to thank me for that kind gesture. You did not know that I felt guilty when I gave you that token amount. I could have done more than that but I was on my way to the office so I did not have enough cash in my pocket. How I wished I could meet you again, particularly during pay day. I want to pay my dues to you whiles you are still alive and kicking. I don�t want to wait until you die of hunger before I wear my funeral cloth to lament at your funeral. Dear teacher Mensa-Abrompa, I remember very well those days in the early sixties when you were teaching us as a pupil teacher. I remember seeing you in your black shorts, black pair of shoes, white socks and a well-ironed white shirt to match. How handsome you looked during those good old days. You were simply our role model because you portrayed to us through your good manners and dress comportment that teaching was a noble profession. In fact, I can�t remember ever hearing you complain about your salary. Indeed, we did not even know that you were paid. Anytime we returned from our farms on Saturdays, we used to fetch firewood, �kontomire� �donmo� and sometimes �prekese� for your beautiful wife. It was you who told us that if in future we grew up to take our rightful places in society, we will continue to call you sir. Sir, do you know that we nicknamed you �Aponkye Dogo� because you were tall and lanky? Yes, we used to call you so but we were so careful not to let you know that we were referring to you. Anytime you used your cane ruthlessly on us, we insulted you in your absence. It may interest you to know that I still carry scars of the canning I received from you when I came to school very late. I do not hesitate to show the scars to my children anytime they fool around. I tell them that if they had come under your tutelage, they would have tasted hell. I must admit that when I grew up, I realized how helpful you were. Because you did not spare the rod, we grew up to become disciplined and responsible citizens. Thank you sir!! Sir, do you know that Philip Mensah, the guy who used to be the dullest boy in our class, is now a Chief Inspector in the Ghana Police Service? Some years back, he returned from peace keeping mission in Serbia with a luxurious saloon car. Luckily for him, the Single Spine Salary Structure for the police service has been implemented while he is still in active service. He lives very well and his children are now in very good private schools where he pays huge school fees. Unlike you, who was not able to build even a two-bedroom house for your family, he is now constructing a mansion in his hometown. Teacher Mensah-Abrompa, It is not my intention to rake your wounds because I know you will become angry when you hear this information about a student you taught so well to become more responsible than you. Sir, do you remember Felicia Serwaa? She was the Girls� Prefect who got pregnant when we were going to write the Hall. She later went to the training college after delivering the child and even proceeded to the university. She is now a teacher in one of the Junior High Schools. Her students call her Madam Serwaa. She lives in a rented single room where she lives with her husband and three children. Life is very hard for Madam Serwaa as she tries to eke a living with her take home pay, which cannot take her to the �trotro� station anyway. Sir, have you heard of something called Single Spine Salary? It is a new salary structure which was introduced by the Kufuor administration. Unfortunately, Kufuor could not implement it before leaving office. Our new president, Professor Atta Mills, promised to implement it but sadly, it is a dream yet to be fulfilled. In fact, it is a dream gone sour. The teachers are kicking like mad donkeys because they are hungry and angry. After all, did they not say a hungry man is an angry man? The teacher looks at the policeman he taught only a few years ago, receiving huge salaries under the Single Spine Salary Structure, while he or she wallows in poverty. Sir, you see, the teachers of today, unlike your time, are of the view that the teacher�s reward is no more in heaven but down here on earth. So you see, my dear cherished teacher of yesteryears, you did put your nose to the grindstone for some of us to become what we are today, but sadly society has forgotten you. As a pensioner, you are not going to enjoy any single spine because even those in the service are getting nothing. But sir, you must thank God for small mercies because some of us, your former pupils, are still alive to tell your story for you. We always pray to God to give you longer life so that we will continue to use you as a typical example of a teacher who gave out his best to produce somebody like this Earth Angel Gabriel, the senior messenger of the Lord God of mercy. May you live to be two hundred years!!! In conclusion, sir, permit me to use this medium to thank you very much for the knowledge you imparted to me. Thank you also for the canning I received from you in your attempt to �tame� me as a village urchin who was seeking education. I know those who will have the opportunity to read this piece will thank a teacher for teaching them how to read and write. Yours sincerely,