Katt Williams once said it is impossible for anyone to be afraid of their dog. And I agree with him. 

Years ago, our first puppy went missing while on the farm somewhere in Deme, a suburb in the Volta Region. We searched for her everywhere but to no avail. My parents decided we had to give up the search and leave the farm because, one, it was getting dark, and secondly, there was a curfew at the time. A king had died, and no one was supposed to be out at night. Chances are you'll disappear! So, we left.

Halfway into the journey home, I decided to go back and look for the puppy we named Love. My parents tried talking me out of it, but I was determined. I ran back towards the farm. 

I was only 10 years old at the time. I heard my brother crying and my mum screaming behind me, "You better come back with that dog! Else don't step foot in my house!" As for my dad, his posture was the typical "Go f**k around and find out for yourself!" I kept going, with tears flowing down my cheeks as I traced my way back to the farm.

When I got closer, I met a hunter also returning from a hunt. He questioned, "What on earth are you doing here at this time? Where are you from? And what are you doing here?" I told him I lost my dog when we came to the farm, pointing towards the vast farmland behind him. He asked where my parents were, and I explained why I had to be there alone after the whole family gave up on the search for Love. The hunter, shaking his head, asked me to lead him to our farm so he could help with the search. I did. He asked me to scream the dog's name so he could hear us. I cried out his name, with a shaky voice, "Love, come out!" I was at it for like 10 minutes, and the hunter told me the same thing my parents told me: "We have to go because it's dangerous out here, and we could get killed if we defy the curfew rules." I gave up! Then I screamed one last time, "Love!!!" The dog barked faintly back! Yes, the hunter heard it too. Love was caught in a grass cutter trap! We rushed towards his direction; the hunter helped him out, and with grateful hearts, we parted ways after the hunter led us out safely onto the main road. I got home safe. Love, however, died a year after he got hit by a car. He was a good, loyal one. He was protective and always there, and appreciated all of us the best way he knew how, just like all pets.

So, you can never be afraid of your dog or hate that pet. They are your friends, family, and companions. But in today's society, people have become scared of their own family members, even friends! People have become scared of their "dogs" more than anything. The other time I was scrolling through Facebook, someone wrote, "There is no genuine person on these streets. They are all in survival mode. Eat or be eaten. On these streets, their loyalty is their needs!" One taxi driver I picked up the other time was literally warning me to stay away from people. He spoke, "Madam, me sro nipa sesei ooo," translated to "He's scared of human beings now." He narrated an experience he had with a friend who he gave an opportunity to work with him under one boss, but the said friend went behind his back and lied to their boss about an alleged plan of him moving and setting up his own business. He got sacked, and now his friend is acting as the supervisor, a position he once held. "Sister, don't do good to anyone, not even your family members. They will kill you." Now people don't care how they make it, even if they have to wipe off someone's existence to be comfortable; they'll do it, and no one cares!

I said to him, "I hear you, I understand where you're coming from because I have also tasted the venom of betrayal. I have learned my lessons, but why are people angry?" I asked. "I feel too many people are angry for many reasons and are taking it out on innocent people who are just going about their business?" With my attention fixated on the vehicle in the next lane, I pointed out, "Look at that guy," pointing to the guy in the next lane exchanging words with another driver because he didn't allow him to clean his dashboard. I literally watched him insult the driver for no apparent reason! My driver, realizing I had divided attention, decided to reiterate his earlier point about staying as wicked as he can and understanding that humans are a terrible species. He said,

 He said, "Madam, mese, sro nipa." He narrated another story of a passenger he picked up at the airport, where this guy, out of frustration, told him the story of how his own blood sister connived with her boyfriend in Germany to have him deported. "Madam, we're in scary times, and the stories we hear on the regular are a testament to that notion."

What I told him was that I am tired of the stories; I need solutions, and that should be the focus if we really want a change. I don't want to be living in fear. Not sure anyone wants that, because at the end of the day, we need ourselves, regardless of our goals.

Today, it is true that a lot more genuine people are scared of being kind and giving second chances, all because of the bad experiences they have gone through doing good. In a world where people are increasingly wary of each other, it's essential to ask: how do we break this cycle of fear and mistrust? How can we foster genuine connections and build a community that values empathy and kindness? I'd love to hear your thoughts on this.

The author, Rebecca Tweneboah Darko (Becky), is an entertainment journalist with The Multimedia Group. 

The views expressed in the article are her own and do not reflect the sentiment of the institution. Facebook: Becky Gh. Instagram: @iambecky23. Twitter: @iambecky23. E-mail Rebecca.darko@myjoyonline.com. LinkedIn: Rebeca Tweneboah Darko