My life is great. I live in a very good area; I drive a nice sports car; I have a good job, and have a wonderful family who don’t know I smoke Marijuana.

I never intended to be an addict, but I grew up watching my dad smoke packets of cigarette in one day. I always wanted to emulate my dad so from age five, I used to steal a stick of cigarette and smoke in a nearby bush. I enjoyed it so I started stealing three sticks a day. I thought I could just quit smoking any time I wanted, but I would soon realize it is not that easy.

When I turned nine, I had friends who smoke marijuana in my area, so they gradually introduced me into it one puff a day. At age 16, I started sleeping outside of my home because I developed detestation for my parents always telling me to read my books. And I usually felt 'sick' around my siblings because when I am with them, I don’t get the chance to smoke my five rolls of marijuana a day.

When I got to senior high school I had new friends who smoked the substance, and we always hid in the bushes in the school and got high.

I remember pulling a knife on my dad once. He falsely accused me of being in a relationship. I wasn't, but he would not believe me. I got so angry I threw a knife at him. Luckily I missed so he was not hurt. But we fought till the police came in. That was when I realized I was getting out or control.

When the cops came, I tried jumping our wall to the next house but they grabbed me and handcuffed me. My mum suggested that I should be sent to the bostal home but my dad asked for my release so I was sent back home. But that didn't stop me from continuing with my drug use because my parents had no clue.

One fine day, while my parents were on vacation in Italy, I got arrested for drug possession and use. I was with my crew when the police pounced on us; everyone managed to get away and I was arrested alone. But I managed to bribe the police and got out of the cells without a trial.

My university life was worst because I missed lectures so many times. My friends and I often left campus and went balling and partying in town with guys and girls. All I had to do was to bribe my lecturers for high marks.

After my graduation I had to take care of my father's company because he was old and not that healthy. I had to get sober and become responsible and look after two other little step-siblings from my dad's marriage to a young lady.

The pressure became quite heavy for me, but my five rolls of marijuana a day got me through. I always smoked before or during working hours just to get the vim to work harder.

I usually closed exactly at 3:00pm. Fortunately, for me my house is not far from my office, so by 3.30pm I will be at home and smoke till midnight, sleep for just two hours and watch TV till morning.

I had to migrate from Accra to Kumasi to control affairs of the Kumasi branch of my dad's company. Just a day after moving to the city, I met new friends who also use marijuana. So my smoking habit became intense.

After three years of daily smoking in Oseikrom, I realized I had become an addict. I moved to a new community in Accra, there I met a guy I desire to start a relationship with.

Ofori had just completed medical school. He seemed to like me so much but hated my smoking habit. He always complained about the odor of marijuana on me. I tried hard to convince him to understand my situation but unfortunately his parents sent him to the United State of America to further his education.

Ofori's leaving for the states made things worse for me. I turned to drinking and other drugs because I missed him badly. At the time he left, he had become a very important part of my life so I did not take it well at all.

But I quickly realized alcohol was not my thing because I made a mess of myself anytime I drunk, so I quit drinking and stuck to my comfort zone, marijuana.

I still could not stop thinking about Ofori because I had wanted to spend the rest of my life with him but he was gone. But my faithful friend, marijuana was still around.

I paid no attention to the legal and health implications of marijuana use. All I cared about was the comfort it brought me, especially in the absence of the only guy I had come to love.

In fact, I convinced myself that marijuana was better than tobacco because the latter destroys the lungs but wee does not. Ofori disagreed with me but I never listened to him. My policy was "all die be die" so even if I die, so be it. Moreover, I also ate vegetables and exercised quite often so I believed I was healthy and fit.

The Pledge

As I approached my 32nd birthday, I realized I had been smoking wee half my life so I made a pledge to myself to live the next 16 years of my life devoid of marijuana. This time I was very serious about quitting because my ‘Teterepe’ (the handsome Ofori) was back from the United States and still single.

I took a trip to Ofori's house and I was surprised the way he rushed and hugged me when he saw me, as if we have been in love for years, but the truth is, he hadn't even bothered to propose to me even after all the signs I showed him about my readiness to spend the rest of my life with him.

We exchanged pleasantries for a while then he threw his probing questions at me: "so have u stopped smoking"?

"Eerrrrrnm I… I..." I said, while thinking of a lie to tell him.

He read my thoughts and said "eeeeiiii Naa so u haven’t stopped -
you have been enslaved by marijuana."

At this point I knew I was about to lose Ofori again so I sat quietly without uttering a word. I didn’t want to lie to add insult to injury. After expressing his disappointment in me my ‘teterepe’ put his hand around my neck and to my surprise he said “Naa you are a good and smart lady - using marijuana doesn’t speak well of you so I will help you get out of this”.

That was all I had wanted; somebody who will help me stop because the insane part of this behavior is that I wasn't even getting high anymore. But I had to smoke all the time to quench the desire to get high. I even started using a water pipe to smoke, just to stop my throat from hurting.

Going for work-related conferences enabled me to make new friends. Luckly for me, I was in a meeting when it was announced that there is a new program for marijuana addicts. Ofori had also introduced me to a doctor at a famous rehabilitation centre in Accra, who had specialized in psychotherapy and helping drug addicts regain their freedom.

Dr. Charles Ampomah Frimpong commenced his 6 months treatment on me. It was tough for me because I was absolutely powerless over marijuana. I also didn't think my life was unmanageable because I was blessed with a job, an apartment and now Ofori as my boyfriend.
So, though it wasn’t easy for me, I was determined to quit smoking at all cost because I couldn’t imagine marrying Ofori with this lifestyle.
I adopted a new  slogan - “one step at a time” to motivate me conclude the treatment gradually.

When I was a child, I was told that God sees everything, he is everywhere and knows everything but my getting hopelessly addicted to drugs made me believe that God is an old man in heaven who can’t be everywhere at the same time. I had the belief that God checks up on me for a couple of seconds every month or two; there were just too many people for him to be concerned about a wretched drug addict like me.

All too soon, we were in the 5th month of the healing process and I had recuperated with such alacrity that never seized to amaze Dr. Frimpong.

One day on one of our normal weekend outings, Ofori knelt down as any gentleman will do to his angel, brought out a diamond ring he had ordered from Dubai and asked, "will you marry me?"

I was beside myself - I did not see it coming - out of surprise my voice started breaking, but I managed to get a response out, "yes...I will marry you."

Finally, it was a thrilling experience to start a relationship with Ofori.
He had taught me several things in life. I remember how he stood by me at a time I didn’t know what to do about my addiction. All I can say is I have been touched by an angel.

I have learnt that the only way to get through a problem is to deal with it head on, and not avoid it! When any problem shows its ugly head in my life again, I know there is always a better way of handling it now.

This is the true life story of Kingsford Kivie Okpodu, a drug addict who migrated from Nigeria to Ghana and met a medical student called Oforiwaa Abena Nyantekyi, who changed his life for good.

The first day I met Oforiwaa I knew she was a good woman and she has proven that there are good women in Ghana. I can honestly look at my life today and say that without Oforiwaa my life would have gone down the drain. There is no doubt in my mind that it is because of Oforiwaa that I have a second chance to life.