Many years ago, when my father and I walked into the University of Ghana bookshop looking for captivating books to keep my young mind busy, we stopped at the African Writers Series shelf, glancing through a few titles. I said to my father, “Dad, what does dilemma mean?”. He smiled and said, “That’s such a big word for a child your age; but I would like to know what you think”. I asked, “Can you buy me the “Dilemma of a Ghost?” And that was the beginning of my love for Ama Ata Aidoo, the prolific African writer.

In her book “Dilemma of a Ghost”, Ama Ata intricately weaves the African cultural setting (in this case, Ghana) and the American setting, highlighting the troubles of a Ghanaian student returning from education abroad with his Black American wife, and her struggle coming to terms with her cultural past in her new African home. Her writing delves into themes of identity, African womanhood, postcolonialism, and the complexities of interpersonal relationships, offering readers profound insights into the human experience. Her perspectives on such matters broadened my appreciation of my personal identity as an African. This realization of my personal identity has guided my choices in life; choices I am very proud of. 

Born on March 23, 1942, in Abeadzi Kyiakor, Ghana, Ama Ata has left an indelible mark on the literary world through her captivating works and tireless advocacy for gender equality. Ama's works have been published and celebrated globally. Her literary contributions encompass various genres, including novels, plays, poetry, and essays. Notable publications include "Our Sister Killjoy" (1977), "Changes: A Love Story" (1991), and "Diplomatic Pounds and Other Stories" (2012).

Ama has received numerous prestigious awards and recognition for her literary prowess throughout her career. In 1993, she was awarded the Commonwealth Writers' Prize for Best Book in Africa for "Changes: A Love Story." Her play "Anowa" (1970) earned critical acclaim and the African Arts Award in Literature. Ama has also received the Nelson Mandela Award for Poetry (1997) and the Ghana Book Award for Poetry (2007). These accolades testify to her exceptional storytelling and the impact of her literary contributions.

Ama's influence extends beyond her literary achievements. She was pivotal in shaping the global literary landscape and advocating social change. Ama's unapologetic exploration of gender issues and commitment to amplifying African women's voices have significantly impacted readers and scholars. Her works challenge colonial and patriarchal systems, offering a nuanced portrayal of African culture and female empowerment. She was notoriously famous for saying, “For us Africans, literature must serve a purpose: to expose, embarrass, and fight corruption and authoritarianism. It is understandable why the African artist is utilitarian.’ It was in those days that many women found the need to break the ‘artificial’ glass ceilings in our society.

Ama served as Ghana's Minister of Education from 1982 to 1983. In this role, she played a significant role in shaping educational policies and advocating for improved access to education for all Ghanaians. She resigned 18 months later when she noted respect was no longer served at the table.

With a deep passion for education, Ama fervently advocated for educating children and adults alike, emphasizing a non-Western education standard. She believed that although English as a medium of instruction opened doors for Ghanaians to work and travel to countries outside Ghana, it simultaneously acted as a doorstopper in disseminating Ghana's wisdom, customs, and manners through their mother tongue.

Ama’s passion and profession saw her travel extensively throughout Africa, Europe, and North America. At the University of Cape Coast, Ama taught English before becoming a full-time professor. Additionally, she held prominent roles, including heading the research fellowship at the Institute of African Studies, University of Ghana, as a visiting professor at Brown University's African Studies department, and as a patron for the Etisalat Prize for Literature, which celebrates emerging African writers.

Ama's activism extends beyond her writing. She was one of the precursors in ushering in the feminist movement in African literature. Ama outspokenly stated in an interview, "As an Akan, Fante woman, I grew up in a society where there was not much discrimination against girls. That is why I could be a writer, and nobody could tell me writing was a man's job". Ama was a staunch feminist who believed that men should be feminists too, an opinion that she voiced as early as the 1980s, a sentiment that found an echo in the works of contemporary modern feminist writers such as Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's seminal feminist manifesto 'We Should All Be Feminist.' The gender-liberal household that did not pressure her to learn how to cook, clean, or do things considered "a woman's duty" played a role in her views of getting everyone to support feminism, irrespective of gender. Ama was actively involved in various women's organizations and movements, advocating for gender equality, education, and women's empowerment. Her commitment to empowering women and challenging patriarchal structures made her a revered figure in feminist circles worldwide.

To fulfill one of her passions, Ama founded the Mbaasem Foundation in 2000, an NGO dedicated to supporting African women writers. Its mission was to create a safe, sustainable environment for women writers to write, publish, and tell their stories to the world.

Professor Ama Ata Aidoo was more than a writer to me. Her words will forever serve as a guiding light, urging me to challenge the status quo and contribute to working toward a future where all women are treated with dignity, respect, and equality. I am glad I came across the “Dilemma of a Ghost” on that fateful day at the University of Ghana bookshop.

Ama, may your soul rest in perfect peace. ‘Damrifa Due.’ "There are no goodbyes for us. Wherever you are, you will always be in my heart." Mahatma Gandhi”