Many times, I wake up at 5am, and prepare for a challenging, yet rewarding day at work as a Safety Management Systems Auditor. Just before I leave the house, I quickly calculate the time difference, to ensure I don’t wake anyone up before calling Ghana, my other home. All of us migrants in Australia know exactly what I am referring to about these calculations. Since 20 Dec 2014, these calls have become more frequent, as I now live a double life.
So let’s start from the beginning! I arrived in Australia at the age of four, with my pigtails and holding the hands of my parents, Dr JGO Harding and Mrs Rosamond Quashie-Harding. My Dad chose Australia when he was deciding on which country to do his Sabbatical leave. My father, a lecturer in the Medical Faculty and my mother a teacher, became my role models in a country that was not very multicultural when we first arrived in the early 80’s.
I grew up in Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney, and did not return back to Ghana until the age of 18 years. Meanwhile, my parents did a brilliant job of ensuring that I continued to speak the language, understand the family history and culture, and cook the food.
Unbeknownst to us all, this was the preparation that I needed in order to successfully take on the most privileged and honorable role of my life.
So let’s move forward to December 2014, where I am now sitting in a palanquin and being lifted by eight strong men. There are thousands of people surrounding me as I am elevated about two meters in the air to be paraded around all the towns and villages. Each time I waived to the well-wishers and acknowledged them, I would also see the Australian High Commissioner, HE Joanna Adamson and her husband, Dr Geoff Randall (Former NZ High Commissioner to South Africa).
Yes, I transitioned from a Safety Auditor to a Queen Mother (Twafohemaa) of Anomabo Traditional Area, Ghana. We occupy the central region of Ghana, with a rich history and a huge potential for agri-investment and introduction of new industries.
My name is now Nana Barkey III, Twafohemma of Anomabo Traditional Area and custodian of 14 towns/villages. It is my goal to introduce Anomabo Traditional Area to the world, and the world to Anomabo Traditional Area.
I always knew that I was born into a Royal family, and that there was a possibility that this would happen. I just never thought that it would happen so early in my life, that I would now carry the historical gravitas of the Royal title and the socio-economic responsibilities that come with that title.
As a dual citizen, as a Queen Mother and as a skilled migrant, I see this as a great opportunity to create links, encourage investment and build cultural bridges. To whom much is given, much is expected!