Many African-Americans claim to have their roots in the West of Africa. This has probably come about since the majority of slaves ... were shipped to America from the port of Elmina in the Country that is now known as Ghana (The Gold Coast).

Those in show business often travel to the capital of Ghana, Accra, where they perform before audiences in a 'posh' hotel.

Surprisingly some time before the event, we got to hear, that Stevie Wonder was coming to Ghana. Now Stevie is one of the Afro-Americans who is absolutely convinced that his forbears hailed from Ghana and has even bought property in Accra and apparently plans to settle there once his career is over. He just happens to be one of my favourite entertainers and of my two friends of that time, Tess, an Anglo-Indian and Lynette, an Italian-Indian.

During one of our weekly games of Mahjongg, we bemoaned the fact that there wasn't a hope of us seeing Stevie unless we made the trip to Accra but then without tickets it would really be a trip that could end in disappointment. So, nothing ventured, nothing gained, we thought of a plan.

I was chosen to write a letter of request, Tess would supply the transport and Lynette would be responsible for making up packs of food and cold drinks for the journey should it happen.I settled down to write the letter. This was no ordinary letter, it was to the President of Ghana, Jerry John Rawlings, known as J.J.

This was and is still, a man of great charisma. The son of a Ghanaian mother and Scottish father, so, a foot in both camps; I felt he would be quite approachable.In my letter, I explained how deprived we were of entertainment here at Obuasi while world famous artists visited Accra and often had left the country before we got to know that they had been. We had heard, however, that Stevie Wonder would be making an appearance some time in the future. I asked, his Excellency if he could see it within his power to arrange for my two friends and myself to visit him at his home, known as 'The Castle' in Accra. Additionally (well, he could only say 'no') I appealed to his generosity and asked if it would be possible for tickets to be made available (of course we would pay), for my friends and I to see Stevie in concert in Accra.

The letter was posted and we sat back and waited and waited and waited, until we gave up and realised that we had no hope of receiving a reply to the letter let alone tickets for a concert. Oh well, it was worth the chance.

We were in the bar of the Obuasi social club that Saturday afternoon. Wales were playing Scotland and the rugby match was being shown via satellite on the television screen. I heard a voice call my name. I looked towards the bar and a friend sitting on a stool there said:

'Have you seen who has just come in the club, Maureen? Have a look, it's Stevie Wonder!'

Of course I didn't believe him.

Then I looked up, and walking passed me holding the arm of a fellow black man, no doubt his minder, was Stevie Wonder. I could not believe it. I looked around for John, he was nowhere to be seen. Then he appeared, walked over to me and said:

'You will never guess who was just standing next to me in the toilet - Stevie Wonder!'

Stevie and his entourage went into the hall that was attached to the bar. It is, perhaps not surprising, that the local Ghanaians had absolutely no idea who this man was. The European population of course did and applauded loudly as he walked through the hall. A Ghanaian band called 'The Gold Nuggets' were on the stage and started to play 'Happy Birthday to you' the Stevie Wonder version.

The Manager of the mine, a fellow Weshman who had gone to the club simply to watch the match made an impromptu speech of welcome. Stevie's minder led to the stage. There was a throb of excitement and anticipation. Naturally, we devoted fans expected Stevie to burst into song. He beat the drums, played a few bars on the keyboard, but sing he did not. We were all so disappointed but nothing could persuade him to sing.

Later that evening, John and I went to evening Mass at the local Catholic Church, as we did every Saturday. After Mass, we gathered outside for a chat to one and the other. Gus, a Ghanaian accountant working on the mine said to me:

'Madam, I heard you had written to J.J. and to-day, you had an 'audience' with Stevie Wonder. It must have been J.J. sent him!'

Whether shaking his hand and welcoming Stevie to Ghana constituted an 'audience' I don't know. Suffice it to say that I suspect J.J. was approachable and had made it all possible.

Maureen Lewis