How an act of kindness rekindled my hope in Humanity 

A few weeks ago, I was returning from a burial service in Saltpond, a town in the Central Region of Ghana, to my home in Accra via public transportation. My sister was with me.

I was exhausted when I sat in the front seat next to the driver on the way back. I fell asleep a few times. I could not wait to go home.

Along the way, we transited to another bus. Midway into the journey, I realised that my phone was missing.

I searched around me and concluded it was missing.

“Let us ring your phone now to see if someone will pick up,” a passenger suggested.

I told them calling the phone will not yield any positive result because I switched it off. We alighted from the bus in an attempt to find it.

We were hoping to spot the car to recover my lost phone. It is rush hour, and this feat can be likened to finding a needle in a haystack, but what option do I have?

I tried picking up a motorcycle (okada) to get to the previous bus stop. When I told the rider about my plight, he advised me to forget the fruitless enterprise of finding my lost phone on public transport. To him, someone has already stolen it.

In hindsight, my sister rang the phone, and lo, someone picked up.

“You picked my bus at Saltpond. “When you alighted, I saw your phone on the car seat and thought it was a good idea to turn it on, hoping you will call” the driver explained.

I was at peace but surprised. The driver further directed me to a spot where he had parked. We finally met, and I got my phone. I attempted to give the driver some money to show appreciation, but he declined.

“Times are hard. If I keep it, I might not be able to use it, and you may have to expend money to purchase a new one. It’s not right to do so” he opined.

I thanked the driver with a friendly handshake as we parted ways.

This single kind of act by the driver has stuck with me.

The experiences of people who go above and beyond to be good to strangers are worth sharing since there are so many vile ones about cruelty, greed, and criminality in this world. I appreciate this stranger for rekindling my hope in humanity. Henceforth, I will look for opportunities to pay it forward.

“How do we change the world? One random act of kindness at a time” — Morgan Freeman