5. Kofi Kyintoh

“Never forget that walking away from something unhealthy is brave even if you stumble a little on your way out the door.”

Unknown

Mama B lived in a modest two-bedroom home in Mount Vernon, and she worked as a registered nurse at Montefiore Mount Vernon Hospital. She was highly esteemed in the Ghanaian community, as she held the prestigious title of queen mother for the Ashanti community in New York. As it turned out, Mama B was familiar with Kofi Kyintoh and his story. Unfortunately, Ama was not the first Ghanaian woman to fall victim to Kofi’s enslavement. After settling down and sharing a meal together, Mama B began recounting Kofi’s life story to Ama.

Kofi had immigrated to America with the goal of providing a better life for himself and his family in his home country. After five years of hard work, he managed to save enough money for an arranged marriage to an African American woman, which allowed him to obtain a green card and stay in America legally. As soon as he obtained his green card, he divorced his American wife and filed for his actual wife, whom he had left behind in their homeland. Ever since she arrived in America, Kofi’s joy seemed to have amplified. The couple made sure to attend all events organised by the Ghanaian community.

Kofi’s sudden change in behaviour was a shock to those who knew him. He had always been a cheerful and outgoing person, but now he seemed withdrawn and distant. It wasn’t until later that the truth came out about why Kofi had kicked his pregnant wife out of their home. He had returned unexpectedly one day to find her having sex with an old flame of hers from Queens on their marital bed. His heart was shattered. He immediately confronted the man and kicked him out, then returned to throw his wife out for being unfaithful.

Kofi began to question whether he was truly the father of his wife’s unborn child. Memories of their early days in Ghana flooded his mind; they had been desperately trying to conceive after getting married. He had hoped that having a child together would prevent any infidelity on her part while he was away. Yet, despite all their efforts, she remained childless. Feeling overwhelmed with doubt and uncertainty, Kofi reached for his phone and dialled his doctor’s number, hoping for some clarity and peace of mind.

As he had expected, the tests run on his semen confirmed his worst fears. He was unable to father children. This news left him utterly devastated. For four long months, he had been caring for another man’s unborn child that wasn’t even his own, completely unaware of his own infertility. This is when Kofi transformed into the bitter, resentful man he is today. The trauma of his wife’s betrayal led him to harbour an intense hatred for women and seek revenge by exploiting them in any way possible.

Kofi had a reputation for dating women briefly and then abruptly breaking things off with them. However, when he met a new woman who had recently arrived from Ghana, his behaviour took a darker turn. He offered her a place to stay, but he prohibited her from leaving the apartment, a fact that no one else was aware of. Kofi continued to sexually abuse her, just as he had with Ama, until her untimely death. Even though she had confided in an old friend of Kofi’s about the abuse before she died, the police were unable to find any evidence to support the claims. Consequently, the police cleared Kofi of any wrongdoing.

Ama was in disbelief. She felt grateful that Kofi had kicked her out of his place. Who knows what could have happened to her if she stayed there any longer? Mama B offered to contact Kofi and inform him that Ama was now under her care. Ama objected, but Mama B reminded her that Kofi had brought her into the country, and she didn’t want to bear the blame for their separation. Mama made a few calls to get Kofi’s number.

Kofi maintained a composed tone as he spoke to Ama on the phone, apologising and begging her to return. He even dangled the carrot of the mail from the Social Security Department, which had arrived weeks ago, promising to help her secure a job once she came back home. However, Ama refused his offer and vowed never to set foot in the Bronx River Houses again. After experiencing firsthand the harsh reality of living there, it would be unwise for her to ever return.

Ama ended the call with Kofi and handed the phone back to Mama B. She was determined to move on with her life and leave Kofi in the distant past. Mama B noticed a glint of determination in Ama’s eyes, different from the defeated look she had when she first arrived at her doorstep.

Mama B decided it was time to have a heart-to-heart conversation with Ama. She knew that Ama needed closure before she could truly move on, and only then would she be able to thrive in her new environment. So, Mama B asked Ama about her relationship with Kofi, wanting to understand the depth of their connection.

Ama opened up about how they met at his mother’s funeral in Ghana and how quickly they fell in love. She talked about how Kofi promised her a better life in America and how she believed him without hesitation. But when she arrived, everything changed. Kofi was no longer the loving man she knew; he had become heartless.

Tears streamed down Ama’s cheeks as she recounted all the painful memories that she tried so hard to forget. But as Mama B listened intently, those memories slowly lost their grip on Ama’s heart. Ama felt a weight lifted off her shoulders when she shared her story.

Mama B then shared some words of wisdom with Ama. She explained that sometimes people come into our lives for a reason, even if it doesn’t seem like it at first. Kofi may have been a lesson for Ama—one that taught her what true strength and resilience were all about.

A few weeks went by, and Ama began to settle into her new life with Mama B’s help. As happy as Ama was with her new life, she still couldn’t shake off the thought of the woman who died under mysterious circumstances in Kofi’s apartment.