“Ey3 Asem oo!!” is one of the most easily memorized and commonly used phrases in Ghanaian society. It is of Akan origin (a Ghanaian tribe) that is found on the lips of both Akans and non-Akans alike. Even foreigners who find themselves in big cities in Ghana, find this term as a useful tool in their diction.
This phrase “Ey3 Asem oo’’, literally means, ‘it is an issue!’ or ‘it is a problem!’ and is often used to express shock or bewilderment at an issue, a person or an incident one can do very little about. The contextual use is mostly trivial and could even be to show a lack of interest in a matter or to show a feeling of hopelessness in a matter.
It is however, increasingly alarming how much, it is used to downplay grave and pertinent issues that require a lot of attention. These matters could be within a family setting or could scale up to national levels.
Today, if a teacher, an elder or any responsible person reports a misconduct of a child to his or her parent, the automatic response would be “Ey3 Asem oo!!”
Let a politician do something appalling or out of the norm and the ultimate response would be “Ey3 Asem oo!!”
Let a market woman or man, a taxi or bus driver cheat, the quickest response to that would be “Ey3 Asem oo!!”
Many people have taken the law into their hands and done outrageous things and when these things were reported they answer you with an “Ey3 Asem oo!!”
Sometimes, on the radio and TV stations we listen to very serious discussions on issues or incidents which are of criminal nature or misconduct: bribery and corruption, killing, immoral behaviors such as display of nudity in and out social media, seductive dressing, speaking disrespectfully to adults and indiscriminate denting of peoples hard earned reputation or family names. At the end of such discussions, the usual remarks that follows is a helpless exclamation of “Ey3 Asem oo!!” When such a remark is made, a large percentage of the time, such issues die their natural death!
“Ey3 Asem oo”, though a very good remark or expression on trivial issues, however, when it is expressed regarding weightier matters or worse still very glaring evils in society without any serious action taken, makes us culpable of endorsing sin, evil and wrong doing in the society and for that matter in the country.
“Ey3 Asem oo”, in my humble opinion is a smart way to cool off on issues but if care is not taken we would be endorsing a certain culture which will destroy us as a people and as a nation. As already indicated earlier on, “Ey3 Asem oo”, would in my opinion suit trivial matters but not serious matters that need to be addressed.
Pertinent and serious issues should be addressed with all the seriousness it deserves. “One can resist the invasion of an army but one cannot resist the invasion of ideas” – Victor Hugo
When ideas or expressions are repeated they either reduce or increase the currency of an issue. So we should use certain expressions like “Ey3 Asem oo !!” sparingly. If it is a matter that needs attention, practical measures should be used
Hmmm!! “Ey3 Asem oo!!
By Rev. Fr. Nicholas Aazine, SVD
(JPIC Coordinator)
Society of the Divine Word, Ghana-Liberia province
