What happened to our traditional games‟ pilolo” ‟ alikoto”,” ampe”?

If any of you didn’t play this game let that person stand to be counted.‟ Pilolo” ‟ampe”, ‟ alikoto” just to mention a few were games that every Ghanaian child in the late 21^st century played

Ampe to girls though some boys tried playing this game. This game required a lot of energy since one had to jump, clap the hands and throw the legs in to the air and ensure it moves in the same direction with the opponents. If it does you become the winner and the loser had to be hit at the buttocks with the knee.

More so, ‟alikoto” in my opinion was the game that put the cherry on our cakes as kids. All you needed to play this game was a device made from the top of the tiger head dry cell or any other cell. The pen top was pushed in the whole in the top of the dry cell with the elongated out and you are ready to play this game.

In the playing of this game, all you need is a heap of sand on which the ‟alikoto” would be spine. Whiles it spins, you must ensure it turns upside down with the mouth down and the elongated part up to become the winner. If it doesn’t and that of the opponent does then hmmm you should be ready to receive some serious‟ gaa-­ing” (a knock with the‟ alikoto” at the back of your palm).

The‟ gaa-ing” thus the punishment was what made the game interesting and fun. All these games made the Ghanaian child more sociable, active and healthier.

However, it saddens me how these games have become a thing of the past due to technology. In this era known as the 21^st century, the Ghanaian child plays PSP (play station portable), soccer, zuma, temple run and the likes. These games have made our traditional games less of importance to Ghanaians us a people.

Today unlike before, most kids are obese at tender ages and diagnosed of diseases due to lack of exercise and other related issues.in most homes today especially homes that are well to do, the kids are not allowed to play with their friends rather they sit indoors  behind these computer games.

Most kids today know nothing about our customs, tradition and heritage because story telling is no more about ‟ananse” but about snow white, Cinderella, ben10, bat man, spider man etc.

Why can’t we develop these games into more attractive forms to tell our story and also to gain income for developmental projects. It’s about time we stop copying blindly and accept what we have as Ghanaians.