The day Ghana lost President John Atta Mills was a day of grief: heavy, silent, and deeply painful.
News of his sudden passing spread quickly, leaving many in disbelief.
Like countless Ghanaians, I stepped out to confirm what felt too painful to accept.
Soon after, it was officially announced: the President was dead.
But beyond the sorrow, something more disturbing began to emerge. A phrase started to echo quietly in conversations: “Se Asa.”
In Akan, “Se Asa” suggests that “the negative thing you wished for has finally happened, be satisfied.”
It was not just a phrase; it was a revelation. It exposed a chilling possibility: beneath public sympathy, there were hidden desires, silent wishes, and unspoken satisfaction.
Some brushed it aside as mere politics. Yet, the phrase refused to die.
It appeared on T-shirts, was whispered at funeral grounds, and lingered in conversations.
It forced an uncomfortable question: Who, among us, secretly celebrates the downfall of others?
Silent betrayal
We like to believe that those around us wish us well, that our friends are truly friends, that smiles are genuine.
But life teaches a harsher truth: not everyone clapping for you wants you to win.
Some people do not oppose you openly. They wait, watch, and smile. Yet quietly, they hope you fall.
Jealousy rarely announces itself. It may hide behind compliments. It disguises itself as support.
It sits beside you, laughs with you, and yet hopes for your downfall.
I learned this early. In basic school, an incident happened: a classmate sitting next to a peer rewrote his correct answers with wrong ones in his exercise book while the teacher was absent. When the books were returned, he recognized the handwriting. The apology came later, but so did the lesson: proximity does not guarantee loyalty.
The founder of Perez Chapel, Charles Agyin-Asare, once warned: “In Ghana, we like pulling down one another. Let us stop wishing one another evil.” (GhanaWeb, 2020).
But have we really stopped?
A shocking revelation by the late Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings further illustrates how some people may quietly wish for your downfall, yet smile with you.
According to a GhanaWeb report (Nov 2025), she recounted how the once-strong 31st December Women’s Movement began to crumble, not because of outside opposition, but due to the decision of a single individual.
National habit
In politics, this tendency is almost expected. Opposition parties often appear more invested in the failure of the government than in the success of the nation.
Policies are condemned, initiatives are ridiculed, and progress is sometimes quietly resented simply because it comes from the “other side.”
What looks like criticism can, at times, be a disguised wish for collapse.
The Minority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has warned against this culture. Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show (May 2, 2025), he described political retaliation as a “vicious cycle” that undermines progress:
“All we have as a country is our democracy… Since 1992, we’ve witnessed cycles of retaliation in governance. The time has come to focus on legacies that safeguard our democratic future.” (Graphic Online, 2025)
Yet, this behavior is not confined to politics; it reflects a deeper national mindset that quietly shapes everyday interactions. In some offices, it is very real.
Some employees may secretly wish for the demotion, dismissal, or resignation of their colleagues so they can take their place.
In business, some do not strive to improve; they quietly hope competitors collapse.
Dr Michael Agyekum Addo, the founder of the Kama Group of Companies, has said that envy and jealousy are the banes of business development in Ghana.
“It is an important thing that we need to address in this country, because it is affecting our politics, our businesses and the country,” he said.
Speaking with Kwaku Nhyira-Addo on The Asaase Breakfast Show, Dr Agyekum Addo said, “At the age of 60 to 65, I was still confronted with the question: why do companies collapse in spite of all the training that we give to staff, all the incentives, improvements in working conditions?
“I see doctors going on strike, companies going on demonstrations, all for [better] working conditions. Why?
“So, at 65, I enrolled in University of Ghana Business School for them to tell me why, in spite of these management trainings, companies collapse. And I took a topic … What do we do with our emotions?”
The pharmaceutical pioneer said: “… hatred, anger, joy, sadness – all these are emotions, and they affect our business lives.
“Having gone through all that, I realised that some of them you can address. But envy and jealousy are untouchable. You cannot see [them], it’s innate. And that is where companies collapse from the manpower … It is so important. This is the biggest factor in your business:, meanwhile, he is envious, jealous.”
Dr Agyekum Addo added, “You cannot tell him; if you tell him that, ‘I see you are envious of me,’ he’ll tell you: ‘How can I be envious of you?’ We doubt, argue, defend and yet it is real.”… (Asaaseradio.com, 2022).
In everyday life, the question is no longer just “How do I succeed?” but sometimes, “When will they fail?”
Dark motive
So, why do people wish others to fail? Sometimes, it is about validation. The need to say, “I was right.” Other times, it is insecurity. That is the quiet inability to compete fairly. But most often, it is envy. Another person’s success becomes unbearable. Their progress feels like a personal threat. Their happiness becomes an irritation, and so, silently, a wish is formed: let them fall.
Yet here is the truth. Another person’s failure will never fix your life. In extreme cases, such hidden desires have led to real harm. People have acted out of jealousy, and disturbingly, some felt justified afterward.
Life teaches a painful lesson: not everyone cheering you on is on your side.
Some are waiting, not to celebrate your success, but to confirm your failure. That is the spirit behind “Se Asa.”
Awareness and resilience
But awareness must not lead to fear. It must lead to wisdom. Be discerning about your associations.
Stay grounded in your values. Refuse to let bitterness shape your actions.
You may not be able to silence those who whisper “Se Asa,” but you can deny them the satisfaction of your downfall.
Choose growth over comparison. Integrity over revenge. Purpose over distraction.
This is because in the end, the loudest response to hidden hatred is not retaliation. It is resilience.
The Bible warns us:
“Be watchful! Your adversary, the Devil, walks about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8).
“Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles.” (Proverbs 24:17).
Perhaps the real question is not whether “Se Asa” exists, but whether we are bold enough to confront it within ourselves.
By HENRY ATTA NYAME
Institutional Assessment Practitioner
hattanyame@gmail.com
