OPINION: So That's How The DNA Argument Started? The story of former Ghana football international, Nii Ordartey Lamptey

  You see, for some months, there was so much noise on Facebook and Twitter about DNA test. I consider that one of topics that come up and trend when there is slow news day. So, I ignore them. I thought they were crazy.

This morning, I accidentally came across and a watched a Ghanian TV programme on YouTube. As I watched the 45 minutes video, I concluded that may be this was the source of that trending topic some months ago. But even more important, after I have watched more videos and read articles on same issue I concluded that, former Ghana football international, Nii Ordartey Lamptey, is one of the world's strongest human beings. Chai!!!

His life's story is a story to that is known virtually to all, from his breakthrough to suspicion of age cheating, how he was made to sign a slavery-life-contract by his agents because he couldn't read or write, right through his club and national team career. But this one is out of this world.

This part of his story started for him in 1993. He met this lady in Ghana, started a relationship. And soon as he went back to his base in Holland few months later, she called to inform him that she was a few late. She is pregnant.

Convinced that it was his, without any waste of time, and against his mother's advise and wish of friends and relations, he decided to marry her. She soon joined him in Holland. They built a family there. They had two more kids; so he thought.

After his active football career was over, he settled down to a life of coaching and set up his academy. His problem started 4 years ago when his son turned 17. And after he completed high school it was time for the boy to proceed to university. The wife chose a university for the boy in the UK.

The school fees, feeding, living expense, and accommodation, that is running to about $20,000 per session was too much for Ordatey, because he also considered the second son and the daughter. So, he opted for a university in Ghana; the best. It will cost the family only about $2,000 per session.

The wife will have none of it. And for just that one reason, she asked for divorce and half of his property as part of her alimony, so she could take care of her kids' education. Lamprey contested. He loved his wife and kids. And so wanted to save his marriage. But in court, he was painted as irresponsible husband/father. The wife claimed he threatened to kill her. And based on that he was ordered by the judge, to move out of his house in just one hour.

It all got to a head, when his friends and family members summon courage to tell him what they claimed he wouldn't have listened otherwise, because of the love he had for wife, something many knew in the community; that before marriage in Ghana and even in Holland she sleeps around. And that those 3 kids may not be his. He was still paying child support as the trial proceeds.

After so much pressure, he conducted a secret DNA test on all the 3 kids. It was not court sanctioned or approved. He lied to the kids that he was discovered to have a health condition and he would like to protect them from it. And 3 weeks later all result came out negative. None of the 3 kids, ranging 21, 16 and 8 years old is his.

After 4 years in court, within which he lost virtually everything he has to this woman. Becoming homeless, attempted suicide, staying in hotel for some months, until he met his current wife, a journalist, whose family sheltered and took care of him, he discovered that the source of his present predicament, the son he cannot afford to send to UK school and the other two kids are not actually his.

He and his lawyers approached a higher court, pleading that, "they suspect that the 3 children are not his", and the court should compel a DNA test on Lamptey and the 3 kids. The court so ordered. Same results. They are not his kids. She had wish for divorce but was asked by the court to return all his property

Simply because she wanted to send her son to school "in abroad", she ended up exposing herself and all of them. It is just not enough for her that she defraud this young man and stole from him, time, love and the tonnes of emotion he invested in the relationship and the kids, she went for the final kill - all he ever had.

He has forgiven the woman he claimed drove him to hate before because she took advantage of his lack of education. In all, he thank his new wife, his in-laws, lawyers, and especially his new best friend, one Mallam Yahaya, whom he had never ever met. But from the first day the case started 4 years ago, Yahaya never missed a day to call, advise him. How Yahaya manage to get his phone number, he doesn't know. But he calls EVERYDAY. He occasionally visits him in court or in Cape Coast. He claimed that Yahaya is one of the reasons why he didn't commit suicide.

Now, here is the rub. Ordatey Lamptey is confused. On one hand he said he is emotionally detached to the kids. On the other he said it is not their fault but the mother's. And still wants to be in the life of those kids and have nothing to do with the mother. It is quite understandable how Lamptey may have this conflicting feelings. 21 years is not a joke.

Then there are the Ghanaians that have hitherto mocked him for being impotent are asking that the woman must also pay him 21 years worth of damages and lies. Lamptey wants none of that. He is happy with his new family, his wife, his wife's parents and his two babies. He just want to move on. He said he thanked God that he didn't discover this fraud and act of betrayal in his 60s. Where would he have started? He asked as he cried. But he insist that all men must conduct DNA test.