"The Beautyful One"

Ayi Kwei Armah's magnum opus, "The Beautyful Ones Are Not Yet Born," describes the unnamed protagonist as a symbol of integrity. As a railway clerk, he refuses to engage in corrupt acts to enhance his financial status, wondering if he is one of the "beautyful ones."

In my experience as an insurance agent for one of the largest insurance companies in the country, I've learned the importance of probity and honesty - the premier virtues of being "beautiful." However, we live in an era where the "ends justify the means" approach prevails.

In the insurance industry, misrepresenting policy features to secure a client's signature is known as misselling. This can lead to reduced benefit payouts, claim refusals, or return of premiums. The effects are severe: children dropping out of school due to the breadwinner's death, individuals dying from treatable medical conditions due to lack of funds despite having insurance coverage.

Insurance companies try to assist, but contractual clauses often constrain them. Personally, I strive to remain "beautyful" in all endeavors, not as a self-proclaimed white knight, but due to witnessing firsthand the consequences of choosing not to be.

             

         - Michael Nana Kwame Yeboah 

                                               20/11/2024