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For a number of reasons, Ghanaians do not grow beyond 80 these days, while fewer marriages also last 60 years or more. It is for this reason that the 72-year-old marriage between Mr. Seth Yaw Amoah, 105, and Mrs. Comfort Amoah, 98, is great news to people who come across the Akyem Oda-based couple. They are believed to be not only among the oldest people in Ghana; their marriage is also one of the longest in the country. Mr. and Mrs. Amoah, who hail from Larteh Ahenease in the Akuapem North District in the Eastern Region, got married at home in 1927. Shortly after Mr. Amoah had learnt blacksmithing at Larteh and Mrs. Amoah had also learnt to bake, they got married and left home for Kofi Nimo, near Akyem Ayirebi in the Akyemmansa District, where they acquired large tracts of land to farm. While Mr. Amoah plied his blacksmithing trade alongside his farming activities, Mrs. Amoah started baking at Akyem Ayirebi where she enjoyed much patronage as the town was populous. The couple has been blessed with 13 children, comprising four males and nine females, but, unfortunately, three of them, a male and two females, have gone to eternity. The couple�s first born, Madam Mary Amoah, a retired Oda-based trader is 69, whiles the last born, Mrs. Vida Offei, 35, is a caterer in Oda. All the children had secondary education, with three of them completing the university. The couple, who are devout Christians and worship at the Oda Central branch of the Church of Pentecost, currently has 36 grand children and 35 great grandchildren. Speaking to The Mirror at his residence in Oda (Jamaica), near Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church, Mr. Amoah, who has been confined to his sitting room due to old age, said he and his wife settled in Oda about 60 years ago. Asked why he was still strong at 105, he attributed his good health to many things, noting that he had been a teetotaler since birth, adding that he was not a womanizer. According to him, he had never slept with any other woman apart from his wife. He had also been eating fresh fruits and vegetables harvested from his farm, adding that until he was confined to his sitting room few years ago he was always exercising his body. He said until recently when he was admitted at the Oda Government Hospital for what the medical officer who attended to him attributed to old age, he seldom felt ill. Mr. Amoah stated that due to his intelligence, humility, assiduity, respect for authority and dedicated services, he was still the Mmrantehene of Larteh, despite his old age, even though such positions were conferred on the youth. He said despite several attempts to relinquish the position in view of his old age, the entire people of the town had turned down his request, with the explanation that they would find it very difficult to get an equally competent, affable and hardworking person who was also a counselor to take over from him. He said all his children were married and in gainful employment, adding that they were also disciplined and Christians due to the way they were brought up. Asked why he decided to stay with his wife alone, considering his wealth and popularity during his youthful days, he said he would have married two women if he had taken the advice of his father, who had impressed upon him to take a second wife. According to him, his father�s advice was based on the fact that he was an only child, as his mother had died shortly after his birth. His father wanted him to produce many children but he told him that was against his Christian principles. Giving testimony about Mr. Amoah parents, 46-year-old Mrs. Comfort Appiah-Kubi, also known as �I wonder�, the couples� 11th child, said her parents, who were counselors, had affection for their children. She said they would invite all their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren to their house in Oda every Christmas and organise a party for them, during which they would counsel them and share ideas with them. Mrs. Appiah-Kubi said such interactions, which were not limited to the couple�s children alone but also included those of the tenants, brought about love and unity among the children, which was extended outside the house. She appealed to other parents to take a cue from their parents by providing real parental care for their children to grown up to become responsible future leaders.