Changes: A Love Story; About the characters

Esi Sekyi is the paradigm of the strong, independent woman. In addition to having a job that pays more than her husband's job, Esi owns the home in which she lives. Given the traditional role that women were generally expected to play within the family, Esi's strong will and independent nature is unique. At the same time that Esi may want the freedom to pursue her own career and desires, she still very much wants to love and be loved. Although Esi tries very hard to live her life according to rational principles, she finds herself feeling devastated and lonely because of her relationship with Ali..

Ali Kondey is the male counterpart to Esi's character. Ali has grown up in two distinct worlds: his father's world and the Western world in which he was educated. Like his father, Ali believes he can possess as many women as he wants, on account of his charm and wealth. Even after marrying two women, Ali continues to acquire new mistresses, which causes both of his wives to feel abandoned. In a traditional, male-dominated society such as the one in which Ali's father grew up, such behavior would have been accepted.

As Esi's best friend, Opokuya Dakwa inhabits a space in between the nearly extreme independence that Esi represents and the traditional role expected of a woman in the household. Like Esi, Opokuya has her own career that is personally and financially rewarding. At the same time, Opokuya has a large family and a husband.

Opokuya manages to fulfill all of the roles demanded of her by her life.
Fusena's character and identity as a women change throughout the course of the novel. Once Fusena marries Ali, her world is quickly restricted. With Ali studying abroad, Fusena is relegated to the home, where she remains until Ali purchases a kiosk for her to operate. By asking that question, Fusena reveals the degree to which her life's ambitions have been frustrated and abandoned for the sake of her marriage and children. Despite her ambition and strong will, Fusena is relegated to the role of a dependent housewife.

Oko Sekyi is at once a sympathetic and an abhorrent character in the novel. At the same time, Oko resents her for exactly the same reasons. Following his divorce, Oko's mother presents him with a gift: a young girl who can play the role of a compliant and obedient wife. Even though there may very well be some appeal to such a relationship, Oko continues to love his strong-willed ex-wife.

A relatively minor figure in the novel, Kubi Dakwa represents a middle ground between Ali and Oko. At the same time Kubi also clearly accepts his wife's right to disagree with him.