Introducing David Okai…

Why don’t you tell us a bit about yourself?

Hello GC, I was president of this incomparable and blessed Year Group for quite a while, taking over the reins from the incredible stewardship of Yvette Dzeble. Those were pre-WhatsApp days and Tunde and I had a terribly difficult and lonely time of keeping us alive. I’m a registered Ghanaian Architect working with another Architect and year group great, Charles Blankson-Hemans, in a design/project management studio.

I’m husband to a wonderful Akora called Pamela (1998 Year Group!) and father to four divine kids (15-13-11-2). Pamela and I run The HeartFelt Foundation, which tries to assist toddlers with Congenital/Acquired Heart Disease and their families, with physical assistance when and where possible, and lots of emotional and experiential support.

What led to you and Pamela running The Heartfelt Foundation? Any particular reason for this worthwhile endeavour?

The Foundation was created after my own near-death cardiovascular failure in 2016, which saw GC, and particularly Dawid Konotey-Ahulu and Reynold Quartey, amongst a handful of God-sent intercessors stepping forth in extraordinary circumstances to save my life with literally minutes to go, including I should add, a MOBA Professor of Interventional Cardiology called Nicholas Ossei-Gerning.

We reasoned that adults have the luxury of making lifestyle choices, some of which can lead them to perdition, but new-borns and toddlers who rely on others to make those choices can sometimes end up with terrible life-changing and life-threatening conditions like ‘hole-in-the-heart’. Many distressed families who have such kids are physically and mentally at their wits  end, and many abandon these kids. You may not know this, but there is only one Paediatric Cardiologist in Ghana.

You took part in a Walkathon a couple of years ago. What was your aim? How did it go and is there any advice you can offer on healthier lifestyle choices for GC following your experience?

So a month after we returned to Accra after my surgery in Wales, to everyone’s horror and against conventional wisdom, I decided to take part in the 5km Walkathon of the Accra International Marathon. Yes, I consulted my doctors and family. For me, it was a line in the sand, a need to ‘walk’ away from such a terrible personal episode and to show just how beautiful God’s Grace is. I was ably supported by my ‘cohorts’, Adeo, Reynold and my brother Charles. Can’t tell you how good finishing that felt. I have subsequently done a few more and will continue in that vein for as long as I can, my limitation being a painful chronic lower-back issue.

My mission is to actively encourage anyone I meet to religiously check their medical numbers (BP, Blood sugar, Prostrate et al) at least once a year, to regularly exercise at least 30 minutes a day (I recommend swimming or even better just a brisk 30min walk), and to carefully audit lifestyle choices ranging from smoking, drinking, nutrition to relationships, mental and spiritual balance, etc. and to live life to the Max and not just talk about it. There’s something I learnt called Congruence where you walk the talk. For best results start and finish your day with prayer!

Any other areas of interest you might wish to share with us?

I’m also a first-time author, having chronicled my cardiac narrative in a book called ‘Heartbeats of Grace’, which was published in 2018 by our own Nana Kegya (Amonoo-Neizer) and her husband, and my post-graduate mate in KNUST back in the eighties, Professor Kwaku Appiah-Adu. I am occasionally invited to speak to people about my encounter with God’s Grace and the importance of healthy, regular life-style habits and relationships. I also run the OAA 1951 Year Group Scholarship Trust for selected needy kids in Motown (my father’s year group), and Pamela and I also occasionally mentor these kids.

What’s the one dream/ambition that you would like to achieve?

My Big Hairy Ambition is to establish a state-of-the-art (Children’s) Heart and Diabetes Centre in Ghana. That and to be around to give my little girl away when she’s getting married!

You were originally in Gyamfi House and moved to Guggisberg for your sixth form years?
Any reason for the change?

I think what must have happened was that not too many G’berg mates returned for sixth form after O’s (if I remember it was just Ofori-D and Rio B), so the school decided to transfer Sammy La and myself from Gyamfi to augment the ‘native’ numbers. It was quite a baptism of fire for me I can tell you, but after the first term, I came to enjoy the change. 

And finally, what are we likely to see the Okai Family doing on a Sunday afternoon?

Sunday is absolutely Family day for us, so after church in the morning, we sit down to a family brunch (which I have to prepare), then there’s a much needed rest that knits up the sleeve of ravelled care (thank you Mrs Sey). The only outing this day is to the grandparents. Otherwise, all energies are channelled towards each other, moulding and mending and celebrating.

David Okai
1C, 2A, 3C, 4S3, 5S3, L6A and U6A
Gyamfi House 1-5/ Guggisberg House L6-U6

Look out for our next Spotlight Edition on Kwame Antwi-Agyei