In Memoriam
In the four decades since the class of 1980 was admitted to Achimota school, we have lost the following dearly departed souls. In memory of each of our deceased classmates, following is a personal recollection of each person who is, sadly, no longer with us.
May their souls rest in perfect peace.
Gratia BLUWEY
House: Slessor
Eulogy in Memory of the Late Gratia Abrah Bluwey
Life, indeed, is transient and full of surprises. Here today, … gone tomorrow. Words fail us and tears roll down our eyes as we pour out our hearts in this parting tribute to you, our dearest Gratia. All Akoras, members of the 1980 graduating class and especially your Slessor House mates join together in this difficult time to wish you farewell.
Our paths crossed when you were assigned to Slessor House in Achimota School in September 1975. There were two things that you stood out for: Your surname which we found strange and your giggle. We formed an extremely close bond but you were closest to your primary school buddies. Over the many cherished years that we spent in school and after, Gratia was the indomitable backbencher who would rather keep to herself than join any disturbance. We all have different but consistent memories of who you were as a Slessor sister. There was a kindness, simplicity, humility and goodness of character that marked Gratia among her Slessor sisters and Achimota mates. We all remember your unique ability to thrive and smile even in the middle of a storm. You liked to laugh and giggle and we can hear you giggling now as we struggle to write this tribute. You were an interesting person to be with and you had a way of making everyone feel so special when we met. Your twin sister, one of us with whom you shared a birthday also misses you. You called yourselves ‘twinees’. We recall the gifts you so graciously gave out at one of the birthday lunches on February 14, 2023 to all Slessor sisters and the fun pictures we took. You would always request to leave early because of traffic on your route. We also recall that you always had crisp clean notes for which we eagerly exchanged our old dirty ones, just one evidence that you worked at the Bank of Ghana.
Our recent memory is when we were trying to get you to attend the 1980-year group 60th birthday Havana Night-themed party September 23, 2023. We can still hear your laugh ringing in our ears as you declined due to an irritating cough. Your demise came as a shock and we are deeply saddened by your departure but grateful for the time we had together.
If we had the ability, we would just turn back time to spend more enjoyable moments with you. We are thankful to the Lord for giving us several opportunities to spend some quality time with Gratia in the past 5 years. We miss the birthday parties and fun nights we had together including the Carols nights and Easter Services. The one lesson your passing has taught us is: that we do not have as much time as we think we do. We must learn to treat each moment as our final one. We should love now, forgiving each other in all situations. We should visit each other and be part of that great bond we formed. We should do whatever the moment requires according to the will of God to be each other’s keeper.
Your absence leaves an irreplaceable void in our Good Company 1980 bond, but we find solace in the beautiful memories we created together. Your legacy of love and kindness will continue to inspire us and all who were fortunate enough to know you. Just like Job, we will conclude by saying that the Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. To say we shall surely miss the moments we shared is, to say the least.
Sleep on our beautiful soul
Sleep on dear Akora
Sleep on Gratia Bluwey!
Hede nyuie le nutifafame.
Amen
-by GC80 Slessor House colleagues
Ekow BAIDEN
House: 18
TRIBUTE FROM OAA 1980 YEAR GROUP (GC 80) TO OUR DEAR DEPARTED MATE EKOW BAIDEN
Some of us pretend to be quiet but Ekow Baiden was the real McCoy. Ekow was indeed one of those people who was quiet by nature. He joined our year group in form three and quickly became popular paradoxically because of this very character trait which he was well noted for.
Ekow or Ekow B as we called him at Achimota School was the junior brother of Miss Baiden who taught History at the school. Miss Baiden was a tall and forbidding lady with a rather stern countenance. It was therefore remarkable that Ekow with his near opposite disposition was able to bring us closer to his sister who was really a good woman at heart. Even though he was assigned to House 18 he spent a lot of his free time with his sister who was also the house mistress for Kingsley House. During the holidays Ekow would team up with those other mates who were resident on the Achimota School campus – a beautiful setting that enabled the building of fond memories growing up in that environment. The one thing that Ekow did that would bring incredulous bouts of laughter and hooting in our group was his ability to embellish his stories to an extent that would sometimes sound ridiculous. And precisely because of this we would encourage him to tell us more in the hope that the last one would outdo the previous. Who could forget so many decades later the one about a “ seaman’s” speakers that were so powerful it required cement blocks to stop them from moving across the room? Ei Ekow B! We still see his warm grin even now having accomplished his mission of ensuring that no other speakers would surpass the one he had seen.
We parted ways after school and Ekow went on to further his studies and eventually bring up his own family. Being that quiet person, we lost touch a little but luckily and through the use of social media particularly WhatsApp we finally caught up again in early 2000 when our year group chat was set up. Ekow was one of the early members to join the group and was a strong participant in helping to build it up to a forum that would bind us together once again albeit in a virtual forum. He contributed often and posted jokes occasionally. In the early days whenever the group chat went quiet he would respond to queries on the whereabouts of everyone with “ we are here” Ekow took part in most of our in-person activities even when it would on occasion be poorly attended. He helped with his organizational skills to plan parties and get-togethers and was a very reliable person.
Ekow was a good Christian exemplified in his dealings with his fellow beings. Slow to anger and of deep thought he always remained calm even in difficult situations. We were most saddened when Ekow lost his daughter at a very young age and we all joined in sympathizing with him on his bereavement.
Ekow worked at a firm located at North Dzorwulu and we would lately see him driving by in his pickup and wave cheerily when we called out to him. Or he would drop by to say hello after buying fuel for his car.
The last time most of the members of our group saw Ekow was in September 2022 when Ekow was his usual affable self. Smiling but still very reserved. We had a joint year group 60th birthday celebration in September 2023 but uncharacteristically Ekow did not attend resulting in immediate queries as to his whereabouts. This was when we first learnt that he was quite unwell. Due to his large frame and rather healthy and sunny disposition it never occurred to us that he was even close to the end of his life journey. We were therefore stunned when the incredible unfortunate news of his passing was announced on our platform.
Let us reflect on the inevitable destiny of man and the reasoning that “the minute you are born you begin to die.” But we did not come into this world to live under this sombre cloud. We came to this world to play our part and to fulfill our role set out by our creator. And when that role is fulfilled we must embark on that last journey of returning to our maker. So in the case of Ekow his time here on earth is done and being the good Christian that he was we pray that God has taken back his own.
May his gentle soul rest in peace.
-by Charles Blankson-Hemans
George LEWIS
House: Cadbury
A tribute to George Oti Lewis, from Achimota 1980 year group
“Oti” Lewis as he was known by his mates, attended sixth form in Achimota from 1980 to 1982. Entering sixth form as a newcomer presented its own set of challenges – adjusting to a co-ed boarding school after five years in a boys boarding school, forging friendships among those who had known each other for years, adapting to a new culture, and simply finding one’s place.
Oti handled it all with seamless grace. He never appeared perturbed by his new circumstances, possessing a wisdom that belied his youthful age. Soft-spoken Oti was popular amongst his peers, especially the girls!! He was super friendly, very polite and always quite the smiley gent.
Oti always seemed brimming with worldly knowledge and regaled his dorm mates with stories about his former school Adisadel College.
However, he will be most remembered not for the brief two years at Achimota, but for his role as a member of the year group association. He was a lively participant on our WhatsApp platform, coming up with daily posts on all topics, whether political, social or just outright hilarious and mischievous. There was always something for someone and he created links even with those whom he did not meet in sixth form. This role was not just an online one. Oti was a very thoughtful person who always took the time to check up on his mates and send hellos and birthday wishes privately. He was also a physical presence at all-year group events.
His passing was such a shock to us all. Even more poignant is the fact that our year group is this week celebrating our 60th milestone. Oti should have been here with us. OAA80 (Good Company) will miss him.
-by Martha Fillastre
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A tribute to George Oti Lewis, from a fellow Cadbury House colleague
In reflecting on the recent passing of an old acquaintance, Oti, we often expect tributes to be filled with vivid reminiscences, witty anecdotes, and tales of the years we spent growing up together, both real and imagined.
My memories of Oti, whom I knew by no other name and initially thought was a nickname, are rooted in our two years together during sixth form. We were teenagers, navigating the world with limited experience, yet Oti exuded an irredeemable sense of coolness. To me, he appeared worldly, remarkably witty, and strikingly handsome, the kind of young man I was certain every girl admired.
Memories can sometimes play tricks, but Oti always seemed brimming with worldly knowledge, even though he was only a few months older. Our box beds were just two apart, and while we weren’t the closest of friends, I can’t help but vividly recall the stories he told about life in his previous school, Adisadel College, even more than four decades later.
Entering sixth form as a newcomer presented its own set of challenges – forging friendships among those who had known each other for years, adapting to a new culture, and simply finding one’s place. Oti handled it all with seamless grace. He never appeared perturbed by his new circumstances, possessing a wisdom that belied his youthful age. Sadly, our paths diverged after we left sixth form, even though we lived in the same countries – Britain, Canada, and the United States.
The finality and deep tragedy of any death are poignant, especially when it claims someone relatively young. I often wonder how Oti would perceive this tribute from me. Would it evoke puzzlement, or perhaps amusement? “My goodness, I wouldn’t have expected that.” I hope he would read it with a sense of pride and joy for the lives he touched, not for any grand accomplishments, but simply for being a wonderful human being during his brief time on earth.
May he rest in eternal peace, and may his loved ones find solace in knowing that Oti was dearly loved and that he left an enduring mark on those fortunate enough to have crossed his path.
-by Sam Darfoor
TRIBUTE TO OUR KNUST MATE, GEORGE OTI LEWIS
George was a gentleman and a caring class mate. I met him in 1982 when we both entered KNUST. He was in the Engineering program. He had done his A levels in 1982 at Achimota School and was also part of our OAA 1980 Year Group. George was in Adisadel College from 1975 to 1980, where he did his O levels.
George was such a pleasant friend and made every effort to attend year group events and participate in platform discussions. In recent times, he expressed interest in getting back to work in the Mining industry but did not want to be at Mine site because of his health issues. He was ever ready to be of help and reached out often to check on me. I will miss his calls and messages.
May the Angels of heaven receive and keep his soul in perfect peace.
We extend our deepest condolences to his sister, Joyce; his widow, Ofosua and to the extended family.
George, Adieu until we meet again.
-by Mona K Quartey on behalf of KNUST Year Group
Tribute to George Oti Lewis.
Always smiling.
Always thoughtful in his soft spoken voice with great humour.
Thank you for your hellos, birthday and mother day greetings on each occasion.
I recall our conversations usually after my mischievous postings.
Your passing was a shock to us all.
0aa80 will miss you.
Rest peacefully.
-by Tina Dougan aka fante lady.
Kojo Boafo
House: Guggisberg
TRIBUTE TO OUR BROTHER & COLLEAGUE – FROM AKORA CLASS OF 1980
What can we(I) the Akora class of 1980 say ?? We can only confirm that the sun rises and the sun sets and the sun does so on its successive journey for all humanity…
It is therefore with heavy hearts that we(I) mourn our friend, colleague and brother Kojo Boafo.
We, the tough talking and tough acting young guys of the 1980’s, simply called him Zeebo !! Zeebo hit our 1980 Akora Group from form three to form five after his family relocated from Europe and left us with some definitive character highlights that made him an instant friend and paddy to most of us…..
We will this solemn morning voice with nostalgia only a few………..
Zeebo….. the day student in Achimota School, who was more than a boarding student. He was always “around” and literally only went home to sleep……
Zeebo….the area champion of Asylum Down crews and paddies. He was indeed the “poster boy” of Asylum Down and drew many of us there for what young guys do….“hang outs”…….
Zeebo….with his largely natural and wonderful “afro” hair. Most of us had to brush our hair hard and then comb out fiercely to match Kojo’s afro hair-do….
Zeebo…..with his family classic Lada car from well out of Ghana. Lada..one of a kind in Ghana then and we will literally line up to “test drive” the peoples Lada on the blind side of Zeebo’s father………..
Zeebo….with a clearly classic walking gait which we(I) confess we were never able to replicate. This coupled with the slightly raised shirt collar cut a very trendy figure at the
time…..
Zeebo….our extremely affable pal, paddy and friend with a ready grin and smile for all…….. Well…what more can we the 1980 Akora Class say?? We can only sigh at such a trying time. We will rather celebrate the life of our friend and brother Kojo Zeebo than mourn, as challenging as it is…..
Kojo Zeebo Boafo…Rest in Peace & Farewell
-by Daniel Ofori-Dankwa
Sylvester ATTA-MENSAH
House: Gyamfi
A letter to Sylvester:
Dear Sylvester,
Trust you are in a good place now. A place where there’s no more pain, strife or grief. A place where you can continue to be at your best!
You were an Artist and you certainly got to the top of your game in the last few decades as a top designer! I remember your artistic qualities showing on the blackboards in primary school when you had caricatures of me depicting the shape of my head. It hurt to see them and as often as I’d erase those, they’ll be there after I returned… it was all part of the journey of the Artist in you!
It was really nice to see you in September last year … I stopped and we caught up about little things that took us back to Achimota Primary! I feel lucky that our paths crossed again in that beautiful way, albeit brief but precious!
As you journey on please say hello to your younger sister, Christine, who left us in the early 70s… the memory of her passing when we were only in class 3 has stayed with me in an amazing way because she was in my dormitory and she had a beautiful soul just like you!
Journey on safely, my brother and friend and do remember to intercede on our behalf when we miss our way.
Rest peacefully until we meet again.
-by Margaret Boateng Sekyere
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Tribute from Achimota School (1975-1980) Gyamfi House Boys
The day we learned of the passing of Sylvester Atta-Mensah (Sly as we knew him) was a very difficult one. We were in disbelief! Then one by one, all the Gyamfi House former ninos checked in on our WhatsApp page to see if it were really true. It unfortunately was. So sad to have lost a fellow comrade so soon! His picture has adorned our group page ever since that day.
Sly was a gentleman. He was honest and kind and cared very much about his colleagues and fellow classmates while at Motown. Having been in Achimota Primary School prior, he already had an idea of what boarding school was like when he entered Form One in Gyamfi House in 1975. He seemed somewhat mature for his age and exhibited a strong sense of character and a self-assured personality back then. These were the traits in Sly that most of us came to know in him ever since those years.
He was a very good athlete for both House and School and was often tapped to play on the Senior team even while he was a junior student. He excelled at field hockey, volleyball, cricket and soccer, to name a few of the sports that he played. He was a leader both on and off the field, and his speed, agility and strength were keys to his excelling on the field and court. He also practiced Tae Kwon Do, and he was fond of demonstrating his speed, strength and kicks in the dorms and at exhibitions. In addition, he joined the military cadet club, and along with fellow mates he took pride in the meticulous preparation and training it took to be a military trainee, and to showcase his skills and his dedication as a proud cadet.
Sly also cared about his appearance and in being seen to be well-ironed and well-dressed (spote-ing!). He was very particular with his style and clothing even then, and so we were not surprised when he continued to make a name for himself in the clothing and fashion industry both locally and abroad. His designs and fashions for his recent brand, AK MODA, highlighted his personality and out of the box character that have been a part of the Sly we knew for many decades.
Back in school days, there were many students, younger and older, male and female who admired Sly’s character and sense of purpose and leadership. This self-assuredness did sometimes clash with his seniors, and occasionally with the teachers and school management. But the Sly we knew was an honest and sincere person, and, had due process been what it could be, his tenure at Achimota might have taken a less turbulent turn. We will though forever remember Sylvester as a good and trusted friend, who always had a smile on his face and a willingness to help his brothers out whenever he could. We are very deeply saddened by this loss that has come too soon.
Rest in Peace Brother!
-by Daniel, Kwame, Kwabena, Kofi, Charles, Michael, Allen, Felix, David, Gee, Sammy.
Nicholas Gbeckor-Kove
House: Guggisberg
A tribute to Nicholas Gbeckor-Kove, from Achimota 1980 year group
It is with heavy hearts that we find ourselves saying goodbye to you dear Nicholas.
Our paths crossed in 1975, in Achimota Secondary School and amidst all the challenges and a daunting prospect of surviving without our parents and guardians, your calm composure was nothing short of impressive and reassuring.
In time as we got to know you better, we discovered a witty, charming, intelligent, genuine and unassuming individual behind the seemly “nerdy” shield you always wore.
It didn’t take you long to settle into the gruesome daily routine in G’berg house and through all the turmoil and confusion, you always managed to maintain that calm composure.
Most impressive of all, you somehow managed to “serve your term” without being given a nickname.
You were not just a friend to us Nicholas, but a father, husband, uncle, colleague, advisor, mentor and a moral compass to others.
Some of us knew you only briefly and others a lot longer, but if there’s one thing we all agree on, it is that we’ve lost a dear friend and family member.
To many, you were an icon, to others, an inspiration. To us your GC 80 family, you were all of the above.
We thank you for your friendship and hold dear all the memories we have of you. It’s been a privilege to have known you as a member of the GC 80 family, not just a friend.
Even though you’ve been taken away from this world, your loving heart has left a beacon of light for all to follow.
You will always remain in our hearts, for you are gone, yet not forgotten.
Rest well Nicholas and intercede on our behalf until we meet again.
“When the day of toil is done, when the race of life is run, Father, grant Thy wearied one, rest for evermore”.
…John Ellerton (1870)
–by Edward Kwaw.
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OFFSIDE – A TRIBUTE TO NICHOLAS GBECKOR-KOVE BY CHARLES BLANKSON-HEMANS
My first reaction on hearing the grave and shocking news was to immediately lodge an appeal to the Almighty Referee to disallow this offside goal that Nicholas had managed to score. Of course, this was a futile thought and I had to steel myself against the deep sense of loss that rapidly overcame me.
I do not remember how Nicholas Gbeckor Kove and I became friends. We were so very different in our disposition that any attempt to have matched us on a modern friends App site would surely have failed. However as we all learnt in physics during our secondary school days – opposites do attract. What I do remember is a story we have both recounted several times. As we all know Nicholas was the archetypal geek in school with his super thick (-13) glasses. As a result, he was challenged in seeing clearly at night and for some reason neither of us could remember, I found myself helping him back to the boarding house after prep. He would take a vice- like grip of my left arm (I remember this grip even now as I write) and I would stroll along with him up to Guggisberg House, whilst chatting about everything, drop him off and then make my way to Lugard House. And we engaged in this routine every night as far as I could remember – I still scratch my head at this whole scenario. And the punch line of this story was that I was one day relaxing on my bed in the dormitory during silence hour when I was told I had a visitor. This was a bit odd for me as the only visitor for me in form one at the time would have been my mother, and I was definitely not expecting her! So, I dressed and went outside and there was Nicholas with his dad in a beautiful red Opel car. His father (a diplomat, I think at the time) had obviously been briefed by Nicholas on our relationship and had come by to thank me. You can only imagine how bemused I was when parting he told me to look after his son for him. How could a form one boy look after another form one boy? We both loved telling this tale and laughing about it in later years.
So we went our separate ways after completing our O-Level examinations in 1980 at Achimota School. He ended up in the UK and I went on to study architecture at KNUST. Once again, I cannot recollect how we reconnected but sometime later (must have been in 2000), Nicholas and I rekindled our friendship. Over the subsequent years he became a close friend, confidant and finally extending from the social to the professional world, he managed all my company accounts for me right up to his passing. He was in control of all our books as he tried in vain to make sense of my erratic spending pattern and projects.
Nicholas was a very conscientious and principled person and a strong family man (as will probably be a running thread in other tributes). He loved his wife and children to bits and took an interest in my children’s progress as I did for his too. We would often sit and chat about so many issues affecting our individual lives. He was a very witty and clever man but self-deprecating too. His sense of loyalty and commitment as friend and colleague were never in doubt. On the social front Nick joined Legon Lodge which I had already joined years earlier and had encouraged him to do likewise thus also following in the footsteps of his own father. He was due to hand over leadership of the Lodge to his successor just next month.
My last interaction with Nicholas was on New Years day when we he came over to my home with his family around midday to visit and stayed until the late evening. He had a good measure of his favourite tipple and we had a jolly good time. Little did we know what calamity was to befall us in a few days time. My deepest sympathy goes to his wife and children and I would add that they had a husband and father who commanded the highest level of respect amongst his school mates, friends, peers and colleagues, and who has departed this life after the time God has allotted to him, in his quiet and efficient manner.
And, in the absence of a VAR for life, we must accept and trust that the Good Lord knows best.
Nicholas, my dear friend, Rest in Peace!
-By Charles Blankson-Hemans
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Tribute to a dear friend
“It has been said, ‘time heals all wounds.’ I do not agree. The wounds remain. In time, the mind, protecting its sanity, covers them with scar tissue and the pain lessens. But it is never gone.”
-Rose Kennedy
I became acquainted with Nicholas at high school and at a stage you could say was not short of challenges never ever having been away from family for the duration and all the rest of it… Daunting!!! Or so it seemed at the time. Naturally as part of the journey you begin to establish build upon and maintain relationships with your peers, housemates etc. It was in pursuit of one such exercise that I became friends with Nicholas and I quickly came to realise that behind the geeky nerdy facade was this charming, witty, astute and affable young man an absolute gentleman with discerning qualities epitomised by this quirky chic. There were lot of things about Nicholas that drew you in. I was intrigued by the way his lips asymmetrically curled upwards when he spoke. We often meet people in our life.
We are fortunate to meet great people on the journey of life who become our buddies. It will suffice to add that we got on extremely well and as we progressed through the years in our quest to achieve those academic goals we had the pleasure of experiencing Nicholas’s innate ability to retain this calm composure as he pushed up onwards inspite of all the odds. Nicholas was a joy to be with and a great colleague who was unflinchingly loyal and supportive. In the ensuing years after leaving high school contact between us became somewhat intermittent.
We lost contact for a few years. But thankfully this changed and it was a real pleasure when Nicholas managed to successfully track me down when he embarked on his tertiary education in the UK. Sadly and regrettably due to certain constraints we weren’t able to keep in touch as frequently throughout his time in the UK and while Nicholas made every effort to maintain it regrettably due to other pressures we lost contact.
Nonetheless in 2007 I was able to travel to Ghana and contact was re-established and on another occasion in 2017 where Nicholas visited with his daughter Mimi who was just a delight. And it would come as no surprise that my mum had a part to play in re-establishing contact. She was the enabler if you like. She occasionally dropped by to see the family and kept in touch with the Gbeckor-Kove’s and Nicholas’s Dad would pop by to visit. She undoubtedly feels a great sense of loss. We indicated that we would pick things up and stay in touch but this was no longer meant to be in this realm. Nicholas It is with a heavy heart that we bid you farewell… for now.
Rest peacefully amigo… It has been a real pleasure.
-By Sowah Adjetey
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Farewell Nicholas? Farewell Dear Gberg Brother??..Farewell Indeed Nicholas???
Still grappling with the devastating news of your demise….I cringed at an affirmation of writing a “Trubute”. Tributes are largely for the dead & I had not yet come to terms with the news making rounds…Nicholas is gone !?!?.
Till I come to Terms therefore all I can say is:
“Yours was a Blessing while it lasted…….”
Yours was so calm that nick names passed you by……..
Yours was so friendly that all would call you “my brother”…..
Yours was so endearing that all would seek your thoughts…..
Yours was so forgiving that all would stay clear from upsetting you……
Yours was so genuine that all would agree with me that heaven indeed has welcomed you……
Farewell Nicholas? Farewell Dear Gberg Brother ??. Farewell Indeed Nicholas ???
-By Daniel Ofori-Dankwa
J Y ANNOR
House: Aggrey
I remember when I first met JY, as he was popularly known. His mum worked at the German Embassy which was just a couple of houses from my home.
Some of you wondered why he had SAWABA written all over his books and would draw pictures of horses as well. We both had a love of horses and were regular contestants in the annual gymkhana (equestrian) event at Burma Camp and occasionally play polo at the Accra Polo Ground together. Now, SAWABA was the name of his horse. Boy did he adore that horse. He was in a different world when he was with his horse. His riding skills were second to none and was always a pleasure to compete against him on a regular basis.
Sadly, we lost contact after I left for the UK. May his soul continue to rest in eternal peace.
–by Emma Arbenser.
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JY, as he was usually called, was a “Free Spirit”. He loved his freedom and the world was his playground. He lived life fully, without apology and celebrated Life daily. Nothing at all scared JY whatsoever. This sometimes conflicted with studies. He was a very generous soul who would give you the shirt off his back. He counted on Life to provide for him. Material possessions meant little to him. He made friends easily from all walks of life, yet, he was not bound by the ties of friendship. Given to conversation, he also spoke some German, a testament to his maternal roots – Austria.
JY loved practical jokes which he backed with remarkable speed and agility. He showed signs of being an excellent sportsman in almost all traditional secondary school sports in the junior years though he did not dedicate himself to any. After leaving school he devoted himself to an equine lifestyle. He absolutely loved horse racing and polo. He often drew his favorite horse, “Sawaba”, on his forearm with a ball pen, in a place and at time where openly displayed tattoos for fashion were rare. He loved other animals as well and could mimic their cries with uncanny accuracy, summoning them with ease. A true nature lover, he was not even daunted by snakes. JY, the open skies are now your home. We know you are out there somewhere, fully free at last. “Ruhe in Frieden, Bruder” … Rest in peace, brother, rest in peace.
-By Samuel Akompong
Albert OWUSE-SEKYERE
House: Aggrey
Albert went by quite a few nicknames but “Jobos” was the most popular. Albert loved to have fun and was always the live wire of any gathering he found himself in. As extremely charismatic as he was, a loose following evolved around him. Though he could hardly be found studying, Albert was quite academically accomplished. He preferred to hold court with his merry gathering, as he held them spellbound with jokes, tales or on a mission of typical secondary school boy adventures – going to town without an exeat, playing light hearted pranks on friends, exploring the campus … However, when test results came in, Albert usually scored high marks.
He loved to travel. After leaving school he could be located anywhere from Senegal to Nigeria at any given point in time and probably well beyond as well. Beneath his fun loving nature was a hidden philosophical approach to life. He showed this during the harder or more unpleasant times of school life, whether he was the subject or whether someone else was. He was also compassionate to anyone he found in trouble. Magnetic, adventurer, jokester, prankster, clever, compassionate … Albert, all that you were, you left us too soon … Onua da yie!
-By Samuel Akompong
Kojo AHEDOR
House: Cadbury
Kojo’s nickname, “Charlie Hi” was so ubiquitous that many of us, me included, would have been hard pressed to identify him by his actual name.
“Charlie” arrived at Achimota in 1980 as a 6th former. He may not have had the pedigree of an “old Achimotan” who’d spent Forms one through five at the school, but he more than made up for any deficit by developing into one of the most popular characters in the couple of years it was my pleasure to get to know him.
Charlie’s laughter could often be heard echoing through the dormitories of Cadbury house. With Charlie there was a certain zest for life that extended to him being an inveterate jokester and prankster. That said, Charlie was also a loyal friend and many a late night was spent discussing the sorts of worries that plague teenage boys.
I lost touch with Charlie after we left school in 1982 but all these years later I have warm memories of our two years spent together. Charlie left us far too soon.
-by Kofi Darfoor
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Charles Ahedor but call me Charlie High – And that’s how he introduced himself when he arrived in Cadbury house. Any reservations and apprehensions about who this ‘nino’ gentleman from Bishop Herman College was quickly disappeared. Always with a smiley face and with a nice encouraging word to all. He became our cheerleader on the field. Bubbly and full of life, and a nonchalant easy disposition which endeared him to many – both junior and colleagues
Charlie High was to his friends and colleagues was such a nice, soft-spoken man, with a ready smile for everyone. I admired him because of his gentle manners, his hunger for success and his ambitions too.
I am honoured and privileged to have met and stayed in Cadbury house with Charlie High as our fellow house mate. And he served the Cadbury house tradition of being a fine gentleman. How I wish we could have more Charlie Highs to spice up our world.
-by Bernard Arde-Acquah
Joan ADOMAKO-MENSAH
House: Clark
Joan Ode Adomako-Mensah, popularly known as a Ode, was enrolled at Achimota School in September 1975. She was a former student of State Experimental School in Kumasi and lived in Kumasi with her parents. At Achimota, Ode was in Clark House. She was very bubbly and humorous and lit up every dorm in which she was. She always had interesting stories to tell, especially stories about Kumasi.
Ode was a very intelligent student and an achiever. After completing her O’ levels at Achimota, she proceeded to Saint Louis Secondary School in Kumasi for her A level. From Saint Louis she was admitted to KNUST to study social sciences and graduated in 1987. After her national service, she was recruited to work at the Post & Telecommunications (P & T) office in Accra.
Ode was the pillar of her family. She was very responsible and took charge of all family affairs, especially the upbringing and career paths of her nieces and nephews.
In addition, Ode was a very caring person. She showed care and concern not only for her family members, but for her friends and their families as well.
A few years after she started working at P & T, Ode started complaining about headaches. Eventually, it was discovered that she had developed a brain tumour and she underwent surgery to have it removed. After the surgery, she went to Kumasi to convalesce at her mother’s house. Unfortunately, she never recovered, but passed away in 1995. Her passing was a big blow to her family because she was the last born and her mother’s only daughter. Ode is still sorely missed by her family and fellow Clark House girls.
-by Christabel Lartey and Nana Kegya Appiah-Adu
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Seems like only yesterday, when we met in the parking lot at Clark House, it was 1975. We were just Ninoes, then, but now it’s been 44 years. Joan Ode (pronounced Odey or Odē) Adomako-Mensah – her name for some reason stood out of all the names pinned to the announcement board on the ‘A’ Tiles’ wall as you entered Clark House.
On Sunday evenings during roll call, she responded to her name with a lisp and a giggle. There was a sense of pride about her that, she was one of the privileged few to be admitted to Achimota School. She had dimples and that is an understatement. They were not just on her face but behind her knees, her shoulders and her elbows.
We became instant friends. She had wisdom beyond her years that struck me as unusual. For every moment that I was confounded by the boarding school system she seemed calm and let the daily frustrations of being a nino girl roll off her back.
Once the entire school was in session, I discovered that, like me, she was in Form 1C where all the Catholic students were placed in the stream. That gave me the opportunity to get to know her better. She came from Kumasi and I quickly learned that provisions in a chop box for such a student were a lot more than those from Accra. I watched over the term how she managed her supply and fending off the vulturous seniors with ease. You could depend on her for gari, black pepper, tinapa, sardines, corned beef and luncheon meat right up until the end of term also known as last day soaking or Kuzinik’s Night.
One day, after playing field hockey we learned something new about her. She suddenly became quite ill that afternoon. Everyone stood watching and very frightened. She wheezed heavily and gasped for air. I had seen this before in a sibling and I knew immediately she was having an asthma attack. She had never mentioned that she was asthmatic but fortunately it was not severe. I calmed her down and I asked where her inhaler was. She pointed at her trunk. Before then, she was the great but pint sized petite Ode who could withstand all the bullying of the seniors. After the attack, I began to see where she had found her resilience and why she was strong both in character and her outlook on life.
When we advanced in the Forms, we studied Ode to A Nightingale by John Keats. Seeing as her name Ode was spelled the same way, we ignored the fact that this Ode was silent on the ‘e’ and found ourselves pronouncing the Ode in the title much like we did with her name. It became part of our everyday vocabulary and we found it all rather amusing at that age.
We left Achimota after Form 5 but remained in touch for a while with sending her photographs we took over the last days in Form 5 and I had developed. I learned later that she had moved to Tema and had hopes I would see her again, but life had us drifting even further apart as friends…until, I got word many years later that she had passed on. I searched for answers and there was some mention of a vascular condition. As grief stricken, I quickly looked it up as if to make sense of the loss. Much to my surprise my research led to an interesting entry that made mention of one of the early signs of the condition – multiple dimples.
May she continue to rest in peace. Ode will always be remembered through Keats’ poem
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44479/ode-to-a-nightingale
by Mina Otoo Darfoor
Cynthia RICKS
House: 11
Cynthia Ricks – A short and sweet life
[ May 12, 1964 – Aug 31, 1980]
C Ricks as we affectionately called her, was born on May 12, 1964 in The Hague, Netherlands to Ambassador and Mrs Ricks. She was well travelled and lived in countries like Kenya, Russia and England where her father served in the Liberian Foreign Service. She had a big sister, Christine and two brothers, Christopher and Charron who doted over her.
Cynthia came to Achimota school into Form 3 and she made friends with so many of us immediately. It was love at first sight and her bubbly and loving nature was so endearing not only in house 11 but amongst many of us who got to be in her inner circle. She was a breath of fresh air and easily comparable to an expensive, pretty bubbly champagne. A classy lady who exuded confidence and loved life and people. She passed during the summer of 1980 when we were all celebrating the end of our ‘O’ level exams. May her sweet soul continue to rest in perfect peace.
-by Hon Mona K Quartey
John KEDJANI
House: 12
John Kedjani or Zors as he was known by his housemates was a short, affable and kind of witty guy. His idol was Bob Marley and showed keen interest in everything associated with Jamaica and reggae.
He was quite a good sportsman who represented in the volleyball, cricket, hockey and cross country house teams and was also a very active and good Cadet. Particularly, he had amazing skills in Art and was amongst the best Artists in GC. No wonder he progressed to undertake Art in the university.
Most of us are scattered all over the globe and were not in touch with each other until recently.
Hearing about your loss has thus been shocking to us all. You are really missed.
Rest in Peace brother!!!
-by GC80 Housemates
Phillipa COLEMAN PAITOO
House: 17
Seasons of a Friendship
We first met at Achimota School in 1978 when our seasons of friendship that will never be forgotten began. Seemingly shy but with an aura of confidence and a gait marked by elegance that told you this was sophistication with a hint of ‘very cool’, she stepped into the dimly lit classroom of 4S3 that used to be Form 1C. She looked around and found a seat behind me by the shuttered window. I figured, like me, the view of the Administration Block and the Silk Cotton Tree with kapok dancing beneath its branches would be for her quite the mental escape from the last three periods of one subject or the other.
I turned around and said, “Hi!” She quickly responded in what I later grew to know was her signature spunky tone, “Hii!” We burst out laughing as the teacher, later christened as Frimps, walked in with the look of a timber tycoon, shirt wide open, platform shoes of the Bootsy Collins Parliament Funkadelic kind, and an odd accessory around his neck – a medallion with feather tufts at the end. She nudged me, I winked, and without a word we hit it off and knew Additional Maths was going to be Integration, Differentiation and ‘sum’.
Gradually, every class took the same flavor. Chemistry for cacklers, Literature with laughter, fun in Physics and why crocodile clips might as well be used to tweeze your eyebrows. When classes ended each day, she would head for the Western Compound for lunch, rest hour and activities in House 17. Being on different compounds and Houses never took away from the friendship. I would stay on the Eastern Compound on a similar schedule and would eagerly look forward to the next episode of classes. We would observe classmates batating with amusement. Roll our eyes if someone lost their place when called by Ms. Sowah aka Sowiii to read ‘Marriage of Anansewa’, “Oh life is a struggle, Oh life is a pain.”
During the Summer vacation, I would walk from Ridge, taking the back roads to Ringway, crossing the famous gutter that was one wooden plank away from doom and destination Korle Lagoon. Never was I deterred by roaming mongrels masquerading as ferocious dogs, gates labeled ‘BEWARE OF DOG’, and fed on a staple diet of gari, fufu and light soup leftovers. I would make the trek to the Coleman-Paittoo’s. I would stop by other Akora households – the Gyenings, the Boahenes, Sintim-Aboagyes and then turn into the little wooded cul-de-sac to catch up on ‘life’ with her. I remember her father would call for her, “Aheema!” and how I came to know her fiei dzin and very befitting. We would talk about our dreams, the latest fashions, makeup, hairstyles and I remember when one first term she came back with a near buzz cut that was lower than the Ms. Cool herself, Clark House mistress and Art Teacher – Somers Davies.
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That was her – dare to be different in an unobtrusive way! We would talk about our dreams, ambitions, who was who and who was seeing who. We had the ardent desire to be successful women. Whatever that meant to us at the time and probably something close to a mix of Pam Grier as Foxy Brown, Diahann Carroll, Tamara Dobson, anyone in overread copies of Jet and Ebony magazine that fit the profile, successful in their careers and ‘sum’.
When we finished our G.C.E. ‘O’ Levels in 1980 and left Achimota School, the political and economic climate of Ghana was in turmoil. Our Rainy and Harmattan seasons would come to an abrupt end. With collar bones ‘raised’, we were fortunately blessed and found ourselves quite displaced and in Britain. We would meet at the odd gathering at Uncle Kwesi Buckman’s at Collingham Gardens and reminisce about Ghana, and what we essentially saw ourselves missing out on back at home. The dreary days of Britain would tip, when we both turned up at University Tutorial College at the same time as a contingent of Akoras and other Ghanaian students we knew from back home. Just like old times and like we never left Achimota School, we found a way to thoroughly entertain ourselves in the cafeteria, share our secrets, pour out our hearts, catch up on the latest and the greatest with squeals of laughter and yet disciplined enough to hit the books because the upbringing insisted that a stable career mattered equally for boys as it did girls.
Several years went by and in the Fall of 1987, I moved to Earls Court and a few miles away from the Opticians on High Street Kensington where she worked. A Godsend really that she would be so close by. That in the seasons of our friendship we would also see a Winter, a Spring and a Summer. That at the drop of a hat, when things got rough, studies got me down as living in London can be for a young woman, Phillipa would be a ‘board’ and a fireside. I would head to her workplace on High Street Kensington and share the joys and the losses. She had a heart of gold even though it bled… her mother’s long battle with cancer and how bad things were in Ghana at the time to the point where oxygen left over from what they would ship home for her mother’s surgery was donated to Military Hospital for other patients awaiting surgery. Sadly and prophetically as if waiting for an organ donor.
She would listen quietly to me as she worked on lens prescriptions, discuss the pros and cons of contact lenses over the phone, and saw to a customer’s frames selection, as if I really wasn’t there but all the while taking in my every word and expression with her peripheral vision and outer ear. When I was done, she would suggest we find a place to eat, fling her well manicured fingers in the air and utter enthusiastically, “let’s find somewhere to have dinner!” In an instant, my troubles would be gone. She was like a mood enhancer and still never letting on that she had her own struggles.
If I made trips to London in the late 80s, it would be hanging with Phillipa and her cast of colorful roommates and staying up all night to discuss every subject on earth, politics, fashion, the economy, love, life,…. It would be visits to Uncle Buckie’s and Bibi’s, the new and old haunts, and as I relocated to the United States, one last trip to London in the late Spring of 1989, we would do the outrageous and dine at an ungodly hour at a restaurant with suspended booths. With less than a couple of hours sleep but a lot of catching up and fun, she bid me farewell at Heathrow Airport at 5:00 am the following morning. She would call me up in Washington later that day to let me know in the mad rush to pack I left my clothes hanging behind her door. We both burst out laughing.
When she decided to leave Britain in 1989 we talked about what and where next. She would relocate to Ghana with plans of possibly setting up her own Opticians but knew the capital to invest in the equipment would be huge. She considered a Hallmark franchise and met with Executives to make the case but it turned out Ghana already had one franchise and the company could not afford to invest twice in one location. Bummed out but not broken. That was her spirit. She finally decided to open an Arts and Crafts Shop instead of follow her field of study. I guess she’d had enough of eyes… her own eyes would always be a sparkle.
In the Summer of 2000, we would revive the friendship on my first trip back to Ghana after almost 13 years. It was a wonderful reunion. Like nothing had changed, but a lot had happened and a number of our dreams had morphed into essentially what I would call ‘life’. Some visions had successfully taken off others lost in mid-flight and no where in sight on the radar. She had set up her Art gallery right there in the house. An amazing idea that brought a feel of unimaginable personal attention as you sat in the comfort of her living room. You could then envisage what each canvas would look like in your home. We spent hours looking at the paintings and picking what now drapes the walls in my home to this day.
In the footsteps of her mother, she was also running a Daycare (her children) in her backyard. We caught up on so much, laughed until I felt she could not feed me much more mirth and so much good cheer to last a lifetime. I returned the following evening on the eve of my departure. We talked as if there was more time, there would be many more trips.. and maybe I would consider relocating to Ghana. She asked me what I wanted to eat. I sat and like a delicacy of sorts nibbled on Kofi broke-man, blowing away the husk of the groundnuts, assessing what was then and what we knew now that seasons always change and we would adapt.
Many years would go by but I always thought of her. A scenery, a gesture, a joke and I would remember her at Achimota, UTC, High Street Kensington, the various flats in Central London where as Bridget Nelson nee Baffour expressed in her condolences on FB, “we would hang.” Each morning I am greeted throughout the house by paintings from her gallery. This Summer,2010, I felt a tug at my heart. I couldn’t shake it off. This constant urging to get in touch with her and that there was an ebb in her vitality. I could not have known that the last time I would see her was at the dawn of the new millennium.
On the morning of Monday, October 12, 2010, I got a message from her uncle, that she had passed away and that she had mentioned me a number of times as a friend. As I read the message, my heart sunk to my stomach and I could only utter feebly, “ewuradze nyankopon ɔ wɔ sor hu hεn mɔbɔr.” I lowered my head and wiped away the tears and felt an odd feeling of tremendous grief, because she had never ever made me shed a tear. I felt her heart was of such great strength it could withstand any storm but I guess it was another differentiated structure that gave way.
I, together with the Achimota School Class of 1980, several others who all grew up as neighborhood friends at Ringway Estates – KB, Isabella, Katie, Jackie, Jake, Paa Kwesi, Panyin, Kakra, Gideon, Sintim-Aboagyes, Woods, Senchereys, De Heers, Beausoleils, Arthurs, her London ‘sorority’ and family – Bridget, Maame, Uncle Kwesi and Bibi, all mourn her loss. We are grief stricken, because we always thought she – Phillippa, Aheema, Pippa would be with us forever and a day. She has left us with such great memories of compassion, fun, laughter and moments of great introspection about life’s burdens and the will to carry on. God has need of her. May she rest in perfect peace as I remember the choral song we sung as the Aggrey Chapel Choir ~
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqoE_pW7a8M
by Mina Otoo Darfoor
Emmanuel AMANKWAH
House: Livingstone
Emma was quite shy when we all met for the first time in Livingstone in 1975, although for some of us, we had spent six years together previously at Achimota Primary School. It is still not clear how he became known as ‘Joshua’.
We have great memories of ‘Joshua’ as a very generous member of the year group. We also remember Emma for his sense of style – a quality he displayed throughout his relatively short life. After Motown, Emma went on to study Civil Engineering at McGill in Canada. He lived in Paris for many years, always very well turned out. His key quality was making sure everyone around him was okay , always looking to make everyone comfortable.
A kind heart and a generous spirit, right from primary school – Joshua, dear friend, rest in perfect peace.
-by OAA80 Livingstone House colleagues
Humphrey NARTEY
House: Livingstone
Humphrey Nartey, also known as ‘Ormoror’ -was a very well-liked member of Livingstone House. A dear friend to many, he wore a permanent smile, and was always ready to crack a joke. The tallest of the ‘ninoes’ who arrived at Livingstone in September 1975, he bonded with everyone and we all quickly settled into what became a great experience for us over the next five years.
Equally good at sport and academics, he saw the lighter side in most situations, and this is what we, his housemates, will all remember. He was the Livingstone House Prefect between 1981-82. Sadly, he was called up too soon. It would have been great to have him around now – and for us all to swap our stories and experiences from our journeys on God’s good earth. However, we are grateful for the five years we had with Ormoror, and the fond memories we can now share.
We are comforted in knowing that he died in the Lord. Live on Humphrey….once a ‘Livingstonian’…..always a Living Soul!
-by OAA80 Livingstone House colleagues
Kwame SARBENG
House: Lugard
When eighteen of us entered Lugard House as Ninoes in late September 1975, Lawrence Kwame Sarbeng was one of the smallest physically but later proved to be a guy with a big heart and lots of courage.
He was a versatile and great sportsman, fantastic hockey player and Single handedly, he kept the Achimota school Boy’s Scout club going strong and joined the Cadet corps in his 5th year. He was affable, friendly, a bit rebellious at times but devotedly a very staunch Catholic.
So far, he is the only one who has moved on to glory and we miss him very much.
-by Paul Avudzivi
Gabriel BLANKSON-HEMANS
House: McCarthy
Your lost friends are not dead, but gone before. Advanced a stage or two upon that road which you must travel in the steps they trod.
-Aristophanes
The text came in that morning. No, not that text! The one I received was from a Blankson-Hemans. That much I knew. I replied …” I know this is a Blankson-Hemans, I am just not sure if it is Gabriel or Charles”. A reply came in…” This is Charles. Gabriel passed away a few years ago.” What …Really …How…When….??
This is how I found out my friend and house colleague Gabriel, had made the journey upon that road. I never saw Gabriel after 1980. My memories are frozen in time.
I have very fond recollections of my friend, Gabriel. We both ended up in McCarthy House as 12 year old greenhorns and went through the joy and challenges of our teenage years and boarding school together. Yes, Gabriel had his health challenges, but he did not let that deter him from anything. He enthusiastically and passionately cheered at sports functions. He carried on with his studies. He was a gentle warrior. But of course, when health issues could be used as a pretext to excuse himself from the boarding school chores, just like anyone of us, he would take it.
My closeness to Gabriel was reinforced by my relationship with Charles. Charles was the class buddy and Gabriel was the House buddy. I spent countless memorable and enjoyable hours in the Blankson-Hemans house. It was my school home, barely 100 feet from McCarthy House.
My friend, I miss you. My friend, we all miss you.
Gabriel…our angel Gabriel….Your name means “God is my strength”. We know you have taken your rightful place in Heaven. We rest in comfort knowing that you are in a better place. We shall meet again when we advance a stage or two upon that road.
-by Randy Asante
Charles TORNUGBLE
House: McCarthy
I just want to take this time to remember my friend and cousin Charles Tornugble.
He was a gentle and kind decent person. We hung out mostly on school vacation at his house because he lived close to Opera and we could go to ‘12’ movies. In retrospect he was a very accommodating friend. When school was in session I knew I could stop by his dorm for food when I was broke. He would smile and say I have something we can share. My parents liked it when we hung out, because they knew Charles could be trusted to make good choices.
I never got a chance to connect with him after I left in ‘81, however I will always remember him for his giving nature and may he rest in peace.
-by Michael Kuma
Bernice GLOVER
House: Slessor
Bernice was passionate about everything that she did.
Bernice took life, maybe, too seriously because she knew that was the way to succeeding in every step. It was her way of getting through and making things happen.
Bernice, one of the finest Eye Surgeons that our country Ghana would have benefited from was snatched from us by those who through their carelessness. ironically, didn’t see things as seriously as she had.
We all miss Bernice but we also know she’s in a good place now.
-by Margaret Boateng-Sampong
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A Letter to Bernice Kafui Glover
Dear B. Glo,
I got to know you well long after we left Motown. After College, you were generous enough to invite me to join you in Boston as we prepared to apply to medical school. You helped me secure my first research job, encouraged me to enroll in the MCAT test prep course and were a great support when things got tough and I entertained the thought of giving up! You were very focused on your goals but equally passionate about helping others (particularly young girls) succeed.
I remember our apartment on Main Street in Cambridge, where we studied hard but also found time for fun when you would prepare your usual feasts and invite the group of students from MIT over (including our own Prakah Asante!). I remember lots of laughter but also some serious discussions and especially your frequent admonitions to the guys to treat their ladies well! My time in Boston was so memorable, thanks to you!
Years later, upon hearing the sad news of your passing, I was in shock! You were taken away from us too soon. I found myself wondering if I had told you enough how grateful I was for all your help. I can honestly say that your guidance and support was instrumental in leading me to the belief that with hard work and determination, I could realize my dream of a career in medicine.
B. Glo, I hope you know that I will always be grateful to you.
Rest in God’s Perfect PEACE,
-by Isabella Gyening
Mary OSEI TUTU
House: Slessor
Sixteen years on since she passed away we still have fond memories of Mary Boateng nee Osei-Tutu.
In Slessor House, Mary was one of the girls who was everybody’s friend. She was affable, studious and had a sense of humour. We remember her bright smile and twinkly eyes and she always made an effort to attend year group reunions in the UK and was always good company.
Such was our devastation when we heard she was terminally ill, that we rallied round to support her husband and three lovely daughters with a group visit and constant phone calls praying and encouraging them all. Special thanks to Nadia who lived close enough to support the family during Mary’s final weeks and especially during the funeral arrangements.
Rest in peace Slessor girl till we meet again
-by Esi Cleland