IN MEMORIAM Edward Osei Kofi Gyamfi

To: A friend, brother and Mentor
“Friends thou have, their adoption tried, grapple them to thy soul with hoops of steel”-An .English bard and poet

Looking back at my formative years, three great influences that shaped my life and let me be what am today were: my family, the late Headmaster of Asanteman Secondary School John Owusu Ofori and Edward Osei Kofi Gyamfi a friend, mentor and a benefactor whose death is being memorialized today.

My mind goes back to the late 1950 at Ashanti New Town across from Roman Catholic Girls School, in Kumasi. At that time Mr Osei Gyamfi had graduated from Tech as a pharmacist and had established your first store the Union Drug Store near Roman Hill. One evening coming from work we met at the entrance to the house then I , young tall scrawny kid just coming from school saluted him and helped to carry his brief case to his house. My little innocuous gesture was the beginning of an enduring friendship that has survived to present day. Even though I have been living in the United States for decades our friendship still endured until his death. Throughout the years he did receive and treated me the same way when I ever I came to Ghana or he visited me on his periodic visits to USA.

From the day I carried his brief case, I became a frequent visitor to his house ; he took me in as a friend and younger brother notwithstanding differences in our ages. He would sometimes send his house boy to ask about me when ever we had not seen each other in a for some time. He taught me of the nuances of Ghana politics prevailing in those days. Then president Osagyefo

Kwame Nkurmah was the supreme leader of Ghana. He and professional friends which I became part of could not

help but console each other when the membership of the political opposition was being decimated by the notorious Osagyefo's Preventive Detection Act, PDA at Nsawam and clamped down on free speech and press. The opposition party United Party (UP) was the main opposition but due to constant decimation of its leadership by Nkrumah through imprisonment to Nsawam, the party literally went under ground and the only way we could communicate with each other in public was to shout “Member”. I was only a high school student then but I was among his close friends .

As my mentor, he inculcated into me certain values such as confidence ,discipline , resilience , hard work, and positive optimism. These values have sustained me to this day. The nugget of wisdom I still carry with me was his advice about the will power and strong mental acuity. As he wont to point out: one might temporary lose one's materials things; but one's brain will not disappoint him/her; That was how he taught me about belief in oneself, self confidence and ability to bounce back from failure or disappointment.

Through his guidance and mentorship, he helped me get my first job as a pupil teacher at Kenyase/Kumasi LA school after I had passed my West African School Examination. Further I studied privately and passed the University of London General Certificate of Education , Advance level without attending the 6th Form studies when I was working as a tutor at my alma mater Asanteman Secondary School. An accomplishment I was proud of.

When the time came for me to leave for the United States to continue my education, he was there for me when I needed a little help to supplement my airline ticket. After my departure to U.S. he served as my representative in my family affairs. My late mother who passed to glory about two years ago remarked to me one day that she had no better son than Mr. Gyamfi.

It will take volumes to chronicle his life's story and especially on his various charitable and philanthropic works to which many of us as individuals, institution such as KATH or KNUST in Kumasi and elsewhere were the beneficiaries. His friendship with the late Prof Adu Boahen was legendary and he was one of the key architects of campaign in Prof's efforts to reclaim democracy from the dark ages of PNDC era. His support for him and NPP during the elections campaign of 1994 was outstanding ; he did not spare any efforts or resources to help in the Prof's quest for constitutional democratic governance in Ghana. How many people remember this?.

In spite of Mr. Gyamfi's busy schedule as the CEO and Managing Director of Bikkai Pharmacy Ltd., one of the leading pharmaceutical industries (manufacturing, wholesaling and retailing) in Ghana for decades, he devoted his other attention to national interests such as serving as the President of the Pharmaceutical Association of Ghana, on the Board of Directors of West African Pharmaceutical Association and as a member of the Constituent Assembly that drew up the 1992 Ghana's Constitution. It is my opinion that he was not been given proper credit or recognition for his legacy but those of us who had had the privilege to have known and interacted with him know and appreciate his contributions to Ghana.

When I came home for a visit he toted me a round among his high friends and family as a beloved relative or son who has made good. Osei Gyamfi was proud of me and never failed to point out the high academic laurels and professional standard I had achieved. Friendship was an important aspect of his life and as I learnt in my life it's one of the components of a balance in one's life. One always needs a friend to get one's back. Such an experience has also influenced me in my relationship with others . He was generous to a fault. There was always extra plate at the table or a room for a visitor either out of town or a friend from U.S. I had introduced . Truly he manifested the Shakespearian perspectives about a true and loyal friendship to the core. He opined that in life's' experience many friends may come and go but the few faithful and loyal ones remain to have one's back in times of need. Never a moment did I hear him bad mouth a fallen or betrayed friendship. When very often when I enquired about an old former friend his usual positive retort was “ he/she is doing well somewhere”.

Mr. Gyamfi's devoted and distinguished life should serve as a model for the oncoming generations . I am happy and proud to have known him and have been a beneficiary of his legacy. Yes he provided the wind beneath my wings and let me soared up to the stratosphere. Thanks for having known him and being his friend. Thanks for his life which he unselfishly shared with others. Even though for many years we were oceans apart, separated by the Atlantic ocean, our friendship endured until his demise

In conclusion , Kofi Osei Gyamfi , “Member”, has earned the accolade, which according to St Paul, our good God has promised to the faithful: That is he kept up a good fight, he kept the faith and he stayed the course. Hi is now gone to claim the crown of righteousness from our Lord.

My condolences to his beloved and devoted wife Afia; to his devoted daughter Stella Love Gyamfi , her brothers / sisters and the entire Ekuona family,

***REQUESCAT IN PACE***
BY: Dr. Agyenim Boateng
Fmr Deputy Attorney General
State of Kentucky, USA