Thousands Mourn With Gyan

Father and sons-Ziggy(L) Baby Jet, Asaase Jay and Baffour

Thousands of mourners of various backgrounds joined Ghana captain Asamoah Gyan to give his late mother, Cecelia Love Amoako, a befitting funeral over the weekend.

Indeed, the number of mourners and organization of the ceremony- from the day of wake keeping through burial to funeral and thanksgiving service – could be equated to that of a sitting president.

Indeed, the affection friends and sympathizers demonstrated surpassed the insults some Ghanaians had subjected Asamoah Gyan to, for breaking their hearts in some games.

The New Gbawe cluster of schools park near the deceased's residence was jam packed with people from far and near.

                                       Massive  Vigil

http://www.dailyguideghana.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/mum.jpg The massive turn out for the vigil service (wake keeping) last Friday at the deceased's New Gbawe residence gave a foretaste of the funeral service on Saturday.

Accra-based Metro TV carried part of the vigil service live and to some extent that influenced the turn out, with thousands queuing up under heavy police presence to file past the corpse, as it was laid in state.

Despite the heavy human traffic, various jama groups pitched camp at vantage points to while away the night. Conspicuous among them was Abraham Nkansah's Die Hard Supporters Union.

Of course, the hired spinning group kept the place alive, releasing old school tracks from the Nana Ampadus, Akwaboahs, Alex Konadus, JA Adofos, Nana Agyeman Opambuors, Okukusekus, Akwasi Ampofo Agyeis, etc.

Traditional Farewell
Peace FM's presenter Adjoa Yeboah Agyei conducted the traditional farewell ceremony in the early hours of Saturday at the deceased's residence with mastery.

The bidding of farewell in a dirge for the late Mama Love, as she was affectionately called, generated spontaneous tears, especially from widower Gyan Baffour Mensah (Asaase Jay).

Mothers of Footballers Mothers Association presented items such as drinks, a scarf, a mat, a pillow, etc, carried by beautiful young ladies lined up in the presence of the gathering, to the departed soul for her use in the ancestral world as custom states.

                                    Tears Flow

Opoku Mensah Gyan, third son of the deceased and Mrs Mavis Danquah, eldest child, broke down in tears uncontrollably when the casket was lifted for the burial service at the St Stephens Methodist Church, New Gbawe. That stirred family members and sympathizers to join them.

And it took courageous siblings Asamoah Gyan and Baffour Gyan to console weeping Poku and Mrs  Danquah.

Burial And Requiem Service
The usual serene and emotional atmosphere of burial services characterized the service but not when the preacher of the day Very Reverend Eric Ofoe Doku introduced NPP's 2012 presidential candidate Nana Akufo Addo. The introduction generated wild cheers from the mourners, who hailed the opposition leaders. He was accompanied by Sheikh I.C. Quaye and Elizabeth Ohene, former minister of state, Education.

                               Accra To Oseikrom

The untiring MTTU Police escorts discharged their duties excellently, and ensured that the corpse was at the Kotoka International Airport on time despite the heavy Mallam-Gbawe traffic, for the interment at the Mampongteng Cemetery in the Ashanti Region.

Antrak Air Gives To Gyans
Management of Antrak Air, the flight that conveyed the corpse and the close to 60 family members to Kumasi and back, presented a parcel to the Black Stars captain and his bereaved family.

It was Mrs Danquah who received it and thanked Christopher Isaiah, head of operations at Antrak Air for the gesture.

Kumasi Airport/Cemetery
Again, the MTTU of Kumasi were set for action at the Kumasi Airport long before the flight touched down. They hit the road soon after arrival and before long, the team was at the grave yard.

Pastors of Manponteng Methodist received the body and performed the burial rites which was followed by the lowering of the casket into the grave.

Gbawe School Park (Agya Koo)
The Gbawe School Park hosted the many fans and sympathizers that mourned with the Al-Ain star player.

Actor cum comedian Agya Koo's brilliance on the mic endeared him to the crowd after his rendition of some songs. Bob Okala was also present to contribute his quota by way of comedy as well as performances from other groups.

Directly behind the VIP stand at the funeral grounds was a giant covered tent where food was served.

                           Donations
Donations poured in just as the crowd thickened. The country's football governing body GFA donated ¢10,000; football legend Abedi Pele also gave ¢10,000, a figure that became a common denominator among the affluent donors, while the Ministry of Youth and Sports gave ¢5,000 and cartons of drinks.

Thanksgiving Service/ Family Gathering
The family returned to the St Methodist Church to render their sincerest thanks to God for seeing them through the difficult moment in a black and white customized cloth in their late mum's honor yesterday.

Later in the afternoon yesterday, the family gathered again at the Gbawe cluster of school for the final funeral rites.

By Kofi Owusu Aduonum