May John Owusu Afriyie's Soul Rest In Peace

It is so sad to learn that the inimitable Chief Executive, of the Forestry Commission, Mr. John Owusu Afriyie, has passed away, after apparently contracting COVID-19. May his soul rest in peace. Though some of us were critical of his stewardship, of a vital part of our country's priceless natural heritage, this is the time to show our common humanity, and join his loved ones, to mourn his passing away.

He has embarked on the final journey, which, as mere mortals, we must, and, will, all eventually also undertake, individually. Such is life, alas. At some point, our lives on earth must come to an end. And that ought to inform the way we all live our lives. We must endeavor to live in harmony with our fellow humans, and with Mother Nature. Always.

That is why the message (at this sad time for many of those he interacted with while alive), to all those enriching themselves, today, destroying our forests, ought to be that they need to pause and reflect - and take cognisance of the fact that they cannot, and will not, take away the filthy lucre, which they make by destroying our natural capital base.

Ditto, destroying our hitherto rich biodiversity, precious ecosystems and the watershed of our streams and river systems, as well as poisoning vast swathes of rural Ghana, in the process, and, endangering the intake-sources of countless water treatment plants, across our homeland Ghana.

Furthermore, the point also needs to be made that regardless of how we saw Mr. John Owusu Afriyie's stewardship of our natural heritage, common decency demands that following his sudden death, our thoughts and prayers should focus on his grieving extended family members, and his closest friends. We must commiserate with them at what is obviously a very difficult time for them. They have our heartfelt sympathies.

For Mother Ghana, and for Mother Nature - as well as for our younger generations, and their young children's unborn offspring - it is a new fresh-start-opportunity, to start seeing the Forestry Commission for what it actually is, at a time when global climate change is impacting the Ghanaian countryside so negatively.

In light of that, one therefore strongly recommends the CEO of the Legon Botanical Gardens, Mr. Eugene Kofi Boakye-Yiadom, to President Akufo-Addo, as the most suitable Ghanaian, to be appointed by him, to head the Forestry Commission.

Under the able leadership of Mr. Eugene Kofi Boakye-Yiadom, the Forestry Commission can serve as an important bedrock, for a new green economy, which can create endless wealth that remains locally, for countless green micro-entrepreuners, and jobs galore, countrywide, for our younger generations.

Although he might probably be unwilling to abandon the Legon Botanical Gardens, Mr. Eugene Kofi Boakye-Yiadom, has the track-record, to prove that as Ghana's foremost green entrepreneur, he can make a difference for the Forestry Commission's future, as a green economy pillar. But I digress.

May Mr. John Owusu Afriyie's soul rest in peace. He paid his dues in his own inimitable way - and, in his memory, one says: Sir John, demerifa duea, duea, duea. Duea eni amanehunu.

Sent from Samsung tablet.