Murdered Journalist Buried
FINAL funeral rites for the late Mr. Samuel Best Ennin, 42, a seasoned journalist, recently gunned down by unidentified assassins in Kumasi was given an international touch over the weekend, as journalists from Taiwan stormed the funeral grounds to give it a coverage.
The journalists, from Sanlix Television in Taiwan, told that they were at the funeral to provide coverage in view of the circumstances under which the deceased journalist, former News Editor of Assh FM was cruelly murdered.
They said they were also in town to study more about the rich Ghanaian culture, customs and traditions, which they observed had similarities with theirs.
The late Ennin's funeral coincided with the burial of Speenash Freeman, a Fox FM presenter who died with his girlfriend in a motor accident on the Kumasi-Accra road a couple of weeks back.
The interment ceremony for the late Ennin who was until his death the Ashanti Regional chairman of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), was greeted with various dramatic surprises, with President Kufuor leading a high-powered government delegation to join hundreds to mourn the late journalists.
The President was accompanied to the funeral grounds by a number of his ministers.
Among them were the Ashanti Regional Minister, Hon. E.A Owusu Ansah and his deputy, Hon. Osei Assibey Antwi, Hon. Papa Owusu Ankomah, Education, Science and Sports Minister, Hon. Alan Kyeremanteng, Trade, Industry and PSI Minister, and Hon. Kwamena Bartels, Information and National Orientation Minister.
Others were Dr. Kwame Addo-Kufuor, Defence Minister; Dr. Richard Anane, MP, Nhyiaeso; Dr. Anthony Akoto Osei, MP, Tafo/Pankrono and deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Planning; Hon. Cecilia Abena Dapaah, deputy Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing and MP for Bantama; Hon. Joe Baidoo Ansah, deputy Minister of Tourism; and the Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive, Madam Patricia Appiagyei.
Before President Kufuor and his entourage touched down at the funeral grounds, executives of the GJA and Private Newspaper Publishers Association of Ghana (PRINPAG), led by their presidents, Mr. Ransford Tetteh and Mrs. Gina Blay respectively, as well as Chairman of the National Media Commission, Mr. Paul Adu-Gyamfi, arrived to pay their final respects to the dead and mourn with the family.
Other journalists were Daily Graphic editor, Yaw Boadu-Ayeboafoh, editor of Ghanaian Times, Ms Ajoa Yeboah-Afari and the General Secretary of GJA, Bright Blewu.
The KCC school park, where the funeral was held, was filled to capacity as journalists and representatives of various media organisations in the country as well as sympathizers thronged the venue to pay their last respects to their deceased companion.
Among the traditional rulers who were present at the funeral were a representative of the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Jacobuhene, Nana Fosu Kwadwiabri II, and Nana Yaw Barimah, chief of Mampong Asokwa.
Interestingly, Nana Yaw Barimah, a journalist with Daily Graphic, stole the show when he stormed the funeral grounds with his drummers and entertained the mourners with traditional dancing.
In view of the fact that Ennin's death was heart-wrenching, individuals and institutions freely donated toward the organization of the funeral, with President Kufuor presenting ¢10 million and the Ashanti NPP secretariat giving to the bereaved and orphans ¢10 million.
On its part, the GJA and PRINPAG donated ¢10 million each to support the wife and young children of the deceased, while Hon. Kwamena Bartels personally donated ¢5million and Papa Owusu Ankomah, ¢2 million, with the Asantehehe donating an undisclosed amount.
Several other individuals, politicians and institutions particularly media organisations donated to the bereaved family.
Earlier, hundreds of journalists and sympathisers filed past the mortal remains of the late journalist amidst weeping and wailing, before it was sent to Biribiwomanmu, his hometown for interment.
Rev. Dr. Peter Adjei Anno who officiated the burial service, entreated people to surrender their lives to God, to prepare their souls adequately for Judgment Day.
In her tribute, the widow, Ms. Monica Ennin said her late husband had visited the family with gifts for her and the children, and barely 15 hours later, she received the shocking news of his death.
In spite of the pain his death had caused her and their two children, Monica said she had taken consolation in the Bible, hoping that they would one day meet again on the appearing of the Lord.
A few other tributes including the GJA's were read to give compliments to the late Mr. Samuel Best Ennin.
The deceased, who was shot dead in the company of other persons at the Libra World Spot at Pankrono Estate on February 9 by unidentified assassins, was survived by a wife and two children, Kofi Acheampong and Abena Boatemaa.
Although those who killed him are still roaming the streets, the Ashanti Regional Police Command, led by Deputy Commissioner of Police Frank Adu-Poku has given the firm assurance that the killers would not go unpunished.
From James Quansah & Stella Danso, Kumasi