R. R. Amponsah Gets Date

Family members of the late Amponsah being welcomed by President Mills

THE LATE Reginald Reynolds Amponsah, affectionately called R. R. Amponsah, a former Chairman of the Council of Elders of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), who died last June, will be buried at Adudwan near Asante Mampong on September 3, 2009.

The burial of the late politician and potter will be preceded with a service at the Methodist Cathedral in Kumasi. A grand funeral will follow the service, two days later, on September 5, 2009 at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi.

On September 13, 2009, a memorial and thanksgiving service will be held for the late Amponsah at the Calvary Methodist Church in Accra.

A delegation of the Agona Clan from Asante Mampong, led by Mr. Kwabena Gyimah Osei Bonsu, one-time Minister of State, made the announcement when they called on President John Evans Atta Mills at The Castle to inform him of the funeral arrangement of the late Mr. Amponsah.

Mr. Amponsah died at the age of 89 on June 3, 2009 after a short illness.

President Mills eulogized the late Mr. Amponsah as a son of Ghana who served to the best of his abilities, describing his demise as a loss not only to his relations but the loss of a friend, mentor and father.

“History will judge him kindly and the nation will always remember him…. I saw him even from afar as a very quiet man, very accommodating. The nation has lost a statesman, a teacher, an educator and a friend”, President Mills said.

He extended his deepest condolences to the bereaved family and added, “The nation will make its presence felt at the burial ceremony so we can have an opportunity to bid him a fitting farewell. May the soul of R. R. Amponsah rest in perfect peace”.

James Victor Gbeho, Presidential Advisor on Foreign Policy, said the late Mr. Amponsah “would be received by the good Lord in his company in heaven”.

While expressing his condolences to the family, Mr. Gbeho, an old student of Achimota School where Mr. Amponsah also schooled said, “Let's not waste our tears on an occasion like this but rather on the positive effects he had on others so that his rich experience will enrich our contribution to the building of this nation”. He completed his course at the Achimota College in 1942.

Achimota at the time was not a school for students who were only interested in Greek, Latin and other purely academic studies. It was also a place for those who were interested in and appreciated the contribution of technology to development.

Mr. Amponsah demonstrated a keen interest in ceramics, particularly pottery. Those who knew him at the time recounted that he enjoyed nothing better than spending long periods by the kiln, firing pottery. And it was remarkable that no matter how late he stayed at the kiln, he would be at his best and in a very good mood the next morning.

This was the period of World War II, and Achimota was anxious to promote indigenous industry in the Gold Coast.

Due to his interest and demonstrated aptitude in the field, R. R. was awarded a scholarship to Loughborough College at Stoke in England, for further studies in pottery. He was a keen student who came out with flying colours and was awarded a prize for pottery in his final examination.

As a leading member of the NPP, the late Mr. Amponsah held a number of positions during his long political career.

He was a good organizer, gregarious, full of life, energetic and was liked by many.

Considered one of the most prominent Ghanaians who espoused different political ideas from that of the Convention People's Party (CPP), R.R. Amponsah was forced into exile with others from both the CPP and UP traditions under Dr. Kwame Nkrumah's regime.

Although not too strong due to old age, the former Chairman of the Council of Elders of the NPP, played a significant role in the last general elections in 2008, at which the party lost power to the ruling National Democratic Congress.

GNA