Squadron Amegadoe- Safo laid to rest

Accra, Dec. 1, GNA - The late Squadron Leader Benoni Emmanuel Kwadzo Amegadoe-Safo (Rtd), 81 was buried at the Osu Cemetery on Saturday, November 26.

Squadron Leader Amegadoe-Safo held a number of strategic positions in the Air force including being the Offensive Systems Officer, the Tactical Systems Operator, Officer Incharge of Services Flight, Airforce Station, Takoradi, Airforce Personnel Specialist, Officer Commanding Administration Wing, Air Force Station Accra.

He retired from the Armed Forces on November 30, 1979.

He was born on March 18, 1935, to Lucy Dzifa Abra Amegadoe from Peki Dzake and Winfred Kwadzo Safo from Peki Wodome all of blessed memory.

He was christened Benoni Emmanuel Safo Kwadzo Amegadoe the initials, which became his name BESKA, which he used fervently during his life time. He later changed his surname to read Amegadoe-Safo

His mother Lucy was an accomplished nurse at the then European Hospital, now Ridge Hospital in Accra and so had to leave him with his grandmother, Rosa Attawa Amegadoe nee Nyalemegbe and his grandfather Humphery Gilbert Kwadzo Amegadoe Snr, a prominent citizen and a highly educated man of his time.

As the first grandson of his grandfather and being older than most of his aunties and uncles,he was pampered, yet taught basic etiquettes at a very tender age with strict Presbyterian discipline to enable him associate with adults as well as his peers.

Kwadzo started nursery school at age five in 1940. He was at the same time receiving private tuition from his grandfather at home. So by age eight, he became his grandfather's personal secretary, carrying his files as he met with other personalities who travelled to hold meetings with him.

Among his peers, he was a show boy who very often gave out sweets and chocolates, which he had in his pockets.

The brilliant young lad had to change schools during his basic education, moving from Peki to Oda because his grandparents handed his upbringing to his maternal uncle Darlington Kwame Amegadoe, also deceased.

In Beska's own words: 'My earliest recollection of my uncle was at Oda in the late 1930's and early 1940's. He was everything to me. My world revolved around him. He gave me everything I needed and I had more than enough of everything: including candies, cookies, chocolates. My uncle was patient and showed me love.'

In 1951 FoKwadzo as some affectionately called him, excelled in the Common Entrance Examination and gained admission to Odogonno Secondary School in Accra, but his Uncle Darlington being an old boy of Mfantsipim Secondary School in Cape Coast moved him in 1952 to the School, which he attended till 1954.

Young Beska developed a prolonged severe headache that saw him hospitalised a number of times. This affected his education as he had to be moved from the boarding house to a day's school to ensure proper parental monitoring and also to get proper medical treatment at the European Hospital, Takoradi, where his uncle and guardian was then working.

He therefore had to change schools again to enable him complete his final year. He finished at Fijai Secondary School, Sekondi in 1956, being driven to and from school to ensure he stayed healthy to write his exams. Despite the health difficulties, Beska excelled in school.

Due to his stunning astuteness and academic excellence, he immediately got a job with the Ghana Railways and Harbours in Takoradi. Not long after however, he was recruited by the Ghana Armed Forces and sent to Royal Air Force in the United Kingdom for training and then to the Military Academy, after which he was commissioned as an Officer of the Ghana Armed Forces on January 1, 1963.

In May 1968, he was sent to the Royal Airforce, Tern Hill, United Kingdom for training at the Junior Command and Staff School.

As a young and handsome military officer in Takoradi,Beska met his wife then Lucia Bocthie who was then training at the EffiaNkwanta Hospital, Sekondi as a nurse. They got married and later had their wedding on August 1, 1970, at the Garrison Methodist/Presbyterian at Burma Camp Accra.

After his Military life, he worked with GIHOC Steel Works and GIHOC Marble Works until the company became defunct. He then decided to retire from active work and took to gardening which had always been part of him since infancy.

He also played key family roles for both the Safo and Amegadoe families. He had a good sense of humour, amiable to all, great critical political mind and was very fluent in most Ghanaian languages.

As for his English, it was luscious, nectarous and flawlessly impeccable, hence his nickname Englishman.

He was the confidant for a number of people. He acted as the father for countless others, and leading delegations to marry for yet numerous others.

As for his interest, study and knowledge in family generational history, we do not believe we can ever have a replacement. He was the repository of family history for the Safo, Amegadoe and Nyalemegbe families.

After celebrating his 80th birthday in a grand style, Beska was taken ill somewhere during the third quarter of last year, 2015, and admitted to the 37 military hospital, but was discharged after two weeks.

When he came home, during the Christmas, he organised another family party for some close family members. At that party he told a few people that 'that might be the last of parties he would be organising for them'. Those he told, took it with a pinch of salt.

After his 81st birthday, some people started remarking that 'FoBeska je togbekuo' meaning FoBeska has started looking like an oldman.

Beska, who developed gray hair at an early stage in life was always seen as a strong man filled with a lot of energy. However, during the month of August FoBeska started staying indoors more and more and preferred to sleep. He kept saying he was tired and needed some rest and assured his children that he would be strong sooner than they knew.

But when the sleeping was getting too much the family had to forced and took him to report at the 37 Military hospital where he was immediately admitted.

After 10 days he was discharged, he came home and was recuperating, but had to be sent back after exactly a week, and he was re-admitted for four weeks until he passed away in his sleep on the fateful Tuesday September 27, 2016.

He was survived by his wife Lucia, his children BESKA, Dzifa, Vida, Abigail, Emefa, Rose and numerous others to whom he lovingly became a father to and with eleven grandchildren.

GNA