On the eve of Wednesday, July 1, 2020, Ghanaians received with the utmost shock the sudden demise of the affable Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Forestry Commission, Mr Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie.
Tributes dropping in since the news broke show how the Sakra Wonoo royal was loved by all sides, be it politics or outside.
Social media in particular was full of sorrowful posts from users, who shared images and grief-stricken words to mourn the former General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), who is popularly known as Sir John.
Aside from the ordinary Ghanaian, key personalities have not been able to keep their cool, and have written sorrowful words on their social media handles to eulogise the proverbial man, Sir John.
Personalities, including the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Vice President Dr
Mahamudu Bawumia and former President John Dramani Mahama have all commented on his sudden death.
On his Facebook page, President Akufo-Addo described Lawyer Kwadwo Owusu-Afriyie as someone with an exceptional sense of humour, and affected positively on every person with who he came into contact.
The President said he received the news of the death with great shock and deep sadness, adding that he would be widely missed.
“I received the news of the death of Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, aka Sir John, with great shock and deep sadness. Indeed, the disbelief and grief expressed by many at the news of his death are testimony to how people, in and out of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), felt about him,” President Akufo-Addo wrote.
He continued to describe Sir John as a “Passionate devotee of the Danquah-Dombo-Busia political tradition, outstanding stalwart of the NPP, strong defender of human rights as a lawyer, proud, faithful adherent of the Christian Adventist faith – these were the multi-facetted aspects of the career and character of ‘Sir John’, which earned him considerable renown, both as erstwhile General Secretary of the NPP and CEO of the Forestry Commission. Energetic, ebullient, jovial, with an exceptional sense of humour, and possessing a limitless store of folktales and proverbs, he affected positively every person with whom he came into contact. He was truly unforgettable, and our party and government owe him an immense debt for his work and commitment.”
“My wife, Rebecca, and I extend our deepest condolences to his entire family. Sakora Wonoo has lost a valiant son. He will be widely missed. May the Good Lord bless him, and give him a peaceful place of abode in His Bosom until the Last Day of the Resurrection, when we shall all meet again. Sir John, we will never forget you!” he concluded.
The Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, also wrote on his Facebook page that he had “learnt with sadness the passing of Lawyer Kwadwo Owusu-Afriyie aka Sir John, former General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party and Chief Executive Officer of the Forestry Commission. I spoke with Sir John only yesterday, but little did I know that was our last conversation.
“Sir John was a good man who truly paid his dues to the party and Ghana. I will miss him.
My heartfelt condolences to his family. Rest in peace, my good friend,” he ended.
Former President John Dramani Mahama expressed his condolences to the family “of our dear brother, and my good friend, Sir John, Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie.
“He was a feisty and intriguing politician who brought lots of interesting moments to our political discourse. I also extend my condolences to the entire New Patriotic Party (NPP) family for this painful loss.”
If for nothing at all, the ‘Cocoase Kuraseni,’ man, Sir John, would be remembered with his statement to politicians to “fear delegates.”
Also announcing the demise, the NPP said it was, indeed, saddened by his passing, and accordingly, extends its condolence to his immediate family, particularly his wife and children, for this incalculable loss.
A statement signed by the party’s General Secretary, John Boadu, said the NPP equally commiserates with his close associates in the party, as well as workers of the Forestry Commission.
“As a mark of respect in honour of his memory, the NPP directs that all party flags at the National Headquarters, and in the respective regions and constituencies, be flown at half-mast for the next seven days.
“May the soul of our dearly departed find comfort in God’s bosom, and may the family he left behind and, indeed, all of us in the party and beyond, find fortitude to bear this great loss,” the statement ended.
The post Ghana mourns Sir John appeared first on The Chronicle Online.
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