AKUFFO FAMILY PAYS LAST RESPECT TO NANA AFUA FOFIE OWIREDUA I

Nana Afua Fofie Owiredua (Ahenemahemea of Akuapem)

AKUFFO FAMILY PAYS LAST RESPECT TO NANA AFUA FOFIE OWIREDUA I
-as Dr. Bawumia and key dignitaries storms Akropong

The four sons of Mama. L-R: Robert (Kokoroko),
Joseph (Tawia), Edward (Apayin) and Edmund (Obuom)

The Akuapem Royal family has this weekend performed due memorial rites for Nana Afua Fofie Owiredua I, the Ahenemahemea of Akuapem, who passed on 10th May 2019 at 87 years old.

Madam Mercy Akuffo Newman, a pleased member of the Sakyiabea family who was known as Nana Owiredua I, for her enstoolment as Ahenemahemea (Queen of the Children of the Kings and Queens of Akuapem) of Akuapem on 16th April 1997, a position she held until her passing. She was born on 2nd September 1932 as the last daughter to Nana Addo Dankwa II, the then Okuapehene and Madam Mercy Atta Owusua both of blessed memories.

Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia

The burial, memorial and thanksgiving which took place between 26th and 29th July 2019 at the Christ Presbyterian Church and the Akuffo House in Akropong-Akuapem was a grand gathering of family, friends, dignitaries of state and indigenes of Akuapem.
Such dignitaries of state who graced the occasion were; the Vice-President: Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the Deputy Chairperson of the African Union: H.E. Quartey Thomas Kwesi, the Attorney General: Hon. Gloria Akuffo, the Minister for Foreign Affairs: Hon. Shirley Ayorko Botchway, the Minister of Trade and Industry: Hon. Alan Kyerematen, Governor of the Bank of Ghana: Dr. Ernest Addison and many other key personalities.

According to her biography, she carried on with an astonishing life brimming with cheers. Auntie Mercy, as most people called her, was a devoted Christian and pioneer member of the Emmanuel Presbyterian Church at Dansoman where her exciting nature accorded her names such as ‘)s)shw3’, ‘wasafo’, ‘awurade pata’ and others. Otherwise called ‘Grandma’ in her later days, her incredibly generous nature constantly communicated at home as she frequently asked “has everyone eaten?”

Dr. Joseph Attah-Mensah in a dance with family and friends

In a tribute by her children, Maa is irreplaceable, “...the unique, the complex, the extraordinary and irreplaceable Ama Akuffo, whose beauty, both internal and external, will never be extinguished from our hearts and minds.”

According to Dr. Joseph Attah-Mensah, an Economist and the Principal Policy Adviser at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, who is the 3rd child of the Late Madam Mercy, in a poem entitled “Where are you Auntie Ama Akuffo?” outlines the 35 years he hasn’t slept in Akropong until this point where he meets her absence and misses her irreplaceable motherly presence. A poem he concludes to have found her and reflecting her presence in a catchy line, “Your voice echoes in our hearts that you needed to rest in the arms of your creator”

He added that Vice President Dr. Bawumia graced the occasion recognising the relationship both family shares. “...we’ve ever since been friends. He considers my mom as his, and I consider his mom as mine. He didn’t come because he is Vice President, he came as family” Dr. Attah-Mensah Disclosed to Iseegh.blogspot.com.

Madam Mercy Akuffo Newman left behind four children and seven grandchildren.
She was a genuine model for Unity thus does the family keep as a trademark. Dr. Attah-Mensah stated such unity to put to play in the choosing of the new paramount chief of Akuapem.

By: Abel Ofori-Adeniran