Kwabena Boadu: A Portrait of a Patriot
Today marks the final passage to the eternity of late Mr. Kwabena Boadu, the 30-year old trusted and hardworking Aide (Press Secretary) of the New Patriotic Party`s (NPP`s) vice-presidential candidate, Dr. Mahammadu Bawumia. The solemn event is taking place at Taifa-Benkyease near White Dove School in Accra.
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His shocking death from electrocution which occurred at the Jam Guest House in Wa on Thursday, November 24, 2016 cast a pall of gloom over everyone in the NPP circles who knew and loved him.
To his pals who could not immediately explain his sudden departure, the famous Latin expression “Quem di diligunt, adolescens moritur“(Those whom the gods love, die young) readily comes to mind, for he died before he could fully blossom to realize his dreams.
The saying "those whom the gods love, die young" comes from the Greek mythology, in a story related to Trophonius, son of Erginus.
According to the Homeric Hymn to Apollo, he built Apollo's temple at the oracle at Delphi with his brother, Agamedes. Once finished, the oracle told the brothers to do whatsoever they wished for six days and, on the seventh, their greatest wish would be granted. They did and were found dead on the seventh day.
That is why when young people who exhibit extraordinary intelligence, talent and energy suddenly depart mysteriously from here to cross river Styx to eternity, we say “Those whom the gods love, die young.” Upon his death, the NPP`s presidential candidate, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and his vice, Dr. Bawumia and their spouses as well as many party folks paid glowing tributes to his memory.
Education and Career
Kwabena Boadu was a strikingly handsome young man, intelligent, charming, witty, trustworthy, and compassionate. For those who knew him from infancy, he was lovingly poignant, smart, cutting and exquisite soul brother. This wonderful young man from Akyem Jejeti in the Eastern Region of Ghana made his debut into this theatre of life on 4th November, 1986. His mother is madam Georgina Amankwa (nee Baffoe) who currently resides in Germany.
Boadu had his basic education in his hometown and Accra before proceeding to Wesley Grammar Senior High School (SHS) in Accra, which he completed in 2003. He entered University of Ghana where he became well known for his voracious consumption of literary contents and incisive criticism of policies and social matters that affects students.
In their recent co-authored tribute article, Frank Odeifuor Ababio and Austin Brako-Powers contend that Boadu with his nom de plume, “Red Army” scribed regularly, series of though-provoking and satirical articles which endeared him to bouquet of former student leaders of University of Ghana.” It was impossible to bypass an article authored by Boadu no matter how yawning the gap of disagreement between the two of you was. These articles were often posted on notice boards of Akuafo, Commonwealth, Mensah Sarbah and Legon Halls.”
After completing his University education in 2008, Boadu had his successful national service at the headquarters of the Methodist church`s owned, Donewell Insurance Company limited. From Donewell, selfless Boadu refused all the well-paid employment opportunities that came his way, and sacrificed the rest of his life working for the NPP.
He first started as a party youth activist, sharing his views on the social networks and formerly joined one of the party`s internal self-motivated groups. He had opportunity to work for the NPP Youth Wing from 2009 to 2012 as a media researcher with young party activities like Sammy Awuku, Charles Nii Teiko Tagoe, Manaf Ibrahim, Hopeson Yao Addoye, Nana Prempeh, Maame Afua Akoto, Nelly Kissi, Olivia Quartey and others.
He created a strong internal research Database with Salam Mustafa, Manaf Ibrahim, Paa Kwasi Boat, Emmanuel Kyei, Kofi Ofosu Nkansah, Eliasu of Tamale, Kofi Karikari Bondzie, Kwabena Antwi-Boasiako, Jeff Konadu, Sly Tetteh, Naa Ayerley Aryeh, Priscilla Agyekum, Akwasi Afriyie Akoto, Shiffman Osei, Kennedy Adjei, Yaa Juliet, Akossua Domite, Enoch Sarpong, this author and few others.
He stayed on this job until after the 2012 elections when he had his magnum opus as the press secretary to Dr. Bawumia. He worked there until his death. But as faith would have it, Boadu`s toil, aided the larger NPP campaign strategies, to clinch victory for his NPP and his presidential candidate, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo.
Boadu, the master strategist
My path crossed with Kwabena Boadu`s on Facebook. We had engaged in intellectual discourse on matters of common political interest. He asked for my contact and quickly asked me for a copy of Professor Kofi Awoonor`s 1983 infamous ethnocentric and anger-filled rare book, “The Ghana Revolution: Background Account from a Personal Perspective.” He has heard from the grapevine that I had a copy.
I readily gave him a photocopy, and that cemented my friendship with him until his demise. Boadu, as I know him was a perfect gentleman, soft-speaker and preternaturally unassuming reclusive dude. Until his appointment as press secretary, very few people in the NPP knew him in person nor had seen his photograph, but he was mentioned everywhere among the youths. He would not even hurt a fly, peaceable, but you cannot exploit these traits in him for a weakness at all. Ergo, it came as no shock to me at all when he got the position as the Aide to Dr Bawumia.
Boadu was involved in many strategic communication tactics rolled out by the NPP. A compulsive workaholic, he can read on an empty stomach and possessed an uncanny temerity to surgically analyze books, reports, journals, media contents and election materials from across the globe to couch unique political strategies for his party. In fact, he took recent US elections seriously and was working on a strategy for NPP to win swing regions in Ghana.
He helped to edit and improve press releases of many NPP political appendages. Where Boadu lacks knowledge in specific area, he was very candid enough to ask for individuals who possess requisite knowledge and expertise to assist him. There were many instances, he will call me to research or dig specific information on political opponents and other personalities, national budget, government policies, electoral results and on-going election researches.
He was one of the few people in the NPP whose pet hobby was regularly monitoring the sympathetic NDC`s FM stations like Radio Gold and Montie. He was interested in the negative information his opponents are propagating against his party. He understood what constructive criticism and contrary view mean for a researcher. Thus, Boadu saw wisdom and joy in learning about one`s opponent to enable him to develop proper defensive and offensive strategies. He was master strategist par excellence!
Other Interests
Apart from politics, Boadu was an unrepentant football enthusiast and he used his Facebook page to engage in local and international football punditry. The teams he supported were Asante Kotoko (Ghana), Bayern Munich (Germany), Arsenal (England) and Barcelona (Spain). Any loss of these four teams in a game easily puts Boadu in the trajectory of starvation for the day. As a kotoko fan myself, when I once wrote on my facebook page “Abontua abontua be wɔwo pandea. I de pande, I de kay,” following a win against Hearts of Oak in Accra, Boadu immediately sent me message, “be careful I dont accuse u of being a tribalist. Lol. Hahaha. What happend? If u are I de k, I de pande; dnt bring it to Kumasi or Baba Yara?” That was Boadu for you, he was witty!
The departed Boadu was also a serious Highlife connoisseur, who had utmost respect for the pioneers of indigenous highlife genre. His favourite musician was Alex Kofi Konadu, and two of his notable tracks: “Pay Day” and “A Good One!” In August 5th, 2016, I penned the biography of Alex Konadu without informing Boadu, he quickly called to register his displeasure but I could not take the call because I was in lecture Hall. Boadu sent me this text message around 9:35PM “U have profiled Alex konadu and u didn't tag me. Sacrilege!” Myself and KA-B had to search for Pay Day for months just so we could put it online. It was nowhere to be found on youtube. Charles Takyi Boadu is another great fan.” In 2nd October, 2016, Boadu in his birthday wish to his friend, Kwabena Antwi-Boasiako on his Facebook page dedicated Alex Konadu`s "Pay Day" song to him.
His Philosophical Thoughts
Indeed, Boadu was a maverick conversationalist. Many who came across him have different tales to tell. He made friends who are bored and suffer insomnia had opportunity to be entertained with his series of comic reliefs and wisecracks. Unforgettable that is how he was! His philosophical views of death, elaborating how unshakable and fearless he was prepared to hobnob with death at any time is quite legend.
Throwing more light on death in his Facebook post (his longest writing ever) on November 2010, Boadu argued forcefully that death is an inevitable fact of life which all living creatures are bound to suffer its lot, but what matters most is the preparedness to face this worse nightmare.
From his religious perspectives many people fear death “because you yourself know you would end up in hell and so don’t want to hear of the event which would forward you to your final destination; maybe it’s because you think this world is good that you don’t want to imagine not being part of it or maybe you are afraid because others are afraid of it.” He went on to critique the hypocrisy of friends and the disappointments they exhibit by refusing to honour basic courtesies like wishing “happy birthdays,” or how some people attends friends funeral to either donate items/cash as show off, whilst others go to drink, dance or woo women for their own satisfaction.
In a socio-comic manner Boadu scribed, “That’s why I want to stage my death so that I can scare one by one those who show less concern on the issue of the death by not only revealing myself to them at odd places and times, but also giving them a hot chase! That way, they would not only be scared but I would have left a lasting legacy in their minds! They would hardly forget me for a full day! Again, I want to stage my death; so that I can see how people would want to come and display at my funeral!
Those who never wanted to speak to me would even come and behave like they were the best of friends with me; what hypocrisy? I would want to see those who would come to my funeral to chase girls; I can imagine how insensitive people can be! I would want to see those who would come there specifically to eat and drink at my family’s expense; and how people would run when I slowly lift myself from the bed on which I have been laid and start chasing people all.”
Boadu, all your friends are now asking, “Have you staged your death?”
Before his death, Boadu miraculously cheated death once in the company of his boss, Dr. Bawumia, in near fatal accident on the Bole road, which saw their car mangled. The two of the tyres of the vehicle Dr. Bawumia, Boadu and two others was travelling in, exploded 15 minutes into the journey.
The vehicle flipped over, veered off the road, rolling over a few times. But today, Boadu is gone, and as Alcestis (438 BC) also averred “Today's today. Tomorrow we may be ourselves gone down the drain of Eternity.”
Adios my friend and a patriot! Your toil was never in vain. Your Party is in power!!!
Damirafa duel Boadu Kwabena
Due na Amandzehun
Twa Twa Twa
Twa Omanye Aba, Kwabena Boadu.