Celebrate the living
Last Monday, the management, staff and alumni of the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) held a unique event that deserves everyone’s attention.
Advertisement
On the 95th birthday of Nana Opoku-Ampomah, the man who sowed the seed of the Institute of Professional Studies (IPS) in 1965, which has blossomed to present day UPSA, a surprise and befitting-service was held to celebrate the educationist and traditional leader.
During the event which was heavily attended by alumni of the university, glowing tributes were paid to Nana Opoku-Ampomah, the Paramount Chief of Amoafo Bekwai in the Ashanti Region, for his role in shaping their lives.
Some of them shared fond memories of their encounters with Nana during their student days and how the founder had contributed to their success.
The old students, including the Inspector-General of Police and some of his top brass, and the university authorities presented gifts to the bewildered nonagenarian, who was full of smiles as he listened to the narratives from his former students.
The event reminds the nation that the time has come to always recognise and celebrate its heroes and heroines who through their blood and sweat have charted paths that have contributed immensely to the development of the nation.
One of the respected columnists of the Daily Graphic, Brig. Gen. Dan Frimpong (retd), in an article in the September 23, 2022 issue titled: “Give me my flowers when I can still smell them," advocated the need to show love and affection to people while they are alive and not to wait till they die before showering them with praises.
The piece underlined the need for recognition and appreciation by the nation of outstanding Ghanaians when they are alive and not pay glowing tributes when they die.
This goes to the heart of the popular adage that, “a country that does not honour its heroes is not worth dying for”.
The import is a reminder to appreciate and show gratitude to people who play significant roles in the life of the country while they are alive.
Many a time, such honour is bestowed on great personalities only posthumously, when they can never have the opportunity to smile at and smell the flowers laid by their caskets or graves.
It is a fact that in Ghana, grand funerals are organised for people who lived in abject poverty during their last days, all in the name of giving them a “befitting farewell”.
This philosophy is so engrained in the society that even when people are celebrated, others grumble, murmur and try to belittle their achievements.
For honouring Nana Opoku-Ampomah, the alumni and the UPSA family have reminded us of the need to acknowledge and give due recognition to people who play useful roles in our lives.
The Daily Graphic commends the university community for celebrating this illustrious Ghanaian, who sowed the biblical mustard seed in 1965, which has now blossomed into a huge tree.
Today, UPSA has become a global icon, having trained thousands of graduates who are occupying high positions both locally and internationally.
As the IGP put it, as Abraham was the father of many nations, according to the Holy Bible, Nana Opoku-Ampomah would be known as the father of many professionals.
The Daily Graphic also salutes Nana Opoku-Ampomah for the thousands of individuals who passed through the four corners of the great university, without which, they might not have had the opportunity to attain tertiary education.
Interestingly, there are a number of Nana Opoku-Ampomahs all over the country, brightening their corners quietly.
Some have made vital contributions in their vibrant youthful working life but have neither been celebrated nor appreciated.
The example of Nana Opoku-Ampomah should be a model for all that whatever we have started should be done to the best of our ability.
