Tribute to Okyenheneba Fraser Alexander Eugene Adiepena Yaw Boakye Nkyira Ofori-Atta by the Ghana Journalists Association
We are saying our final farewell to yet another illustrious son of the inky fraternity from Kyebi and Akim Abuakwa who is on his way to a permanent assignment in the Great Newsroom above.
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Our departed friend and colleague will be joining earlier colleagues such as Yaw Boakye Ofori-Atta, former Editor of the Weekly Spectator, Yaw Fred Yeboah of GBC-TV; Kwame Kesse-Adu of the Pioneer, Stanley Twum Barima, New Statesman; and lately Eugene Boakye Thompson, former Ghana News Agency correspondent to the United Kingdom.
We recall also Henry Ofori, Carl Mutt and Pamidy Amoah, all from this district. May the Good Lord continue to give them a peaceful rest.
Fraser, as we fondly called him, became Editor of the Evening News after the 1966 coup which overthrew the Convention Peoples Party (CPP). Following the confusion which arose after that event, our dear departed displayed excellent leadership qualities when he quickly reorganised his colleagues on the newspaper and changed its orientation to meet national aspirations at that time.
In 1969, he was elected President of the re-organised Ghana Journalists Association. The association suffered a second crisis with the coming of the Acheampong regime in 1972, and was without a leader. This cut short Fraser’s reign as President of the GJA.
The changes in national leadership and the general political atmosphere saw Fraser relocating to the United Kingdom.
We recall also his marriage to the late Justina Fleitscher, a young graduate from the University of Cape Coast who was on internship at Guinea Press, New Times Corporation.
Lest we forget. As a descendant of Ofori-Atta, he was very much involved in chieftaincy being the Abontendomhene of Kyebi and Ayokohene of Akim Akakom.
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The GJA has lost one of its elders, a fore-runner with good organisational ability and excellent writing skills.
We share with the bereaved family this great loss and pray the good Lord to console us all.
Nana Da yie. Kwan so bre bre. Rest in Peace. Amen.
The body will be laid in state today at his residence in Kyebi at 4 a.m. while burial service will be held tomorrow at the St Mark Anglican Church, Kyebi, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon.
Burial is scheduled for the Akyem Akakom Royal Mausoleum on October 4, 2015, at 10 p.m. There will be a memorial and thanksgiving service at the St Mark Anglican Church, Kyebi, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. The final funeral rites will take place at the forecourt of the Okyenhene’s Palace from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.