In a solemn farewell marked by tears, fond memories and tributes, twin brothers who devoted their lives to public service in the country were laid to rest last Saturday after a joint funeral service at the forecourt of the State House in Accra.
The elder twin, Sidney Nii Oko Bampoe Addo, was a Director at the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), and the younger one, Isaac Akuetteh Bampoe Addo, was the Executive Secretary of the Civil and Local Government Staff Association, Ghana (CLOGSAG).
Both 59 years old, Akuetteh died on August 21 this year, while his twin brother, Nii Oko, passed away on September 14, almost three weeks later.
They were very close and shared many moments and activities together.
The funeral was attended by the Vice-President, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, and Presidential Staffers, the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, representatives of the Ga Traditional Council, government officials, members of MoFA and CLOGSAG, as well as family members and friends.
The ceremony
The bodies of the twin brothers were laid in state in the early hours of the day to allow for family, friends and sympathisers to file past, amidst solemn musical renditions from the Perez Music, church choir and the CLOGSAG Band.
Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, Vice-President, paying her last respects to the departed
After their biographies were read, their wives and children paid their tributes, with the Bampoe Addo family reading a tribute jointly prepared to celebrate the twins, who they said held the family well together, ably supported by their older class.
School and classmates also took turns to pay their respects. They included tributes from Accra Academy, the Katanga Hall of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), both of which described the brothers as vocal individuals who always stood up for the rights of others.
Staff of MoFA and CLOGSAG took turns to celebrate the contributions of the two brothers to their respective institutions and the country.
Wives recount memories
In a moving tribute, the wife of Nii Oko, Genevieve Attoh Korkoi Bampoe Addo, described her late husband as her best friend, companion, provider and confidant.
Nii Okai Nunoo reading the tribute by KNUST alumni
She recalled that their relationship began on October 19, 2000, and that they shared nearly 26 years together, raising three daughters and supporting each other through life’s challenges.
She described him as a loving husband and caring father whose strong exterior concealed a gentle, humorous and affectionate personality.
Mrs Bampoe Addo said his absence had left her and their daughters struggling to adjust to life without him, but they would forever cherish the love, laughter and memories they shared.
The wife of Akuetteh, Sheila Bampoe Addo, also paid an emotional tribute to her husband, describing him as her companion, counsellor, friend and the caring father of their four children.
She recalled meeting him at church in Tema in 2004, followed by their marriage the following year.
Sheila described him as a quiet but strong-willed man who provided for his family, guided their children and upheld Christian values.
She also recounted his generosity towards people in need, saying he frequently offered assistance through accommodation, payment of school fees and support for the sick and vulnerable.
Mrs Bampoe Addo further highlighted his commitment to the Christian faith and his support for church activities, including sponsoring members and the youth to attend religious programmes in Nigeria.
She described him as her hero, saying his kindness, forgiveness and generosity had touched many lives.
Siblings
Their sister, Nana Oye Bampoe Addo, who is also the Deputy Chief of Staff, and Kwamina Bampoe Addo, in their tribute, described them as unique, different, and cast in their own mould, living life their own way, together, always.
Alban Bagbin (left), Speaker of Parliament, filing past the bodies
“You loved us more than you loved yourselves, you sacrificed and fought for us until your very end. We could not have asked for any better siblings. You were and are still our protectors, our pillars of strength, and guardian angels,” Oye and Kwamina said.
Distinguished public service
Nii Oko and Akuetteh were born on January 2, 1967, at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra.
They attended New Hope Preparatory School and Accra Academy before Nii Oko proceeded to KNUST.
Nii Oko graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture in 1994 and later obtained an Executive Master of Business Administration in Information Technology Management.
He joined the Civil Service in 2003 and served at MoFA for 23 years, rising through the ranks to become a Director at the Monitoring and Evaluation Department.
His work focused on agricultural statistics, research and policy planning.
He also played a key role in compiling the ministry’s annual publication, Agriculture in Ghana: Facts and Figures, an important source of data on the country’s agricultural production.
Akuetteh pursued accountancy and obtained a master’s degree in International Accounting and Financial Management from the University of Glasgow in Scotland.
He also earned an Executive Master’s degree in Governance and Leadership from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), as well as an honorary doctorate in Leadership.
He began his public service career at the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department in 1995 and later became the Executive Secretary of CLOGSAG in 2011, a position he held until his death.
He was known for his advocacy for improved conditions of service for public sector workers, pension reforms, retirement security and access to housing and financial support.
