Ayim laid to rest

Kyebi, May 21, GNA - Ferdinand Kwabena Ofori Ayim, Special Assistant to the Minister of Tourism and Diasporean Relation, who died in a motor accident on April 6 this year was buried on Saturday. At a burial service at Kyebi, President John Agyekum Kufuor, in a tribute to him, described him as a true patriot, whose life was a never say die attitude.

The funeral, which was attended by over four thousand people, had the Okyehene, Amoatia Ofori Panin as the host, since Freddie came from the royal Etweiwnana family.

Also in attendance were the Vice President Aliu Mahama, Kwadwo Mpianim, Chief of staff, Ministers of States, Members of Parliament, Members of the main opposition party, NDC, as well as other political parties, journalists, radio presenters, party activists, tourism organizations and the clergy.

The carriers of the wooden casket spent a little over thirty minutes before they could put it in the vehicle to the burial site as people held the casket wailing and crying, while other rushed to the scene to have a last look at it.

The security also had a tough time driving through the crowd with the casket as people stopped the vehicle to look at the casket again and again. The service was interspersed with Anglican hymns, sang by the Okyeman Youth Choir as well as traditional drumming and dancing.

While the Dagombas performed a Dagomba dance alongside drums, the Akans also mount various drumming and dancing troupes, all in an attempt to catch the attention of the crowd as well as the President. The Reverend Fathers had their share of a though time controlling the crowd as many more people kept standing for lack of chairs amidst wails and drum beating.

The government donated 50 million cedis, while the NPP donated 20 million cedis at the funeral. Other donations were from the GJA and the various media organization in addition to individual donations. President Kufuor, dressed in traditional mourning cloths said: "Ferdinand Ayim was for want of a more befitting parlance, born to politics...Freddie served without seeking fame, his goal was not of personal or material gain; his goal was to dedicate his talents to the service of this nation for the greatest number of our people." He noted that Freddie's death had laid a legacy for politics in the country, seeing people from all walks of life, including members of the different political affiliations.

President Kufuor said politics does not mean that politicians should hate themselves but rather demonstrate unity in diversity.

Mr. Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, Minister of Tourism and Diaspora Relations who recounted his working life with the deceased said Ferdinand brought so much to the job of nation building, especially tourism.

He said Ferdinand brought to his work enthusiasm, loyalty, a capacity for hard work and a level of initiative and citing the recent eclipse of the sun in Ghana as example, he said Freddie who chaired the Planning Committee did the work so well.

"I first met Freddie after the start of party's political activity in 1992 and over a short period of time he made an impression on me as a person who delivers. He could talk but, unlike so many, he could also act," Mr. Obetsebi-Lamptey said.

Mrs. Augustina Ayim, wife of the deceased, in her tribute, said he was a loving and caring husband who managed his roles equally. She said: "I can now see the questions and harsh realities that greet people at the end of a husband and wife relationship." Rev Father Robert Ankrah of St. Mark Anglican Church, Kyebi, in a sermon, admonished people that even though a painful death, the family and people around should live in unity and peace knowing that God controls all things.

Quoting the scriptures from Psalm 90, he urged people to live upright lives as it was appointed unto man to die once after which there was judgment.

Before Ferdinand took appointment with the NPP government, he worked at the Statesman newspaper as a journalist. During the period, he won an award as the best investigative reporter. Mr Ayim, 46, died on his way to Atibie to help prepare the grounds for the Second Ghana hang and Paragliding Festival. He left behind a wife and four children.