REMEMBERING THE LATE JAMES DAVIS QUAKYI
An evening of prayer and worship to celebrate the life of the late James Davis Quakyi, Member of Parliament (MP) for Mfantseman constituency in the second Republic of Ghana has been held in Bowie, Maryland, USA. The deceased is the father of Hon. Kofi Totobi Quakyi, former Minister of Information and later National Security.
The solemn and well attended occasion was sponsored by friends of Hon Totobi Quakyi who converged from all over the US to commiserate with him during his bereavement. Pastor Newman Archer of the Universal Evangelical Church, Silver Spring, Maryland led the service.
The late Davis Quakyi was a veteran Politician, Educationist and Agriculturist. He was an Industrial promoter and is credited with the establishment of the Saltpond Ceramics Factory, residential estates in Sekondi-Takoradi among other successful ventures.
He was once an Adviser to the Bank of Ghana on Domestic Agricultural Credit, and a member of Board of Directors of Grains Development Board.
The late Quakyi’s political career dated back to the 1940’s when he became Assistant Secretary of the Gold Coast Youth Movement (a nationalist political association). The late Legislator was the Chairman of Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture, Land and Mineral Resources in the Parliament of the Second Republic. He experienced prison twice, first in 1969 following the coup d’etat that toppled the Busia regime and the second in 1978 because of his prominent role in the opposition to the Acheampong regime. He was until recently Chairman of the Western Region Intermediate Technology Transfer Unit [ITTU].
In a tribute, Nana Kyei Amponsah of Fannie Mae, a mortgage company in the US, who is a nephew of the late Quakyi, described his uncle as a forward looking man who translated his rich ideas into practical deeds. It is for this reason that he stands tall among his peers.
Hon. Totobi Quakyi spoke of the virtues of hard work and simple, honest living which his father imparted to his children and those he came into contact with. He said his father accomplished a lot in life and served Ghana very well without asking for recognition. The former Minister of National Security also used the occasion to express gratitude to the friends for their financial and humanitarian support during this period of his medical treatment and bereavement. In addressing the gathering, Hon. Quakyi remarked, “A true friend is the one who walks in and stands by you when the rest of the world walks out.”
In a brief response, Mr. Percy Ashun, a former Municipal Chief Executive of Cape Coast, Ghana who was present, said all of them are living witnesses to the difficult circumstances the former Minister has been facing in the US. He said a person like the former Minister and others like him who sacrificed their youth in service to Ghana deserve better in time of need.
When they took their turn, Attorney William Antwi, Teddy Kudawu[Pharmacist] and Sandy Amoyaw[ Tax and Financial Consultant ] all emphasized Hon Totobi’s inner strength, will power and calm disposition. To them these qualities backed by God’s grace will see him through his health challenges and the loss of his father.
The late James Davis Quakyi died in Ghana on July 8, 2007 at the ripe age of 91. He will be buried at Saltpond in the Central region of Ghana on Saturday October 13, 2007.
He is survived by a wife and 17 children and grandchildren.
May his soul rest in perfect peace
