Accra: The people of Akyem Ati Amanfrom in Ghana's Eastern Region gathered on Saturday to bid a royal farewell to Nana Kwasi Gyan-Apenteng, the Apagyahene of the town. The final funeral rites were a blend of tradition and pageantry, attended by chiefs, elders, and hundreds of mourners who came together to honor a man celebrated both as a noble royal and an intellectual giant.
According to Ghana News Agency, the atmosphere was filled with the sounds of Fontomfrom drums and musket fire, as mourners dressed in red and black cloth filled the funeral grounds. Their grief was tempered by pride in having known Nana Kwasi Gyan-Apenteng, a man who was deeply rooted in his ancestral legacy while excelling in scholarly pursuits.
Nana Kwasi Gyan-Apenteng, who was the Board Chair of the Ghana News Agency until his passing, was respected for his contributions to media, culture, and public service. He was a royal who upheld traditional values even as he excelled in contemporary spheres. The funeral grounds resonated with dirges and traditional songs as cultural performers paid their respects, marking his transition into the realm of the ancestors.
As a devoted Presbyterian, his funeral rites transitioned to a service at the Presbyterian Church Ghana, Bethel Congregation, New Tafo-Akim. Here, family, friends, and mourners gathered to eulogize him for his courage, compassion, and wisdom. His son, Comrade Kwadwo Aboagye Gyan-Apenteng, remembered him as a comrade in the fight for human rights and justice, while his widow, Edith, expressed admiration for his brilliance and depth of knowledge.
The Ghana News Agency described him as a consummate professional who was committed to the agency's success and its role in advancing Ghana's socio-economic development. His dedication to media integrity and freedom was echoed by Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin, Okyenhene, who praised him as a custodian of values and a devoted servant of truth.
Nana Kwasi Gyan-Apenteng was born on March 12, 1951, in Asamankese. His early life was marked by a strong sense of justice, which continued through his education and career. He held various roles, including Secretary-General of the All African Students Union and later worked at the Graphic Corporation. His advocacy led to exile in London, but upon returning to Ghana, he continued to influence academia, public policy, and cultural development.
He was appointed Chairman of the National Media Commission and served as President of the Ghana Association of Writers. Nana Kwasi Gyan-Apenteng battled bowel cancer for six months before passing away in May in London at the age of 74. He is survived by his wife and five children, leaving behind a legacy of thinkers, writers, and freedom advocates inspired by his work.
As the funeral concluded, the sounds of the drums and muskets faded, but Nana Kwasi Gyan-Apenteng's legacy continued to resonate in the hearts of his people and the traditions he cherished.
