Kofi Boamah

Kofi Boamah—husband, father, and grandfather —died on Sunday, September 6, 2015 in Raleigh, NC due to complications from diabetes and congestive heart failure. On that blessed Friday of January 8th, 1935 a baby boy was born to Mr. Joseph Kwaku Boamah and Madam Comfort Ama Dede, both from the Etena and Asene Royal families of Abetifi-Kwahu respectively, both of blessed memory. As a child, Kofi was baptized and confirmed in the Presbyterian faith. His parents lived as traders at Agona Kwanyako, Asamankese and Nsawam. Kofi was the first born of eleven siblings. Kofi, as he is affectionately called by friends and siblings, had his primary education at the Asamankese Presbyterian School and continued his secondary education at the Washington Carver Institute in Accra. He had his first employment at Birth and Death Registry in Sekondi-Takoradi and soon moved to Kumasi to work for Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA). He graduated in BA (Hons) International Relations and Diplomacy from the University of Ghana. In 1963, Kofi joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Secretariat and served under the first President of the Republic of Ghana, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah at the Flag Staff House and had his first posting to the Ghana Embassy in Lome, Togo in 1965. In 1975, Kofi was again posted to the Ghana High Commission in New Delhi, India where he acted for a brief period as the Acting High Commissioner. He was recalled back home to be appointed a presidential staffer at the office of the President, Dr. Hilla Limann’s Peoples National Party (PNP) government in 1981. After the overthrow of the Limann administration, Kofi was posted to Ghana Embassy in Brussels, Belgium. Kofi’s diplomatic career finally halted when he had to resign over misunderstanding with the Military regime of Jerry John Rawlings in 1984. Kofi thereafter decided to relocate and took refuge in Raleigh, North Carolina. Kofi was an altruist; generous and concerned about the welfare of others. He graciously helped so many people from all walks of life, and was a regular donor to organizations such as St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, Easter Seal, and St. Joseph's Indian School. He strongly believed in education for all, such that being the eldest brother, provided education to all his siblings and other family members who cared to take advantage of his generosity. He was very affable with a great sense of humor, was also a disciplinarian, firm and fair. As the saying goes; “Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail”. -Ralph Waldo Emerson Indeed Kofi was a trail blazer from ABETIFI! He made us proud, with him on our side, we felt human. Kofi left behind a wife of 36 years, Susan “Faafa” Laing Boamah, five children and five grandchildren.

Kofi Boamah

January 8, 1935 - September 6, 2015