The befitting final funeral was heavily attended by people from all walks of life including the President, Vice President, Members of Parliament, politicians, chiefs, students and technocrats.
Leading the charge was President Akufo-Addo with his wife, Rebecca, Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and his wife, Samira.
The Chief of Staff, Frema Osei Opare and the full complement of Ministers of State, as well as deputy ministers of state, district chief executives and party bigwigs were also present.
Leadership of parliament, including the speaker, Prof Mike Oquaye; Majority leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu; deputy majority leader, Sarah Adwoa Safo; majority chief whip, Kwasi Ameyaw Kyeremeh and the minority chief whip, Alhaji Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka were also in attendance.
The National Chairman of the main opposition party, National Democratic Congress (NDC), Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, as well as the party’s general secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, led a delegation from the NDC to attend the funeral of the late MP while the national chairman of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP) also led a delegation from the party for the funeral.
Vehicular traffic in the town was brought to a standstill due to the milling crowd which overflowed onto the streets.
The government, in a tribute read by the Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah, said that the late MP was an asset to the nation and played his part in the development of the country.
According to the Information Minister, the late MP also distinguished himself and fully trumpeted the achievements of the government wherever he found himself, adding that his dedication and commitment to the cause of the NPP government were not in dispute.
The NPP General Secretary, John Boadu who read the party’s tribute, said that the party received news of the passing of the late MP with shock.
“The MP’s unique style of politics saw him working closely with people who identify themselves as ‘commoners; he was exceedingly down to earth.
The tribute from Parliament, which was read by deputy majority leader, Sarah Adwoa Safo, said, “As a distinguished pharmacist, Honourable Agyarko availed the House of his knowledge, skills and expertise, both at plenary and in committees, in matters of governance, as well as science and technology.”
It added that the late MP served on the Health and Government Assurances Committees of Parliament and was the chairman of the Committee on Environment, Science and Technology until his death.
The presiding reverend of the Grace Presbyterian Church in Accra where the late MP worshipped, Dr Abamfo Atiemo, who supervised the burial service said, Mr. Agyarko had sent a Bible quotation via whatsapp to him two months before his death.
“Hon Agyarko sent Psalm 90: 12 to me which said that ‘Lord teach me to number my days so that I may apply my heart to wisdom.’ It was his favourite Bible quotation.”
“It is appointed unto man to die once and after that judgement; it’s found in the Book of Hebrews in the Bible so politicians should remember that whatever they do in private and public lives they will account for them after death which is definitely inevitable.
WIVES In ‘Taunting Rivarly’
The wives of the late Ayawaso Wuogon MP paid tributes to their late husband but they were pregnant with what can be described as ‘taunting rivalry.’
Mrs Josephine Naana Baiden Agyarko, the first wife, in her tribute at the Zimmerman Presbyterian Church at Odumase-Krobo, said her late husband was such a unique and wonderful man that every lady wanted to be his wife.
“He was charming and eloquent that every lady wanted to be Brother Emmanuel’s wife.”
According to her, “We met when the late MP was doing his national service at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital and I was in my final year at the university. We got married in 1986.
“Emmanuel had always been clear in his mind that he wanted two children and God has blessed our 32 years of marriage with one beautiful, Jane and one beautiful son, Sonny,” she said, stressing that her late husband loved their two children more than life itself.
“He was the most loving father to our children. Very affable and agreeable companion,” she said
According to her, “Despite the many painful circumstances and challenges that faced our marriage in the course of time, they can never erase the true friendship that we shared together.
The second wife, Lydia Seyram Alhassan, with whom he had quintuplets, also paid glowing tribute that was captured in the funeral brochure.
According to her, she met the late MP when she was only 22 years.
“As a hapless 22-year-old who was cutting my teeth in the pharmaceutical business, I walked into Kwabena’s office that fateful morning to seek assistance from one of the industry’s biggest and most renowned players. He was simply magnanimous in his offer to help me and guided me every step of the way.”
According to her, the late husband was ‘God-sent’ and an avowed philanthropist.
“Kwabena, I have never regretted meeting you, knowing you and above all loving you. These are experiences for which I am forever grateful, and I will never stop loving you. Loneliness, despair, contrition and sorrow have been the better part of me since you departed for eternity.”
The third wife, Eva Esselba Mends, in her tribute, which was also captured in the funeral brochure said, “I was the one to pray with you on November 21, 2018. I had the precious opportunity to say my goodbye.”
From Thomas Fosu Jnr.; Odumase Krobo
