TRIBUTES
RISKY'S JOURNEY TO ETERNITY .
________________________________________Well Folks, Our dear late brother Mr. Henry Offei-Akoto (Risky) will be interred on the 2nd of September 2006 at his "Holy Village" Begoro in the Eastern Region. Pre-Burial Service and Final Funeral Rites will take place at New Tafo Akim on the same day. Meanwhile the funeral of the late Mr. Tackie, former Maths teacher will also take place the same day at New Tafo Akim, near OPASS.
MAY THEIR SOULS REST IN ETERNAL PEACE.
By Collins Boafo.
Tribute to the Late Henry Offei - Akoto .
________________________________________“To everything there is a season and time for every purpose under the heavens, and it is only God who knows what is good for mankind”.
Our dear friend Henry Offei – Akoto alias Risky, words alone cannot describe the effect of your demise has had on us. To us it seems like a bad dream we will never wake up from.
We owe you so much gratitude that we will forever feel you did not live long enough for us to share the great experiences we had had at our early days at Ofori Panin Secondary School. But, it is only God we all trust, and He only knows what is good for us. With Him nothing is impossible.
Friend, you were excellent to all of us with your generosity, and good sense of humour. I recall, Henry, as a dining hall prefect, would announce towards the end of eating time playfully, “No food is leaving the hall”, you dare not either trespass or disobey the command, but I can assure you, it was all good-humouredly. Henry was really caring and loving.
I quite remember when Henry visited me in London and thieves broke into his car and stole his expensive camera, whilst helping me on my evening work, I offered to replace the camera and the shattered window at all cost, but Henry declined emphatically. This is the type of a person we all have lost to the ugly jaws of death. A great personality, humble, and never raise neither his voice nor a finger in anger to his friends, your young life has greatly influenced all of us.
To us your parting company does not mean the closure of the passage of your life with us, for you are always on our minds and will forever be remembered.May your soul rest in peace On the Bosom of the Lord. Goodbye!!! Forever in our minds, forever in our hearts We will never forget you Heaven’s heart has opened wide To receive its Godly son. Rest Peacefully in the Arms of the Lord!! Your Beloved Friends, and a bosom friend.
Nante Yie!!By Kwame Ohene Dokyi
TRIBUTE TO RISKY TEE
________________________________________News of the transition of Henry Kwaku Darko Ofei Akoto is such a great shock that it is still incredible in our minds. He will forever be alive in our minds. Risky' as we all used to call him was not born perfect, but he achieved perfection. His transition occurred at such a ripe age most probably because he had passed all his tests and had to move on to the next class
In our loss let us reflect on just one aspect of his wonderful personality. He saw every obstacle as a challenge. This is an individual who will not just sit down and complain.He will tackle the problem with confidence and find a solution. He was and is a true action man with whatever resources he had available. And in all his achievements there was not the slightest hint of arrogance. What a person! So, he just had to move over to the next senior class leaving us behind.
To me Risky was like a Guardian Angel. I recall in August 1990 I was stranded in Victoria station in London. I had no where to go in a strange city. I was thinking just to go book my return journey when out of no where appeared Risky to my rescue. He took me to place where he had heard of a vacancy some few days earlier. This was the dramatic way I saw Risky again five years after form 5 in OPASS.
During the famous 1983 drought, bushfires, and ensuing famine, we had a palm wine tapper friend who would supply us with he most juiciest of mangoes after a calabashful [i hope he will forgive me for revealing this]and after having our fill, Risky would say lets give the rest to the class. This was 1983, and we were hungry students-- incredible!!!.
To me and the rest of our mates, Risky is not dead. We refuse to accept that he is dead. Yes, his physical body is no more with us, but he will be forever be alive in our memories.
By P.K. Nutsuklo
Risky-We will never forget you!!! . ________________________________________Senior Nutsuklo, After reading your tribute, I just felt compelled to pen my own. I have sent a message to Dumba's (as Abeam and I affectionately called him because of his desire to be like that goal-keeper) mother that I will write a personal tribute to him.
Risky "adopted" me when he came to lower six. No one outside my family has ever been as fond of me as he was. We ate and moved together, and he, Paul Cooper and I even shared their cubicle! In form 5, I stayed with his family at Tafo for two terms, where he taught me Math because I struggled in that subject. I have never known an individual so giving and selfless, and he did all this with such a humble attitude. He had such high standards in everything that he did and he had integrity! It all had to do with his upbringing, for if you know Risky's mum, you'll understand why he was such a star!.
God in his infinite wisdom sometimes puts certain people in our lives. We may immediately recognize who these people are, sometimes it takes a while. But the good Lord always ensures that we recognize these individuals, and through him we see His good works in our lives. This is how I view goalkeeper Dumba!.
What made Risky so special? It is the difference he made in people's lives, how he treated them, the little things he did. He was always moved to help those in need, such compassion has to be God-given and directed. I could go on and on but I am sure everyone who came in contact with him knows.....I hadn't seen Risky in a while when I heard the terrible news, but if there is one thing that I remember about him, it was the brotherly shadow that he cast over my life and his smile. His empathy, compassion, generosity and civility surely set him apart. The mark of a great man is the way in which he treats others. Dumba showed me tremendous kindness. I still remember a young wide-eye Risky boarding the flight for his maiden trip to Russia. Abeam, myself and a few others flowed him fans.
In our hearts, he will continue to live FOREVER! I will probably think of him daily for the rest of my life, remembering his sense of humor. Risky came and ate my mother's famed Abenkwan soup and never stopped raving about it. He loved "I wonder if I take you home" by Lisa Lisa and the Cult Jam, and whenever I would sing that song, he would always laugh and sing alongside with me. God is good, and will watch over his widow and three young kids. Grandma, bro Kwame, Sister Afia and Otwiwaa, the great comforter Himself will comfort you. May the good Lord bless and keep his soul!.
By Frank Anochie.
I PRAY GOD KEEPS THE FAMILY .
________________________________________My Dear Son Kwaku, The news came as a shock but who can question God. I will always remember you especially your visit to me and the family when you were posted to Techiman..
Kwaku Dei yie and always know that we love you dearly.
By Aunty Regina.
God knows best .
________________________________________Risky, I couldn't believe my ears but only God knows why he does his things. Risky you left so early and the last time we met was your daughter’s naming ceremony..
. I pray Mummy, your wife, children and all the family members can withstand this pain. We don't even know what to do but God will wipe our tears when the trumpet blows. Damirifa due Risky. By Owusua
The 'Risky' many people didn't know
________________________________________After reading Aboliga's tribute to Risky, I don't think, there would be any better way to pay homage to Risky but I feel compelled to let guys out there know about my acquaintance with him.
He was my senior and hence never had any close contact with him until later part of 1998 when we happened to be at the same place at the same time trying to achieve a common goal. Our friendship flourished to the point where Risky was even visiting me on regular basis. All those who had the chance to know him would not only dilate on his benevolent nature but also the readiness with which he used his position to help the disadvantaged and the destitute.
Kwaku Darko, as he was affectionately known among family members and close friends, once again exhibited his sense of responsibility and his benevolent spirit when a friend of mine was posted to the Techiman district to begin his national service assignment. A typical Accra-based the friend refused the posting to the village (Kwame Danso) but all efforts to have the posting changed proved futile. I told this friend about Risky and handed him a note to be given to Risky. These were the exact words I read from the friend about two months later. “Risky is my Lord, he is my saviour and my provider. He is feeding me, housing me and even giving me money. He is a wonderful person."
Brethren, this is the Risky many people didn't know and this is the kind of a brother we have all lost. Do you think the vacuum created would ever be filled?
Henry Kwaku Darko Offei-Akoto (Risky), Mpanyinfo nyinaa ma wo nante yie!!!!BY K.OSEI-TUTU (Peace Maker)
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