TRIBUTE FROM OKUAPEMMAN 1979 YEAR GROUP TO OUR BELOVED MATE.

“We need to grieve the ones we have loved and lost in this lifetime-not to sustain our connection to suffering, but to sustain our connection to love” Author Unknown.

It is with a heavy heart and deep sorrow that we write this tribute in memory of our late mate, friend and brother George Korley whom we affectionately called Man Korley or Casanova.

In our second year in Okuapemman School, we were privileged to have had George Korley joining us from St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary School. We were happy to have had the affable George Korley joining us and we nicknamed him “Man Korley” after his senior brother Dennis who was already in Okuapemman School with us. He later became popular with the nickname “Casanova”. George was sent to Opoku Akyeampong House where he settled down coolly and blended easily with his new mates and friends because of his affability and jocular amiability.

He started his academic journey steadily and exhibited his brilliance early. He was a fun loving person but was also very studious and showed his academic power in form two where he had joined us. Because of his brilliance he was selected to read the sciences and was one of the best students during the Ordinary Level Examinations in 1979. We were not surprised that he eventually proceeded to the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology to study Civil Engineering, and becoming an excellent professional in that field in the United States where he gained national and international recognition.

Being a fun loving person he was a member of a number of societies in the school and participated actively in social and academic activities of the school. He never missed any “Jamming session” nevertheless he was very serious with his studies. He was a famous member of the Wozaagbo boys and his nickname “Casanova” or “C’Nova” became very popular in Okuapemman. After we left Okuapemman those of us who could stay in touch with him passed through their house at Kokomlemle and continued the friendly relationship till he relocated to the United States.

When we decided to regroup after three decades since we left school, George was very active and made his contributions towards our activities though he was not physically present in Ghana. He was very active with his wisecracks and objectivity on our 79 platform. His late night contributions and interventions made our platform very interesting and we all looked forward to read from him. He welcomed and entertained friends who happened to visit the States. He would travel to take friends out and make them feel at home during their visit. His generosity was unique as he supported the group financially to sustain our activities and would go further to make extra contributions where necessary. In fact George was a good mate and a brother to all of us.

We were all very proud of his exploits in the engineering arena in the States and his high standing and recognition as a prolific Engineer and his consulting skills and knowledge in structural and bridges engineering and following his rise and recognition with admiration. We felt enamored by his achievements, awards and recognition in his profession. 

We were looking forward to meeting him in Ghana anytime soon, when unfortunately we heard the sad news about his sudden demise on the 21st February. We received the bad news with shock and disappointment, because we had not heard about any ill-health on his part, though he had not been very active for some time now on our platform. We are still trying to find answers to his sudden departure from us to the world beyond. We are heartbroken and distraught because we least expected this sad and tragic turn of events.

We cannot question our maker and the Giver of life for his sudden demise, for He knows best and quoting Edward Young, “But fate ordains that dearest friends must part”. And painful though parting may be, we bow to you George as we see you off to distant clouds. We thank God for lending you to us and pray that  He grants you peaceful rest in His bosom. Our Heartfelt sympathy and condolences to his beloved wife Joyce and children, his loved ones, his brothers and sister and the extended Family.

Odehye George Korkwei Korley,  we are missing you sorely and we shall keep your sweet memories with us till we meet again!

Fare thee well Anyemi!!!

Rest well in the bosom of your maker!!!

Due, due, due!!!