Senyo Hosi Writes: So Long, My Friends
Hon. Omane Boamah and Hon. Murtala Mohammed were both colleague student politicians during our time at the University of Ghana. I happened to be one of the unofficial opposition leaders of the Student Representative Council (SRC) with Murtala and the late Hon. John Kumah as my lead backers. Omane was part of the medical school crew who attended general assembly meetings every now and then and especially when he was lobbying to run for the NUGS Presidency seat. I have been acquainted with these men for about 24 years.
I’ll start with Murtala.
He was such a fierce fighter. Drop him anywhere, and he will find his way to emerge. Murtala’s life is such a story. Tough beginning, relentless in his pursuits, he never cowed, and he fought his way to the top. He was a true servant who never threw his weight about. Fierce yet humble.
In his race for office as the UG SRC president, he would often start his submission with the statement “I’m not here to make lofty promises”. From my observation, he lived it as a politician. Abotsi rest well.
Because of you, the little boys and girls in Nanton, Tamale, Chereponi, and Nakpanduri can hold on to hope that they, too, can emerge into national relevance and impact.
Omane’s story is interesting and inspiring at the same time. He is a man who turned his hobby into his mainstay. A medical doctor who took politics as a hobby became a full-time politician with ease, forgetting he is a medic who spent seven years in university to learn about the frailties of the human body.
On the 3rd of last month, he and I discussed his career detour and laughed it off. This was on the sidelines of the Republic Day Public Lecture organized by the OneGhana Movement and the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College.
Our children happen to school together, and I must admit, there are very few who can compare to Omane’s dedication to their child’s education. He is present at practically every one of the school events relevant to his children. I am told he commits to teaching his children and guiding them through homework himself. Ei! Omane was a fine and exemplary father. It is easy to get caught up in the political view of people and miss out on the purity of their humanity.
Omane was one of the most vilified after the NDC lost the 2016 elections. But he was a man with deep tenacity. He never gave up. Many would have escaped into oblivion. He still served his party and candidate diligently both in the highs and the lows. As he is quoted as saying: “Reorganize, don’t agonize”. He lived it and transformed the electoral operations of his party in the 2024 elections. He stayed committed and loyal. That is the kind of man you will want by your side when you lead. H.E. the President has not just lost a dependable Minister. He has lost his brother, a trusted friend and confidant. He has lost a heartbeat.
When he was vying for the NUGS presidency, some doubted his ability to win, citing the intensity of his stammer. But I was clear it was no impediment. Omane had the flair and ability to connect with people, and he spoke wisdom. Simplicita! He was set on a path to run for the President of Ghana someday. He never said it, but it was obvious that that aura hovered around him. I believe that would have been a great blessing for Ghana. Rest well, my brother.
So long, my brothers!
May your legacies live on!
