With
cautious steps they warmed their ways into our bosom memories. They touched,
infected and affected many hearts and tasted our passionate reverence as they
walked our dusty paths. They kissed the roughness in our gentility and endured
our pleasant recklessness when their unpalatable words or actions or indifferent
principles scratches or disturbed the order. Yet they never relented in the pursuance
of their dreams, visions and aspirations.
They may not
necessarily be the saintly characters of religion but are like that next door
neighbour whose tenacity to duty, passion for excellence has brought honour to
our society.
I cannot stop listening
to their inspiring thoughts or even think of erasing their memories from my
mind. Some were very close associates and friends of the friends but I admired
them not because they were sinless supper humans but because they understood
their calling and activated their enthusiasm in pursuance of those ideals.
I cannot name them all,
because the list is endless. Some of them are interred in our subconscious mind
and are part of our living memories. But a lot more are out there walking and
breathing a dignified silence of their maturity and perhaps nursing future
torchbearers.
The mere mention of
their names adds a distinction of stateliness to the presence of a people,
especially when special courtesies are accorded to their fellow countrymen
because of the esteem in the names of those heroes and heroines.
We may know some, but
it’s not enough to just know them. We must not just honour them but celebrate
them while they live, and not wait to pay glowing tribute to their memories
when they join our ancestors in the hereafter.
The demise of Prof.
Kofi Awonoor, one of Ghana's finest and erudite Poet, a Nationalist who evoked
the Pan-Africanist Spirit in his thoughts and works, died tragically in Kenya
when terrorists of the al-shaabab sects in Somalia marred the beauty of The
Founder's Day on Saturday September 21. It's a sad day indeed to loss such an
academic gem and a nationalist of our time.
The torrent of messages
that poured in after his death are enough to pacify the dreadful death to
reinstate his soul in his mortal frame, if there should be a chance. But it
goes to confirm the fact he and perhaps others gone before him were illustrious
sons and daughters worthy of celebration.
It is not enough to
name them after national monuments, institute memorial lectures in their name
or declare a national holiday in their honour, rather we should strive to learn
the lessons they sought to live or preach when they lived. And resolve to
better and improve our lots and engender the common good.
Let every town name,
honour and celebrate the deeds of their illustrious daughters and sons for,
what use is it to celebrate them after they’ve silently left the scene? It is
important to celebrate them today and tomorrow.
May their lives and
stories inspire us to be diligent in our strive for national unity, progress
and the enhancement of the lives of every Ghanaian.
God bless us all.
