It was a double dose of celebration for the venerable master of the pen, Ebo Quansah, as he celebrated his 75th birthday and his 50th anniversary in the inky fraternity.
The outspoken Ebo Quansah is 75 years old this month, and coincidentally, July marks exactly five decades since he gave his life to journalism.
On Saturday, July 20, 2024 people from far and near trooped to the Central Region, in the Ekumfi District, at a town called Ekwrafo, off the Winneba-Cape Coast road, some few metres from the district capital, Essakyir.
The day began with rains in Accra, and upon arriving in Ekwrafo, around 10:00 GMT, there was evidence of downpour.
Probably, it was a signal that the entire nation had received showers of blessings with some drizzling on the morning that Ebo Quansah chose to share his journey of life with schoolchildren, in his holy village of Ekwrafo, to inspire them.
DIGNITARIES
The Nifahemaa of the Ekumfi Traditional Area, Nana Esi Nsin VIII, led a delegation of chiefs and traditional rulers to the function.
Also in attendance were the former Sports Editor of the Ghanaian Times, Joe Aggrey; the former Sports Editor of the Daily Graphic, Ken Bediako and the former production manager of TV3, Gabriel Bosompem, who represented the President of the Ghana Journalists Association.
There was a three-man delegation led by Mr. Ahenkan Mensah, chairman of the Mens Fellowship of the Mount Zion Methodist Church, New Bortianor, Accra.
The event commenced when a Brass Band ushered the celebrant and some dignitaries into the K.T. Hammond Community Centre, which had seated Nananom, residents of the town and schoolchildren, including those from the Ahmadiyya School.
Madam Gifty Mantey set the tone for the event through a prayer, by singing from the Methodist Hymn Book numbered 10, ‘Now thank we all our God.”
The popular hymn of Thanksgiving has its last stanza as “All praise and thanks to God, the Father now be given. The son and him who reign with them in the highest heaven. The one eternal God whom heaven and earth adore. For thus it is now and shall be evermore.”
The chairman for the occasion was Mr. Joe Aggrey and the Master of Ceremonies was coach Bashiru Hayford (former coach of Asante Kotoko and current coach of Heart of Lions), who is also an indigene of Ekwrafo.
INSPIRATION
The celebrant, Ebo Quansah, told the story of his life in the local Fante language, which resonated well with the schoolchildren, for whom the event had been organised, on the Ekwrafo land.
He narrated how he became a bell boy because he was always late for school. In order to deal with that, the school tasked him with ringing the school bell, which means he had to be in school on time to perform that task or risk being punished.
He explained that he was always late because each morning he had to sell something to raise money for his parents. However, that situation, and others, did not discourage him from pursuing his dream.
Ebo Quansah shared the story of how he wrote his Common Entrance Examination and chose to attend Suhum Secondary Technical School (SUTESCO), though he earlier wanted West African Secondary School (WASS).
To him, the mere fact that the name of the School had West Africa in it, meant it was the best School, but upon visiting the campus to witness the situation, he had an instant change of mind.
Ebo Quansah, while encouraging the schoolchildren to follow their talents, shared his story of being a great football commentator back in SUTESCO, earning him the name Joe Lartey.
What brought him into journalism, he said, was the late Ghanaian leader, Dr. Busia, who inspired him, and so he wanted to be like him.
At a point in his speech, he asked the gathering to applaud his father for taking care of his education.
Ebo Quansah gained admission into the Ghana Institute of Journalism and later interned at Ghanaian Times, where he met Mr. Joe Aggrey.
He commended Mr. Aggrey for contributing meaningfully in his life, adding that Mr. Aggrey played a role in his gaining employment at the New Times Corporation, while in the school of journalism.
Ebo Quansah mentioned several advocacies he had embarked upon, including those that forced him into exile, but urged the schoolchildren to take their education seriously.
TREASURE
Mr. Joe Aggrey, in a closing remark, told the people of Ekwrafo that Ebo Quansah was a treasure to them.
He encouraged the schoolchildren to be of good behaviour to the benefit of the town. He indicated that his friend, Ebo, could organise the event in Accra, but to inspire the schoolchildren, he brought it to Ekwrafo, making key personalities visit the town.
The community presented a gift to him. It was a full kente cloth to thank him for his contributions to the Ekwrafo township.
After adorning him with the cloth over his nice white kaftan, Ebo Quansah told the schoolchildren how grateful he was, advising them that if they work hard, they may be rewarded with more than what he got.
PROUD
The Nifahemaa of the Ekumfi Traditional Area, Nana Esi Nsin VIII, said when she needed people to form a development committee, Ebo Quansah was recommended and his contributions have been enormous.
Of pride to her were the efforts of Ebo Quansah to bring the then President of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama, to the Akwanbo festival in September 2012.
There was a feast at the end of the symposium which celebrated Ebo Quansah’s 50 years in the media and the cutting of cake for his 75 years on earth.
