The world, particularly the African continent and quite specifically, Ghana, in very recent time, have witnessed the fall of very prominent, eminent and genius personalities, whose great impact on the lives of the peoples of their generation have been tremendously and exceedingly felt.
About the 5th of December, 2013 and obviously, per the varying time zones around the globe, parts of the world including areas, especially in Asia and Australia such as New Dheli, Beijing, Singapore, Sydney and Tokyo woke up to receive, as others had their day marred by the news of the passing on of former South African leader, Nelson Mandela.
For areas like Ghana, London, Casablanca, South Africa herself and tropical West Africa, the entire 24 hour day was climaxed on a saddened note as almost all television stations and other media houses had to link up with international media networks, thus curtailing their programmes, in order to cover and announce the news of the demise of this great hero, Nelson Mandela.
Exactly a fortnight when everyone had bid 2013 goodbye and welcomed 2014 in the usual couleur-de-rose style amidst the unending wishing of a happy new year, Ghana was hit, unexpectedly with the news of the passing away of one of her prolific, brilliant and resourceful women, Professor Ewurama Addy.
Before her death could escape the minds of Ghanaians, the whole world, Africa, West Africa and Ghana came to be thrown into a state of momentous grief, following the incredulous and hard-hitting announcement of the death of ace journalist, Komla Afeke Dumor.
Why are the mighty falling?
After years of having toiled and achieved remarkable feats for a nation, the most prominent personality ever produced by South Africa, arguably and hitherto- Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, became heavy with age, having lived for ninety- five years and thus, his fall or if you like, demise was greeted with a pot-pouri of mourning and celebration, reflection and apprehension.
Indubitably, N.R. Mandela was a very mighty, strong and an outstanding political tree, whose height was worth a perfect standard for many African and World leaders. The anti-apartheid revolutionary, politician, activist, lawyer and philanthropist did serve South Africa from 1994 to 1999 hence, spending just a term in office, willfully and willingly, and handing over the baton of governance to his successor, Mr. Thabo Mbeki. Born on July 18, 1918 in Mvezo, South Africa, N.R. Mandela died on December 5, 2013 in Johannesburg.
At age 72, the learned and first Ghanaian female Scientist from the University of Ghana, erstwhile and popular hostess of the National Science and Maths Quiz, distinguished and multiple award winner, Professor Ewurama Addy departs to eternity. She was the first ever female professor produced by the University of Ghana, serving as a resource person for science education programmes in the country. She is heralded for having been an inspiration to many female students in their quest to pursue science education, as glowing tributes were paid to her memory.
Thus, many of our female counterparts, who have and are pursuing various disciplines under the sciences in the various institutions, must certainly have drawn inspiration from her excellence.
Dr. kwagyir Aggrey once said, “If you educate a man, you educate an individual but if you educate a woman, you educate a nation.
Taking cognizance of this knot of wisdom and untying it, it will be accurate to posit therefore, that, if a man dies, an individual has been lost but if a woman of Prof. Ewurama Addy’s caliber dies, then a nation has indeed fallen! She was an epitome of excellence, one who had won among other awards, the Millennium Excellence Award for Educational Development, UNESCO kalinga prize for Science in 1999. She was a gem!
The entire world came into state of utter disbelief, when one of the outstanding, exceptional and finest media practioners, loved by many, Komla Afeke Dumor affirmed the fact that he is after all, a mortal. He was born on October 3, 1972 in Ghana’s capital city, Accra, into a family of academicians.
His mother, Cecilia Dumor, an educationist, editor and author with his father, Ernest Dumor, a sociology professor. Mawena Dumor, Komla’s sister, is a geologist while his brother, Korshie Dumor is medical practitioner. It is worth mentioning that, his grandpa was the composer of Ghana’s national anthem-Philip Gbeho.
Komla himself, in 1999 graduated from the University of Ghana, with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Sociology and Psychology and proceeded to the Harvard University, coming out with an MA in Public Administration. From 2000 to 2006, he was the host of the Super Morning Show on Joy FM in Accra and rose to work with international media giant, the BBC, hosting Network Africa from 2006 to 2011.
The personable and admirable Dumor, with his baritone voice, also anchored the BBC World News as well as The World Today. He was the pioneering presenter of Africa Business Report which began in 2011. He was the presenter of BBC’s flagship TV news programme- Focus on Africa.
As of the time of his departure, he was the sole West African news reader on BBC World News. Komla was named on November 3, 2013, by the New African Magazine as one of Africa’s most influential personalities.
Dumor was unarguably among the linchpins in media, a phenomenal broadcaster, whose death has stirred up and excited sorrow among people who knew him personally and even remotely. It is interesting to know that, there are many who wish and perhaps expect that, K. Dumor would come out anytime soon to clearly deny news and reports about his death.
The fall of every mighty institution or personality is always historic and yet God makes room for replacement, upshot and uprising of another. So, who is going to be the next Mandela, Ewurama or Dumor to rise to stardom? These mighty, ones did bear their respective names like any other person including yourself. Should it be impossible for another Dumor to emerge? Is Africa never going to witness the caliber of leadership possessed by the late Nelson Mandela?
Should we expect another lady to achieve much more and even greater feats than has been done by Prof. Ewurama Addy? These very important persons and gifts to our generation have been lost but you and I are alive to be challenged and achieve more to impact our generation and posterity.
