Auntie U was compassionate and full of love. A tribute to Mrs Unity Nora Atta-Nyamekye
Any young person who stepped foot on any secondary school to pursue any academic endeavour will want to win the heart of the matron.
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The domestic bursar, or the matron, as she is popularly called, is either loved for satisfying the taste of students or hated for being stingy with food.
Student riots in secondary schools have been triggered by the poor menu of the matron or bad administration by the headmaster.
And, therefore, to follow a career as a matron in the Ghana Education Service for 30 years without students raising their fingers must be a good testimonial of the good stewardship of Mrs Unity Nora Atta-Nyamekye who worked in four second cycle institutions.
Mrs Atta-Nyamekye, popularly called Auntie U, who passed on to eternity at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital on January 6, 2016 after a short illness, will be buried today in Koforidua after a burial service at the Wesley Methodist Cathedral.
Early life
She was born in Koforidua on July 27, 1940 to Mr Clement King and Madam Evelyn Debrah, both of blessed memory. She was, however, raised by her maternal grandparents, Rev. M.K. Debrah and Mrs Mary C. Debrah.
She had her primary education at Tarkwa and Obuasi Methodist schools and finished middle school at Kumasi Asawase Methodist Girls School. She was a star pupil and excelled academically, winning various competitions including Spelling Bees and the like at regional or higher levels. Due to financial constraints, however, she was not able to go to secondary school to further her education. Upon completion of middle school, she was employed as a pupil teacher at the Suame Methodist Primary School.
After two years of teaching, she worked with the Post Office at the Kumasi Telecommunications and was soon transferred to Konongo in the Ashanti Region as Chief Operator. She, however, decided to pursue Catering, a career close to her heart. She left the Post Office to study Institutional Management at the Accra Polytechnic, finishing with a City and Guilds (London) Institute qualification. Upon completion, she was employed with Wesley College, Kumasi, as the Domestic Bursar (Matron) from 1965 to 1970.
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Meeting with life partner
Auntie U would meet her life-long partner through a chance encounter in 1962, when as a young telephonist, she needed a medical report for her admission to Accra Polytechnic. A young pharmacist introduced her to a doctor friend of his who did the medical examination and issued the report. She went to Accra to pursue her course and he was transferred to Salaga in the Northern Region.
Destiny would have them meet again when he came back to the University of Science and Technology in Kumasi and she came to work as a young domestic bursar in Wesley College, Kumasi. Thus began a life that would span almost 50 years and be blessed with four children: Joe, Maame Serwa, Kweku and Afrakoma.
Christian life
A staunch Methodist, she remained very active in the church and participated in most of the activities. In her younger years, she was a chorister, and in later years, was a member of the Christ’s Little Band. She was one of the few women to be admitted to the Methodist Men’s Fellowship and was a Patron of the Choir and also the Boys and Girls Brigade of the Wesley Methodist Church in Nsawam.
Her activities in the church were, however, not limited to these groups. She catered for most gatherings and social activities and provided accommodation for some travelling church members when the mission house was full. She trained her charges according to Christian values and principles, disciplining them when necessary with godly love and care.
Career as a matron
Her career as a matron would span almost 30 years, from the Presbyterian Women’s Training College in Aburi to St Martin’s Secondary School in Nsawam, to Suhum Secondary Technical School, Suhum, and finally back to St Martin’s Secondary School. Throughout her career, there was never a time when students demonstrated against her for poor services.
Her enthusiasm for cooking prevented her from a leisurely life when she took voluntary retirement in 1998, and she subsequently went into private catering. Her passion for cooking was legendary; it wasn’t just a hobby, she was in love with cooking and she excelled at it. She cooked, baked and catered for all and sundry, from presidents to the homeless.
About 40 years ago, Auntie U got really sick and had to be admitted to Korle Bu. She told her children that she had to go away for a while. When asked where she was going, her answer was, “I have been invited to the castle to bake some cakes for the independence celebrations.” If you have ever had her cakes, rock buns, doughnuts or cooking in general, you would understand why this made perfect sense.
Lived her nature
Auntie U epitomised the very meaning of her name. She always sought to unite one and all, despite the circumstances, the history, or feelings surrounding any issues. She was very forgiving, warm, generous and extremely sympathetic to other people’s issues. As everyone’s mum, her home was never limited to the nuclear family and the doors were always open to welcome extended family, friends and their children, and her children’s friends. At a point in time, she had over 13 children living with her. Her welcoming smile, hospitality, concern for the welfare of all she came into contact with were so infectious that it was easy to leave her presence with the desire to emulate her example.
We know that Auntie U was sent to into this world with a purpose; to spread love and unity. As selfish human beings, though, we didn’t want to accept the inevitable. However, on January 6, 2016, we had no choice but to say goodbye when her Maker wanted her back for higher services. But she was always sensitive to our feelings, and even in the final moments, and in death, she still continues to console us.
She taught us emphatically that no matter the circumstances, we should always give thanks. So we say thank you to God for giving her to us for as long as He did. We say thank you for being such a wonderful mother especially to Nana Atta-Nyamekye and the ever growing list of adopted sons and daughters. We say thank you for showing us practically what it means to be forgiving, kind, loving and completely selfless. We say thank you for your discipline, positive influence and impact on our lives.
Each one of us privileged to have known her carries a piece of her heart with us, and so even though the Good Lord has called her, she will always live on. We only hope we can emulate her love, dedication and life.
Always compassionate and full of love, no illness or health issues could dampen her spirit and smile. Throughout her illness, she always had a smile on her face, a kind word on her lips and joy in her heart. We wish her trip to Korle Bu this time had the same outcome as when she said she was going to cook for the Independence Day celebrations. It is ironic that the big heart that she was known for will be what will fail her and lead to her home call.
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In her last days, she would often say, “I am so tired”. Auntie U, we all take consolation in 2 Timothy 4:7 which says: You have fought a good fight, you have finished the race and you have kept the faith. Now enter into glory and rest in peace in the Lord’s bosom. We will always love you, and we will miss you greatly, but you will never be far from us as we will forever carry you in our hearts.
Da yie Auntie U. God be with you till we meet again.