KEK, five years on……
Kwesi Essel-Koomson, better known as KEK while he was alive, never ceased to tell those who cared to listen that he was born into poverty, extreme poverty, as he himself used to stress.
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According to the man, it was education that changed his destiny and liberated him from the clutches of poverty. He probably would have ended up in the cold waters of Yeji, where some of his siblings found themselves fishing, with little education.
Early in life, KEK walked the streets of his holy village, Senya Bereku, in the Central Region, barefooted, not knowing what the future held for him. Instead of joining his biological father and brothers at Yeji, he followed his stepfather, Agooji, and his mother, Auntie Ekua Buei, who died only last month, to Kpandai to support Agooji in his carpentry business. But this turned out to be his luck.
It is to this wonderful man, KEK, that I dedicate my column this week.
Education
While he enrolled at the local Catholic school, he found time to earn something for the family, carrying a sewing machine on his head, moving from house to house along the dusty streets and corners of Kpandai in Gonjaland, still walking barefooted and mending clothes for the local people.
Fortunately for KEK, he was brilliant at school and caught the eyes of the Catholic priest at Kpandai, who gave him all the encouragement. They saw him as a future priest, who would serve the Lord.
When KEK passed his Common Entrance examination, it was St Charles Secondary School and Seminary in Tamale that the Catholic priests arranged for him to attend. It was at St Charles that he wore a pair of sandals for the first time.
The opportunity KEK had to attend St Charles was the open sesame he needed to break the cycle of poverty in his family.
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He seized the chance with both hands and never looked back. The early education, followed by spells at Winneba Secondary School, where he studied for his ‘A’ levels and University of Ghana, where he graduated with a combined honours in economics and sociology, opened many doors. By the end of it all, KEK was able to build one of the biggest insurance companies in Ghana.
Insurance as a career
While he was alive he always gave credit to the late Nana Awuah Darko, the founder of Vanguard Assurance, who, during a chance meeting with KEK after his graduation from Legon, sold the ideas of pursuing insurance as a career to him.
In no time, KEK became a man of influence and affluence in the Ghanaian society and was able to impact positively on the lives of so many people, bringing hope to many who had found themselves in a state of hopelessness.
When, therefore, he died suddenly and unexpectedly on April 29, 2010, exactly five years ago, aged only 58, the lights literally went off for one of the most remarkable characters I ever came across.
Passing on
KEK’s journey to eternity began on Friday, December 18, 2009, a week to Christmas, when he dressed up from office just before closing hours to go and play golf at the 37 Military Golf Course. In fact, golf was his passion, second only after his business.
Unfortunately that Friday was a black one and a red letter day at the same time. He was reported to have collapsed on the golf course. He was rushed to the 37 Military Hospital. On Christmas eve, December 24, 2009, he was flown to the United Kingdom to receive special treatment. For the next four months he was hospitalised in a London hospital.
After he had stabilised he was brought back to Accra on Sunday, April 25, 2010 for physiotherapy and rehabilitation. There appeared to be some slight improvement in his medical condition. Those who saw him were hopeful that he was on the road to recovery.
Little did anybody know that death was lurking in the corner. On Thursday, April 29, 2010, he succumbed to death at a rather ‘young’ age of 58.
It is now five years since KEK departed this world, but the memories continue to linger on. He certainly put on so much in those 58 years and was seen by many as a man in a hurry to leave a legacy behind.
When some believed that his demise would also mark the end of his insurance brokerage firm, it has rather been the opposite. The company has grown by leaps and bounds to remain on top of the insurance chart.
What I noted when Kwesi was alive was that he was not apprehensive anytime he travelled outside on business. In fact, it was business as usual as everybody was doing what was expected of him or her. Usually his absence was never felt as many of the staff members would not even know he had travelled.
That was because KEK never ran a one-man business. He put up a management structure that was solid and has stood the test of time.
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He gave jobs to only the competent and would not hesitate to politely withdraw you if he found you wanting. He would even help to look for a job for you elsewhere where you could be useful.
Soft spot for kinsmen
KEK had soft spots for his kinsmen, i.e. people from Senya Bereku. He would always help people from his area who had the qualification and would monitor them and encourage them to rise.
He also tried to help people of Northern origin because he grew up in the North and also went to school there. But if after giving you a job and you were found wanting you would be shown the exit.
Finally he gave opportunities to Old Vandals, the alumni of Commonwealth Hall of University of Ghana. Kwesi believed that Commonwealth Hall built him up, changed his outlook in life and made him a fearless competitor, always going for the best and the ultimate.
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It is his style of avoiding giving jobs to the boys but rather going for the best that has kept the company going. In addition, he had a strong board that has continued to work hand in hand with management to ensure the rapid growth of the company.
I still remember the day his death was announced. As a loyal friend, I decided to go to the corporate office at the Airport Residential Area to commiserate with the staff.
I was surprised to find everybody on his seat busy working. When I tried to probe I was told there was an initial wailing among the staff. But after a while it was back to business.
Well, Kwesi that is what has been going on since you left. Your staff have remained loyal and the company has probably remained more buoyant than you left it. Apart from the brokerage company, the KEK Reinsuarance and KEK Life are both doing well judging from the reports I occasionally get from our friend, Mr Elliot Williams of BFT, anytime we meet at some function.
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I doff my hat for your loyalists, Mr Charles Oduro, Mrs Patience Abrahams, Apostle K.A Asare, Mr Shaibu Ali, Mr Charles Cudjoe and many more for ably holding the fort for you in your absence. Surely KEK shall never die.
I wish also to report to you that your pet project, Mother Teresa School for Girls, at Senya Bereku is not doing too badly. At least every year the Old Vandals go to the school to present some needy items to the children, just as we were doing when you were around.
At least you have given hope to these little girls to have some education in order to take them out of poverty. Their parents will be eternally grateful to you for saving them from sending them off to go and do some fishing at Yeji.
How time flies. So you have been away for five good years. We your friends, colleagues and family members sorely miss you. We shall continue to pray for your soul. Have eternal rest.