Tribute to Boniface Ablekpe
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. (2 Timothy 4:7-8)
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Death is said to be a necessary end for mankind and it comes at its own will. The Bible says that it is appointed unto man once to die, and after that judgment. However, the death of Boniface Ablekpe on May 16, 2015 came as a shock to a number of journalists who worked under his supervision in Kumasi. His death was least expected.
After retiring from active service in April 2014, the expectations of his colleagues were that Boni, as we affectionately called him, was going to relax at home and give the opportunity to some of us to visit him occasionally to sip from his fountain of varied experience.
That is why his colleagues, especially those who w
A few days before his retirement in April 2014, he conferred with some of the Kumasi caucus of journalists at Graphic and announced his retirement, but he gave an assurance that his doors were widely open as usual for any form of interaction.
His magnanimity in sharing ideas even as a senior had no bounds, and it was such quality that always acted as a magnet, to draw his subordinates to him, both in and outside the office.
Working with Boni was pleasurable, because there was no tension and it brought out the best in all his subordinates, making it possible for us to explore all fields of the profession to meet timelines.
From Kumasi to Accra
That is why his transfer to Accra in 2004 was a big blow, but as if by design or coincidence, almost all journalists who worked under Boni in Kumasi had also been transferred to Accra at the time he was due for retirement.
It was Nehemia Owusu Achiaw who was first plucked from Kumasi, then followed Enoch Darfah Frimpong, before Kwame Asare Boadu, George Ernest Asare and Chris Nunoo completed the list of Kumasi journalists who reunited with Boni in Accra.
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In Kumasi, Boni always acted as the family head, ready to offer his shoulders as a cushion to lean on for support anytime.
Together with him, we coined the word “telepathy” as a coded language for knowledge sharing. Anytime telepathy was mentioned in the newsroom after 6 p.m, it meant we were to congregate outside the office, brainstorm on story ideas and sources to contact.
News gathering
Other times, it meant we were to congregate at various public places of eatery or drinking spots so as to interact and get to know what the public was talking about.
Sometimes he beckoned us to go on the public transport just to listen to public conversations, all in the name of news gathering. There were numerous occasions he supported us with his personal resources.
His sense of encouragement to nose for stories, many of which hit the front pages, his desire that we always respect timelines, his expertise with editing, that turned worthless stories into worthy ones, and his insatiable appetite to induce us to write for all brands, such as Graphic Sports, The Mirror, Graphic Showbiz, Junior Graphic, and Graphic
Business, that did not only make us all-round journalists, but also contributed to increasing readership for all brands of Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL) in the Ashanti Region.
Best of Boni
It was during the death of the late Asantehene, Otumfuo Opoku Ware II, when we worked almost 24 hours in Kumasi to meet the demands for all the brands of GCGL and the installation of Otumfuo Osei II, that we witnessed the best of Boni as a Regional Editor.
Boni really fought a good fight in the media circle and his death at this time has not only robbed us of a friend, but of an accomplished journalist.
Between now and the time that the body will be laid in state in his hometown at Santrokofi in the Volta Region on August 28, 2015, we will continue to have a heavy heart, but will always pray for the Lord to keep him in His bosom until we meet again.
Damirifa due.
Da yie.