Tribute to Edward Kwaku Agyemang
The man we are paying tribute to lived well as a journalist, administrator, public relations practitioner, counsellor, philanthropist, family man and above all, a Christian.
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Such was the person Graphic had the opportunity to associate with for years. He worked for the company for 20 years, spanning 1952 to 1972. He was such a rare breed of a professional journalist that Graphic poached him from the then Ashanti Times.
He started as a senior reporter and went on to become sub-editor, chief sub-editor and finally the Editor of The Mirror, having acted in between as the Editor of the Daily Graphic.
His excellence and quality work ethics earned him an attachment with the mother company, The Mirror Group, Fleet Street, London, in 1965 and a State Department scholarship for a two-year international journalism programme in California, United States of America from 1966 to 1968.
He returned to Ghana in 1968 and was promoted acting Editor of The Mirror and confirmed Editor in 1970. He was assigned additional responsibility as acting Editor of the Daily Graphic for two months in 1970.
He was someone who loved hard work and was so dedicated to his work. Graphic as it stands today, could not have been without his association.
He acknowledged this fact when he stated in an interview he granted the Graphic just before the company celebrated its 60th anniversary on October 2, 2010 that “Graphic’s heroic rise is to the credit of the toil and sweat of all former and serving employees and I am proud to be associated with this great company.”
The man popularly called Eddie Agyemang
The late Agyemang was fearless, objective and innovative. He was the one who changed the name of the then Sunday Mirror to The Mirror. He also ensured that The Mirror changed its policy of placing too much emphasis on women and fashion to adopt an all-inclusive style to suit the taste of all its readers but with emphasis on human-interest and soft stories.
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It was as a result of his fearless nature that he was dismissed by the Acheampong regime after writing an editorial to the effect that the military had no magic wand to solve the country’s economic problems and should, therefore, allow the technocrats to work.
Ever since the advent of the 1992 Constitution, Mr Agyemang has praised the institution of the National Media Commission (NMC) and had described it as the best thing that had happened to public sector journalism practice since he left office on January 26, 1972.
He often said that if the National Media Commission that insulates the state-owned media from governmental control had been in place in his days, he would not have lost his position as editor at the prime of his career.
It’s only few people who leave advice to the younger generation before their demise; and Mr Agyemang was one of such persons.
Advice to present generation
Before his home call, he had advised the present generation to plan well and use their income judiciously towards a better future.
He had stated that there would never be a day or period that we would be self-sufficient and so we required careful planning for a better tomorrow.
If for nothing at all, for this advice alone, we workers especially of Graphic and others listening to and reading this tribute, say well done.
He was indeed a great leader, inspirer and motivator. The legacy he has left for us at Graphic still lingers on, though only in our memories. He was indeed an asset and played a unique role in the growth of the company.
His surviving peers and others he worked with at Graphic attest to the fact that he was a special person who embodied quality leadership and exhibited phenomenal work ethics.
He was unique, respectful, humble and loving and touched the hearts of many people. As Shakespeare notes in Julius Caesar: “His life was gentle and the elements so mixed in him that nature might stand up and say to all the world, this was a man!”
Now that he is gone, his great works and lofty achievements should challenge us, especially at this time of intense competition in the media landscape, to strive for excellence instead of allowing his physical absence to be a hindrance.
We mourn all lost souls but we celebrate the life of the soul that has achieved its purposes on earth. We of the Graphic family believe that we are today celebrating the life of Mr Agyemang who achieved real greatness during his lifetime, so let us therefore, rejoice and be glad.
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Our consolation and happiness are captured in Psalm 116:15: “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints”.
As William George Tarrant, author of MHB 896 sums up our fond thoughts about Papa Edward Kwaku Agyemang:
In peace their sacred ashes rest,
Fulfilled their day’s endeavour;
They blessed the earth, and they are blessed
Of God and man forever.
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Our Daddy, Fare thee well, Ayekoo. May God keep you in his bosom till we meet again.