Secrets to a youthful 90: Lessons from Joana Bunte
Mrs Joana Bunte was born in Accra when pounds and shillings were the official currency in Ghana.
She began her education at the Bishop Girls' School and almost continued at St. Monica's Secondary School in Mampong, Ashanti, where she aimed to become a nun. However, her devoted father decided that his Joan (as he affectionately called her) would be too far from home in Mampong, so he chose Achimota School instead.
Thus, her secondary education began at Ghana's first co-educational secondary school, where she excelled as an avid sportswoman in Kingsley House.
After completing secondary school, she pursued training in secretarial skills and worked for the first British Government Statistician. Her professional career progressed as she worked in various press houses, leading to her impressive memory of events, dates, and times, which amazes everyone around her.
Later, Mrs Bunte joined British Petroleum (BP) as the Executive Assistant to the Managing Director, long before the roles of Executive Assistant and Personal Assistant became standard. She then worked with the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, where she met the love of her life, the late Michael Bunte.
Together, they lived in Cameroon, Germany, and Ghana, where she became involved in the school systems as a librarian and office secretary, and actively participated in the International Women’s Organisation wherever she went.
Mrs Bunte is blessed with four children who are spread around the globe and has four grandchildren. Her grandchildren affectionately call her “Dearest,” lest they receive no responses! When her first two grandchildren were younger, her form of discipline was to gather them and have them sing the Anglican hymn "Dear Lord and Father of Mankind,
Forgive Our Foolish Ways," emphasising the words "foolish ways." This method made the children so familiar with the song that whenever they misbehaved and she gave them a stern look, they would begin singing it.
For Mrs Bunte, the following scripture from Psalms 9:1-2 and 10 of The Passion Translation encapsulates her family and life experiences: “I will worship you, Yahweh, with extended hands as my whole heart erupts with praise! I will tell everyone everywhere about your wonderful work! I will be glad and shout in triumph. I will sing praise to your exalted name, O
Most High. Everyone who knows your wonderful name keeps putting their trust in you. They can count on you for help no matter what. O Lord, you will never, no never, neglect those who come to you.”
On Saturday, March 15, 2025, she celebrated a milestone birthday—90 years! As she reflected on how she arrived at this age in good health and joyfully embraced her abilities, she playfully told people that she filled out her birth certificate with 1935 as her year of birth because it had a nice ring to it.
Affectionately known as Auntie Joana, she does not look a day over 70. When asked about the secret to her youthfulness, she shared nine principles she lives by:
1. Dress well, step out in style, and carry yourself the way you wish to be treated.
2. Laugh often, even if it means laughing at yourself sometimes.
3. Never let anyone dull your shine!
4. Love your children equally, celebrating each of their strengths.
5. Look forward to tomorrow and don’t dwell on a better yesterday.
6. Maintain a youthful mindset and make friends with people half your age or younger.
7. Stand firm in your beliefs and don’t waver.
8. Be a person of your word; if you promise to arrive at a certain time, ensure you do so.
9. Continue learning and keep giving your brain something to work on.
As Mrs Bunte continues to live by these principles, she hopes that every reader will adopt at least one as a personal goal and join her on the dance floor for the next birthday celebration, and the next, and the next, by God's grace.
