D.S. Boateng goes home
The late Ambassador D.S. Boateng was born to Oheneba Yaw Sarpong, the first child of Nana Kwaku Boateng I, Omanhene of New Juaben, and Madam Mary Antwi Boateng, daughter of the Chief Linguist, Okyeame Kwadwo Antwi aka Kyeame Alata, on the October 9, 1943 in Koforidua.
His father, also a Thursday born, named DS after himself. His full name, therefore, became David Yaw Sarpong Boateng. DS had his elementary education at the Koforidua Roman Catholic Primary and Middle Schools from 1951 to 1959. He completed with a distinction. He continued his education at the Mount Mary Teacher Training College at Somanya from 1960 to 1964, where he obtained his Teacher’s Certificate A with a distinction.
From 1970 to 72, he attended the Advanced Teacher Training College at Winneba. DS continued his tertiary education at the University of Cape Coast from 1974 to 1977, where he obtained his BA in History, Sociology and Education. In 1981, he got the opportunity to study at Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA where he obtained a Certificate in Industrial Relations.
Work experience
DS has been a teacher through and through. He first taught as a pupil teacher at Kobokobo near Huhunya on the Koforidua-Somanya road. He later taught at the Koforidua Catholic Middle School from 1964 to 65. He became the Headteacher of Oyoko Catholic Primary School from 1965 to 1970, and a tutor at the Kwahu Abetifi Presbyterian Secondary School from 1972 to 1974. He was also a tutor at the Benkum Secondary School, Larteh-Akuapim from 1977 to 1979.
He became the Administrative Secretary of Ghana TUC from 1979 to 1985 and Principal of Ghana Labour College from 1985 to 1986. No wonder with such a long teaching career, DS gathered various nicknames. To some he was known as “Master”, Small Man” and “Will Davies”. Later in government he was known as “Old Boat and Baako Eya”.
What many may not know is that in his youthful days, DS played with the Iocal based band called “Casino”. He was their chief drummer. He was an excellent ballroom dancer to boot winning several dancing competitions. When it came to traditional dancing it was a spectacle to behold. On important ceremonies like “Akwasidaekese”, Manhyia Palace was even mesmerised by his footsteps and gestures. His dexterity in dancing “adowa” was legendary. The palace will indeed miss him.
Student’s politics
At the University of Cape Coast, DS was first drawn into students’ politics. He contested and won the Presidency of the school’s SRC from 1975 to1976. He was also in the forefront of students’ agitation against the Unigov concept of General Acheampong in those days. The political life of DS started on a low tone.
In 1979, he contested the parliamentary seat of Koforidua on the ticket of the Social Democratic Front. This was the party led by Alhaji Issifu Ali. He lost but it was a good ‘baptism of fire’ for his future political activism.
In 1986, DS was invited by the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) to serve as the Deputy Secretary at the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare while still with the Labour College.
In 1989, he was appointed the substantive PNDC Secretary for the re-organised Ministry of Mobilisation and Social Welfare. When Ghana returned to democratic dispensation in 1992, DS contested the parliamentary seat of the New Juaben South Constituency on the ticket of the NDC. This time around, he won the seat and was appointed as the Minister of Employment with a cabinet rank by President J.J Rawlings.
In 1997, DS was appointed as a Minister of State at the Presidency still under President Rawlings. During his active political career, DS served on many high-profile state and social organisations. These included being Board Chairman of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust, The Tripartite Committee on Wages and Salaries, Redeployment Management Committee, the Co-ordinating Committee on Vocational Education and Training, Divestiture Implementation Committee and on other boards as a member.
DS also distinguished himself on the international arena. He was elected to the Governing Board of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) from 1993 to 1996 in Geneva, Switzerland. He was the Chairman of the prestigious Finance Committee of the ILO in 1995. In June 1996, he was elected as the Vice-President of the General Conference of the ILO.
Diplomatic career
DS had the opportunity to travel the world over to attend international conferences in the U.K, Germany, Russia, Switzerland, Korea, Iraq, Japan and the U.S.A.
In October, 2009, DS was appointed by the late President John Evans Atta-Mills as Ghana’s Ambassador to the Republic of Cuba. This position had concurrent accreditation to the following Caribbean and Latin American countries – Barbados, Costa Rica, Antigua and Bermuda, Grenada, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, the Commonwealth of Dominica, Panama, Nicaragua, St Vincent and Grenadines, the Republic of Dominica and Haiti.
In November, 2013, he returned to Ghana after a successful and distinguished tour of duty as an Ambassador with utmost satisfaction and honour.
DS was a devoted Catholic and participated in all activities of the St. George’s Cathedral of Koforidua. He was married to Madam Akua Dwubi. He left behind three children, three stepchildren and grandchildren. He spent most of his leisure time reading and engaging in political and social discourse. He also enjoyed watching soccer and travelling for leisure.
He was also the patron of Brothers Association, a prestigious and influential social club in Koforidua. DS will be greatly missed by the church, friends on both sides of the political divide, traditional leaders, but more so by his large extended family. He lived a fulfilled life and died peacefully at the age of 72.
Master, Baako eya fare thee well. Nante yie.