Graphic to celebrate life of C.K. Gyamfi
Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL) has pledged to work closely with the family of the late football icon, Nana Gyamfi Kumi to ensure his life is well celebrated during his funeral next month.
The Managing Director of GCGL, Mr Kenneth Ashigbey, gave the assurance when a high-powered delegation of traditional leaders and family members of the former Black Stars player and coach visited GCGL to formally inform the management about the funeral arrangements for the football legend, known in private life as Charles Kumi Gyamfi, who died two months ago at the age of 85.
The delegation was led by Osabarima Enyine Asiedu Akoo Ababio III, Benkumhene of the Akuapem Traditional Area and Lartehene, and included family members of the late coach. Other members of the delegation included Okyeame Ayesu Pentenprem, John Kumi, Kofi Asiedu and Francis Quartey-Gyamfi, a son of the late coach.
Mr Ashigbey noted that the late coach helped give Ghana football an identity, particularly after coaching the Black Stars to win three of the four Africa Cup of Nations tournaments in which Ghana excelled, and added that the Graphic brands would play a leading role in telling his story as a true national hero in order to motivate present and future generations.
“Graphic is determined to tell the Ghanaian story and C.K. Gyamfi represents that true Ghanaian story worthy to be told and celebrated. “He is an international figure and we’ll help celebrate him so that future generations will be inspired by his work.
“We’ll relive his life and we’ll do it fittingly,” Mr Ashigbey told the delegation.
The Director of Newspapers at GCGL, Mr Yaw Boadu Ayeboafoh, also eulogised the late coach who led Ghana to continental titles in 1963, 1965 and 1982. He also worked with football’s world governing body FIFA, the Confederation of African Football as well as in Somalia and Kenya.
“What he did is what we’re living with and taking pride in [as a country]. He did it not for the family but for Ghana and for the world,” Mr Ayeboafoh said.
Earlier, Osabarima Ababio III, presented two bottles of Schnapps as tradition demands and briefed the management on arrangements to give the late coach a befitting funeral.
He explained that the family decided to formally announce the late C.K. Gyamfi passing to glory because they want the Graphic newspapers to spearhead the publicity around the funeral and also to seek how best to collaborate with GCGL to celebrate the life of the football icon.
"C.K. Gyamfi served Ghana and deserves to be celebrated. Graphic has all the history and archives about his life and work so we want to seek ways by which we can work together for that purpose,” he said.
The richness of the delegation, he added, signifies the importance the family attaches to the visit.