Gabriel Tanko Kwamigah-Atokple Remembers Prof. Kofi Awoonor 13 Years On

Accra, Sept. 21, 24HourNews – Council of State Member, H.E Gabriel Tanko Kwamigah-Atokple, has paid tribute to the late Prof. Kofi Nyidevu Awoonor, 13 years after his passing.

Prof. Awoonor, one of Ghana’s most distinguished literary figures, diplomats, intellectuals and statesmen, died tragically in Nairobi on September 21, 2013.

In a tribute, Mr. Kwamigah-Atokple described Prof. Awoonor as a proud son of Weta in the Volta Region, the same ancestral home he also hails from.

He noted that beyond their shared roots, Prof. Awoonor served as Chairman of the Council of State, a Council he himself has the privilege to serve on as a Member today.

“Standing in this historic chamber today, beneath the same national emblem and within an institution in which he once provided counsel to the Republic, I cannot help but feel the weight of history,” he said.

He remembered Prof. Awoonor not only as a celebrated poet and scholar but as a son of Weta who carried the voice, culture and intellectual heritage of his people onto the national and international stage.

“His life reminds us that where we come from can shape the depth of what we contribute to our nation. From Weta to the Council of State, his journey remains an enduring part of our collective history,” he added.

He said 13 years on, Prof. Awoonor’s words, scholarship, patriotism and legacy continue to live on.

“May the memory of Prof. Kofi Nyidevu Awoonor remain eternal. From Weta to the Council of State – a connection across generations, a responsibility to serve and a legacy to honour. Rest peacefully, Prof. Awoonor,” he stated.