Mercy Akuffo

BIOGRAPHY OF ABREWATIA MERCY AKUA AKUFFO Yesu nko na me ne no tu kwan yi, Me ne no di ahyèmfiri daa. Yesu nko n’òkyerè me kwan pa so, :/: Òno mu na menya nhyira pa. :/: The late ABREWATIA MERCY AKUA AKUFFO was born on 24th of June 1924 at Akropong Akuapem to Oheneba Kofi Bekoe AKUFFO, 38th of 127 siblings born by Akuapem Omanhene F. W. K. AKUFFO and her mother being Mena Emma Akua Kwakoa Akonor of the Ladze Koampa family of Akropong Akuapem and Odumase Krobo. Five siblings born were the late Kwasi AKUFFO, the late Kwasi Asare AKUFFO, the late Onuabea Yaa Gyamea AKUFFO, as well as two other younger sisters, Madam Ellen Oparebea Attoh (née Ansah) and Madam Gladys Safoa Ansah. Aunty Mercy, as we called her started her primary education at the Presbyterian Primary School (or the Junior School situated under the ton tree) with Classmates such as the first Ghanaian Auditor ~General, Mr Ahenkora Osei and Papa Sakyi Addo, at Akropong. She then continued at the Peki Presbyterian Girls Boarding School for her Middle School Education along with two Akuffo Descendant cousins, Yaa Aforo & Victoria Akuffo. It was at Peki that Aunty Mercy learnt to speak the Ewe Language so fluently that visiting Voltarian friends were happy to converse with her and she looked forward to their visits. When she finished schooling at Peki she was sent to assist her Aunt Alice Afua Okonommea Akonor, a prominent trader in textiles at Makola No.1 Market, Accra. She then learnt Nursing and worked at Dr Dove’s Clinic at Akotolante, Accra. From here she and the Doctor at times made health tours at Akropong Akuapem. It was while she lived with her Aunt that she met Mr. George Ofori of Ofori Brothers and had her first female child, Ruby Ofori. She returned to Akropong Akuapem where at the family home at Kye Kurotia she and her mother looked after the many children of her sisters and cousins who were schooling at Akropong Demonstration Primary or Junior School whilst their parents worked in Accra or abroad. While at this she registered with a Textile Company at Krobo Odumase to trade in Textiles and other materials. She was also engaged in frying yam for sale to school children. She had her second child, the late Alexander Kwaku Boohene. She later married Mr. Boateng-Parry and had two more children, Sussana Afi Boateng and Kwaku Agyei Boateng. Aberewatia Mercy was an active Christian throughout her life, a staunch Presbyterian, and an ardent member of the Christ Presbyterian Church Singing Band at Akropong . She enjoyed the regular singing practice taught by Music Teacher Otto Boateng as a Treble singer. The Church also liked the Singing Band’s singing. She was also a member of the Presbyterian Women’s Fellowship as well as other church groups. In 1966 she was awarded an HONORARY CERTIFICATE by the AKUAPEM PRESBYTERIAN CHORAL SOCIETIES UNION which she had served for over SIXTEEN Years since its inauguration in 1949 at Obodan. Aunty Mercy was very friendly and thus made wide friendships within the Singing Band, Women’s Fellowship and the Church. An Association of Ladies was formed within and was later named “January to January.” The group comprised many including Odehye Yaa Amoakoa, Felicia Afoa, Ataa Amponsaa, Nancy Ataa Amponsaa, Mena Boatemaa, Adwoa Ansaa, Yaa Gyamea, others, and Mena Mercy Akua Akuffo, the latest to be called by our Lord God. Abrewatia Mercy enjoyed good health throughout her long life. However, in the year 2021, her health began to fail. Late January 2022, she became bedridden and she died peacefully on the 31st January at the ripe old age of ninety-seven. She is survived by her three children, 13 grandchildren, and 12 great grandchildren. Yèn nyinaa da w’ase. Yèn Na pa ne yèn Nua pa Aunty Mercy Akua Akuffo da yiye komm wô Awurade kokom. Amen.