Tributes

he became not only a working colleague but a good friend of mine as well.

Later on in life his family came to live quite close to me in Lashibi and our children developed a strong bond of friendship. Our homes were like two in one, just separated by a short distance and since we also bore the same last name, he transitioned from a work colleague and friend to become a younger brother to me.

He had a listening ear and was a good adviser as well. Mr Appiah's brief illness came as a shock to my entire family because we always saw him as a strong athletic me. He has left us with fond memories of his permanent smiling face and will sorely be missed by my entire family.

and brotherhood grew out of our shared faith in Jesus Christ. Chief Appiah was God-fearing and often encouraged me using scriptures.

Uncle Joe believed in me and supported my career and even without being asked, paid my TOEFL registration when I wanted to pursue postgraduate education in the USA. Uncle Joe's generosity knew no bounds, but I was mildly surprised when I visited him and his son Benjamin in Pennsylvania, during one of his numerous visits to the USA. He was temporarily hosting a stranger from Ghana who he had met at a professional workshop and was stranded because his accommodation plans had been messed up.

Tribute By

Bernard Ampofo Amaning

We are gathered to honour the life and memory of a very gentle and kind soul who many of us know as Joe Appiah. I got to know Uncle Joe or Chief Appiah (that is what I came to call him), when I was posted as a National Service personnel, to the Group Properties Department of t h e t h e n A s h a n t i G o l d f i e l d s Corporation(AGC). The warmth of his h e a r t w a s infectious at first c o n t a c t . Together with our boss, the G e n e r a l M a n a g e r o f G r o u p Properties, I was t a u g h t a n d trained to be the professional I am today. Chief

Appiah patiently bore with my rookie mistakes at work while he coached me on how to manage people and handle the complexities of the job. Our friendship

Chief Appiah had an easy going personality and was usually calm under pressure. Therefore, when he, in his usual calm manner, told me he was not well, I had no doubt that he would beat it just as he overcame other adversities, including a terrible accident he had when we went to a job site while at AGC. Oh yes! He did fight valiantly to the end.

Chief Appiah, we have said goodbye to your mortal remains but the loving memory of you will forever be in our hearts. May God keep you till we meet again. Farewell, my brother!

A TRIBUTE TO A LOYAL FRIEND BY BOAKYE-BOATENG

It was an ordinary day in Kokomlemle, Accra, somewhere in 1991, that I came across a young man entering my shop 'Benz Gate' with what was then called a 'Smiling Benz'. We have a minimum of 20 customers per day but hearing this particular man speak at the cashier desk intrigued me - he just seemed so relatable. After our brief interaction, he became a Benz Gate customer and believe me, he was a good customer When Appiah says he'll come and pay on Friday at 5PM, he will be there on Friday at 5PM or at times, even earlier!

Fast forward 2011, twenty years later, Appiah became my electrician. He first