| Location | Mampong Ghana |
| Age | 89 years |
| Date of Birth | 30/12/1919 |
| Date of Death | 03/06/2009 |
| Visitors | 103 since 12/06/2009 |
| Creator |
Mr. R.R. Amponsah, a leading member of the NPP, and a holder of several political positions during
his long political career, died at the age of 89 after a short illness on June 3, 2009.
R.R. Amponsah was educated at Achimota College, completing his course in 1942. Among his class mates
were Victor Owusu, K.B. Asante, and Silas Duodu. He was a good organizer and it was no wonder that
he was appointed a school prefect. He was gregarious, full of life, energetic and he was liked by
many. Achimota at the time was not a school for students who were only interested in Greek, Latin
and other purely academic studies. It was also a place for those who were interested in and
appreciated the contribution of technology to development. Amponsah demonstrated a keen interest in
ceramics, and particularly pottery. Those who knew him at the time narrate that he enjoyed nothing
better than spending long periods by the kiln firing pottery. And it was remarkable that, no matter
how late he stayed at the kiln, he would be at his best and in very good mood the next morning. This
was the period of World War II, and Achimota was anxious to promote indigenous industry in the Gold
Coast. Among others, it was recognized that there was a need for skills and facilities to help
produce bricks, roofing and floor tiles, and pavement blocks. Because of his interest and
demonstrated aptitude in the field, R. R. was awarded a scholarship to Loughborough College, at
Stoke on Trent in England, for further studies in pottery. He was a keen student and he came out
with flying colours, and was awarded the prize for pottery in his final examination.
He once served as Minister of Education under Dr K.A. Busia’s Progress Party government during the
Second Republic.
Considered one of the most prominent Ghanaians who espoused different political ideas from that of
the Convention People’s Party (CPP), Mr R.R. Amponsah was forced into exile with others from both
the CPP and UP traditions under Dr Kwame Nkrumah’s regime.
Although not too strong due to old age, the former Chairman of the Council of Elders of the NPP,
played a significant role in the last general election which saw his party lose power to the
National Democratic Congress (NDC).
May his soul rest in peace
He was a remarkable gentleman
In appearance he was dapper, always impeccably dressed. Tall and handsome, he cut a very dashing figure in a light grey or dark grey two-buttoned double-breasted suit, with a light blue shirt and a matching maroon or blue tie. I was tempted to steal glances at him. His conversation was always stimulating to the last.
He had charm, generosity and courage. He never lost the common touch. He was deeply focused. He had immense commitment to, and compassion for, all kinds of people.
Nothing was too much trouble for him. Above all, he was unfailingly courteous. He was a gentleman’s gentleman.
The final lines of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar appropriately and correctly describe the nature and personality of the man: His life was gentle, and the elements so mixed in him that Nature might stand up and say to all the world, “This was a man.” (Act 5, Scene Five).
Kwame Donkor Fordwor
source:ghanaweb.com
His Father has called him home
His Father has called him home
Come with me my precious son,
for all your work on earth is done.
No more pain no more fears,
no more sorrows, no more tears,
no more burdens you shall bear
in your mansion in the air.
On streets of gold you shall roam,
for your Father is calling you home.
As heavens gate opened wide
Dad joyfully walked in side.
Then he knelt down to his King
as all the angels began to sing.
And when he heard Amazing Grace
he gazed into his Saviours face.
He knew the promise to be true,
that Jesus died for me and you.
On Streets of gold Dad now roams,
for his Father has called him home.
I'll Be Here!
I cannot ease your aching heart,
Nor take your pain away;
But let me stay and take your hand
And walk with you today.
I'll listen when you need to talk,
I'll wipe away your tears;
I'll share your worries when they come,
I'll help you face your fears.
I'm here and I will stand by you,
on each hill you have to climb;
So take my hand, let's face the world ...
And live just one day at a time.
You're not alone, for I'm still here,
I'll go that extra mile;
And when your grief is easier,
I'll help you learn to smile!
Condolences
By Times Reporter
Tuesday, 16 June 2009
The Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) has expressed its condolence to the bereaved family of the late R.R Amponsah and the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
A press release issued by the DFP and signed by the Deputy General Secretary, Mr John K. Ameka said “the DFP has learnt with shock, the reported death of Mr R.R Amponsah, a veteran politician and one-time Member of Parliament in the Progress Party government of Dr K.A. Busia in the Second Republic.”
The party said the death of Mr Amponsah represents the loss of yet another illustrious son of Ghana, who has contributed in no small measure, towards the development of the country.
“Indeed he has also contributed towards the sustenance and deepening of democracy by his unwavering support to his political tradition which gave birth to the present day NPP under the Fourth Republic,” it added.
The party said Mr Amponsah had been a stalwart of the United Party (UP) tradition, transforming itself into the Progress Party in 1969, the Popular Front Party in 1979, and now the new Patriotic Party.
The DFP said “whilst we mourn the death of the late R.R Amponsah, one lesson we politicians can learn from his life is the very modest life he lived in spite of his huge and towering political stature.”
“May his soul rest in perfect peace,” the DFP said.
The world is your mirror
The world is your mirror and your mind is a magnet.
What you perceive is in this world is largely a reflection of your own attitudes and beliefs.
Life will give you what you attract with your thoughts think, act and talk negatively and your world will be negative.
Think and act and talk with enthusiasm and you will attract positive results.
Michael LeBeuf
Miss me - but let me go
When I come to the end of the road
And the sun has set for me
I want no rites in a gloom filled room
Why cry for a soul set free
Miss me a little - but not too long
And not with your head bowed low
Remember the love that we once shared
Miss me - but let me go
For this is a journey that we must all take
And each must go alone
It's all a part of the Master's plan
A step on the road to home
When you are lonely, and sick of heart
Go to the friends we know
And bury your sorrows in doing good deeds
Miss me - but let me go
Farewell, Nante yie!
We the members of New Patriotic Party UK and Ireland have learnt with deep regret the passing away of The Mr. R R Amponsah, the Chairman of Council of Elders of our party the We in UK and Ireland of the Danquah-Busia-Dombo fraternity recall with a sense of pride, the courage and self devotion of a man who defied age to put the NPP at the top of his priority since 1992 and even wonder if the history of Ghana has been fair to man of such courage and vision.
As the founding father of Ghana’s modern education system, it was R.R. Amponsah the Education Minister in Dr. Busia’s government who in October 1971 invited the public to send memos, as he put it in his invitation message “for a review of Ghana’s current educational system, which has outlived its usefulness”. Out of that emerged the introduction of the JSS/SSS education concept in Ghana. Known as the “Old Fox” in the fight against oppression and for true liberation for Ghana, Mr. Reginald Reynolds Amponsah (known simply as RR) was one of the early victims of the Preventive Detention Act when he was detained unfairly in 1958 for planning a military coup with Major Awhaitey and remained in detention until the February 24, 1966 coup d’état which overthrew the Nkrumah regime.
Together with most prominent Ghanaians who espoused different political ideas from that of the CPP like Messrs Victor Owusu, Modesto Apaloo, William Ofori-Atta, Dzenkle Dzewu, and Joe Appiah and who paid dearly for their love for freedom and justice in either prison or in exile, they fought for the Ghana that we have today.
Today we mourn with our mother Party in Ghana the loss of a true founding father, whose sense of patriotism stands tall for all to see. We mourn the loss of a true son of Ghana, a true political leader and a great inspirer. Our thoughts and condolences go to his family who undoubtedly has lost a grandfather, a father, an uncle and indeed a pillar. Our thoughts also go to the leadership of our Party who worked closely with him and his Council of Elders and who will be in the forefront of arranging a befitting farewell for our Chair of wisdom.
RR has left us a time when our party is recovering from a shocking election defeat and we are in the process of reflection and rebuilding of our party in order to regain power and we can only honour his name by working even harder to realise the ideals he lived and fought for all his life. Let us all use R.R’s death as the rallying point to unite all factions in our political landscape and use this unity to fight for power and celebrate his life which we consider to be a gift from God.
We thank his family for giving us a son in the name of RR and thank God for blessing our nation with such a talent. We sincerely believe that history will judge him as our father, a patriot, the brave politician and indeed great man in modern political history.
FAREWELL!! NANTE YIE!' Hayford Atta-Krufi CHAIRMAN (for and on behalf of NPP UK & Ireland)
Nante Brebree, Walk softly
RR
You are with your maker who has welcomed you with wide open arms saying: "Well done, my son. You have accomplished much with what little time you had and suffered much with what many years you lived among men. Walk softly. Walk gently. Walk to me for your reward. Walk where no man will bother you no more."
Kofi A. Boateng
New York
Life is but a stopping place
Life is but a stopping place,
A pause in what's to be,
A resting place along the road,
to sweet eternity.
We all have different journeys,
Different paths along the way,
We all were meant to learn some things,
but never meant to stay...
Our destination is a place,
Far greater than we know.
For some the journey's quicker,
For some the journey's slow.
And when the journey finally ends,
We'll claim a great reward,
And find an everlasting peace,
Together with the lord.
Damrifa due due due, due ne amanehun.
Author unknown
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