Three former Presidents on Friday joined the sitting President, Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo, and his vice, Dr Mahamadu Bawumia, to pay their last respects to Mr Dumega Raymond Kodzo Okudzeto, a renowned business colossus, politician and philanthropist.
Former Presidents Jerry John Rawlings, John Agyekum Kufuor and John Dramani Mahama, as well as Ministers of State, Parliamentarians, the clergy, traditional rulers and businessmen, were present at the funeral.
As early as 8:00 a.m., the casket carrying the body, draped in the national colours, was laid in state for viewing at the forecourt of the State House in Accra.
The Police Band played funeral dirges and dignitaries from home and abroad filed past the body of the man described by many as very generous to a fault.
Dumega Okudzeto’s business interests spanned from Africa, the United Kingdom (UK), the United States (US) and Asia.
He was also the founding father of the Volta Foundation that brought a number of developments in the Volta Region.
Laying of wreaths
Wreaths were laid for the government and people of Ghana by the Minister of Trade and Industry, Alan Kyerematen; for the family by a former IGP and Member of the Council of state, Mr C. K. Dewornu, and the wife, Mrs Lois Ann Okudzeto.
Other tributes were also read by his children, siblings, the Awadada of Anlo State, Dufia of Atorkor and the Paramount Chief of Klikor traditional area.
After the service, the remains of the late Raymond Okudzeto were taken to Adidome in the Volta Region, where he spent a number of years, and then to Atorkor, his hometown, for burial.
Sermon
Preaching the sermon on the theme: “One person can make a difference,” the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Right Reverend S.S. Agidi, said Dumega Okudzeto had made a difference in many fields of endeavour.
He said during Noah’s time, God expressed deep sorrow over the behaviour of the people.
According to him, the people at the time, turned away from God and sin and wickedness took over the land. He observed that similar vices were happening in the world today.
Rev. Agidi said just as sin and wickedness of Noah’s days grieved the heart of God, “evil deeds around us today, corruption and killings, as well as inhuman treatment, continue to break God’s heart.”
Commitment
“We have the capacity to make a difference and be more committed to building and not destroying, let us use our God-given talents to impact on the life of others, let his life inspire us. Let us depart from evil ways and choose the teachings of God,” the Moderator further stated.
According to him, the deceased had influenced a lot of people and that his generosity had impacted on many lives, both home and abroad and had brought a number of developments to the country.
Rev. Agidi, therefore, called on the sympathisers to emulate the life of Dumega Okudzeto.
Formative years
At a tender age of 25, Dumega Okudzeto was selected to be one of the first eight Ghanaian regional managers to take over from the British Managers of the Ghana National Trading Corporation (GNTC).
He was responsible for the operations of GNTC in the Volta Region and part of the Eastern Region, with over 32 trading outlets under his supervision.
After working for the GNTC for several years, he decided to establish his own company. He later travelled to the US, the UK and Nigeria mainly to ascertain the viability of independent international commerce.
Business establishments
After spending some time in the US, Dumega Okudzeto went to Nigeria which was beginning to boom because of the oil revenue in the 70s.
He subsequently established and registered PromExport International Group of Companies, Lastra Construction, E.A.O. Construction. He also had an independent relationship with Lonhro Multinational Conglomerate. He was also instrumental in bringing the Samsung company to Nigeria.
PHOTOS: Nation mourns Dumega Okudzeto at State funeral in Accra
-