By Paul Awortwi-Mensah

Hundreds of Ghanaian Catholics and people from all walks of life gathered at the Gauchos Hall in Bronx, New York for the funeral rites of the late Okatakyie Akwasi Boakye (W48), President of the Ghanaian Catholic Community at Christ the King Catholic Church, Bronx, New York.

The late Akwasi Boakye was also the Financial Secretary/Treasurer of the Ghanaian Catholic Apostolates’ Laity Council of New Jersey, New York and New England. He died on November 18, 2010. He was 55 years.
In a tribute, the Ghanaian Catholic Community at Christ the King Parish described Akwasi Boakye as a great man whose leadership sought to the growth of the Catholic Community.

“Akwasi, was a God-loving leader, believed in getting everyone involved in building their God-loving Community with everyone embracing and using their God-given talents”, the tribute stated.
The tribute said Akwasi Boakye was caring and generous, an inspirer and a disciplinarian whose guidance and advice manifested throughout the lives of all members of the Catholic Community as well as the various societies in the church, thus he became a source of reference by all.
According to the tribute, Akwasi inculcated in his parishioners real value of fellow feeling which all his parishioners can attest to today, adding that “he saw the good side in everyone and taught us all the meaning of tolerance and forgiveness”.
In another tribute read on behalf of the Ghanaian Catholic Apostolate Laity Council of New Jersey, New York and New England, Public Relations Officer, Ambrose Amoakoh said the late Okatakyie Akwasi Boakye has been serving as the Financial Secretary of the Ghanaian Catholic Apostolates Laity Council of New York, New Jersey and New England for the last four years.
Amoakoh described the late Akwasi Boakye as someone who was excellent in the discharge of his duties. He was reliable and dependable and his departure is a great loss, adding that “Akwasi will be remembered for his exquisite contributions at meetings, his accurate presentation of facts and records and impeccable attitude towards our adopted project at the Catholic University of Ghana at Fiapre, near Sunyani, Ghana.
“Okatakyie Akwasi Boakye was an extraordinary ambassador of the Laity Council to the Church’s hierarchy in Ghana and the Council will always remember is ingenuous abilities and complete disdain for mediocrity’, Amoakoh added.
Akwasi Boakye was born at Techimantia on September 9, 1955. He started his formal education at the Techimantia Roman Catholic Primary School and had his secondary education at the Opoku Ware Secondary School (OWASS) in Kumasi.
After his secondary education he gained admission to the University of Ghana, Legon where he pursued a degree in Agriculture/Economics and graduated in 1979 with honors. After graduating from Legon, he was recruited to go to Sweden on an exchange program by The International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience (IAESTE).

Okatakyie Akwasi Boakye also pursued various post graduate degrees in the United States of America and worked in various capacities before his untimely death.
He was survived by his wife, Mrs. Genevive Ataa Boakye and three children, Michael, Kevin and Lorraine.
Source: Awortwi-Mensah, Paul