To everything, there is a season, a time to every purpose, under the heaven. A time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to pluck up what is planted; A time to kill and a time to heal; a time to break down and a time to build up. A time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance ( Ecclesiastes 3:1-4)

My eyes are drenched in tears as I write this tribute to the late Julius Ralph Okaine Clottey, popularly known as Ralph Clottey, who was not only a trusted friend but also my advisor, counsellor and confidant.

I first came into contact with Mr Clottey in 1986 when he was transferred from the Accounts Department at the Graphic Head Office in Accra to become the Oda District Manager of the company. Since then we became intimate friends until his departure to eternity on June 19, 2017.

From the time we became close friends, I was sharing the same bed with him at his Adabraka family residence in Accra.

When I was transferred from Oda to Wa as the Upper West Regional Editor/ Regional Manager in February, 1996 and later posted to Sunyani as the Brong Ahafo Regional Editor in February, 2002, I continued to share the same bed with Mr Clottey whenever I travelled to Accra.

In July, 2006 when I was transferred to Accra and elevated as the Regional Page (News) Editor, Mr Clottey accommodated me in his bedroom for three months and managed to secure a room for me to rent in his family residence so as to sustain our friendship.

On each of the six occasions that I won the national awards organised by the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Clottey accompanied me to collect the awards.

In 1999 when the GJA and the Ghana Airways sponsored me for a tour of the United Kingdom as part of my award for winning the Rural Reporting Award for three consecutive times, and in 2000 when I left for the Cardiff University in Wales, United Kingdom, the late Clottey was the only person who saw me off and again welcomed me back home at the Kotoka International Airport.

Clottey was a signatory to a business certificate I obtained from the Registrar General’s Department to operate a sachet water producing factory at Akyem Oda. He was also a guarantor of the loans I obtained from three banks to finance my sachet water company.

As the Board Chairman of my pure water company, he used to travel regularly to Oda to hold meetings with the staff and offered the needed advice where necessary to enhance production. In fact, I lack words to describe the numerous assistance and advice the late Clottey gave me. His untimely death on June 19, 2017 was a shock to me. Truly, I have lost an irreplaceable friend, brother and confidant.

As he is laid to rest tomorrow Thursday, August 24, may his soul rest in perfect peace until we meet in the Bosson of our Creator sometime, someday.