Story of the man who touched many lives - Omanhene of Drobo Traditional Area

SUNRISE

Beyeeman Bosea Gyinantwi IV, Omanhene of Drobo Traditional area, known in his private life as Major (Rtd.)Jonathan Asiedu–Taku, was born on 28th February, 1937, to Opanin Kwaku Asiedu of Jinijini, and Maame Ataa Ferkaa of Faaman, both of Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana and of blessed memory. He was the second child and first son of 10children God blessed his parents with.

EDUCATION AND MILITARY

Beyeeman, being the first son, was not sent to school in the early days of his life. Tradition demanded that he followed his father to farm and that was exactly what he did.

At age nine, he decided to follow his brothers who had the privilege to be in school.

He did so until one day he had the opportunity to actually sit in a classroom. He was registered accordingly as a pupil of the Presbyterian School at Jinijini in the year 1946.He performed very well in his common entrance examination and in 1954gained admission to the Presbyterian Boys Secondary School (PRESEC) then located at Krobo, Odumase in the Eastern Region, which is now situated at Legon, Accra.

After successfully completing his secondary education, he enrolled, trained in the Ghana Army and passed out as a soldier.

He was part of the group described as Intake 4. Beyeeman was further trained at the Royal Military Academy (Sandhurst, United Kingdom) and Fort Benning, (Georgia, USA).

He participated in a number of military training exercises and peace-keeping missions, both home and abroad, including Lebanon.

He was part of the team that set up the Michel Camp Military Barracks at Afienya-Tema and was very instrumental in setting up the Services Military School at the Barracks. He was once the Commander at the Jungle Warfare School, Achiase, in the Eastern Region.

Beyeeman Bosea Gyinantwi IV pursued his military career with dignity, dedication, selflessness, honesty and decorum. He rose to the rank of Major and voluntarily retired in 1981.

Upon retirement, he effectively played his role in the Ghana Army Intake 4 group. He contributed to the group and regularly attended activities of the Ghana Army Intake 4. He drew his children to know and love the Intake 4 personalities by taking them along for events. He was a true soldier and lived as a soldier throughout his life.

FOOTBALL

Beyeeman was a sportsman and loved soccer to death. He started playing football during his primary school days at Jinijini. He was a known top goal scorer and by so doing earned the nickname “Nana Master”.

While in the military, he successfully blended his love for football and the demands of the military. He trained and became a football referee, refereeing matches across the country, including highly rivaled matches such as those between Kumasi Asante Kotoko and Accra Hearts of Oak. He was strict, firm and fair, unbiased and objective in decisions. This earned him the respect of coaches, his colleague referees, team owners, players and fans. He was a FIFA (Class One) referee and became the first referee to be awarded Referee of the Year in 1976 by the Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG).

Everything football was of interest to him and he would always do his bit to support it. Upon the occurrence of the May 9 disaster at the Accra Sports Stadium, Beyeeman mobilized the people of Drobo and made a cash donation to support the victims.

He loved football throughout his life and even during his sick days watched the game at the hospital all the time.

FARMING

Beyeeman Bosea Gyinantwi IV never forgot his early beginnings. After voluntarily retiring from the military, he took to farming as far back as in the ‘80’s. He acquired land at Kitase in the Eastern Region of Ghana (near Aburi) where he cultivated pineapple and other crops. As a true son of his parents who were cocoa farmers, he took keen interest in that business by farming at Sefwi in the Western Region. Through his farming, he contributed to Ghana’s economy by giving out his pineapples to the people of Kitase to sell for a living, employed some people as laborers on his farm and also produced cocoa beans from his farm for mother Ghana. His cocoa farming activities resulted in the settlement known as Sogyakrom in the Western Region. He enjoyed farming and always advised and encouraged people to be hard-working and dedicated to farming even when they had other jobs. Beyeeman never allowed any land to go waste without farming on it. No wonder he had backyard gardens at his residence both at Drobo and Accra.

CHIEFTAINCY

On 14th August 1981, shortly after his voluntary retirement from the Ghana Army, he was enstooled Omanhene of Drobo Traditional Area. He was passionate about bringing development to Drobo and its environs. He began the process of development by making bold decisions and directions. Notable among them was his decision that houses built in Drobo were to be built with blocks and not mud.

He believed strongly in helping people to develop themselves and discovered that one sure way to that was to help people get educated. For him, education was the game changer and an instrument for achieving the seemingly impossible in society. To ensure this became a reality, he first ensured that members of his family, both nuclear and extended, were well educated. He was particularly passionate about the girl child and the physically challenged and ensured that schools at Drobo became highly competitive with those in the cities.

He also gave every support to the Director of Education, heads of schools in particular and the Ghana Education Service in general, showing a keen interest in the performances of the schools in their BECE and SSCE/WASSCE. He ensured that the Drobo Senior High School became a grade 1 school by giving the tutors and students all the necessary support. He established the Akosua Febiri Girls School to support girl child education.

Beyeeman encouraged individuals and churches to establish both basic and senior high schools and he was instrumental in helping parents to secure educational loans from the Drobo Community Bank. He also helped parents with cocoa farms to get support from the Ghana Cocoa Board Scholarship Scheme.

PUBLIC LIFE

Beyeeman served in various capacities to contribute his quota to mother Ghana. He was a member of the Consultative Assembly that crafted the 1992 Constitution and a Board member of the Valco Trust Fund Board. Beyeeman played a significant role in the deliberations of the Regional (Brong-Ahafo) and National Houses of Chiefs.

RELIGIOUS LIFE

Beyeeman Bosea Gyinantwi IV became a Christian during his childhood days through his elementary education at the Presbyterian School, Jinijini, was baptized in 1946 and confirmed in 1956 at the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Jinijini.

He knew he would not be able to do anything meaningful as a leader without the help and support of God. This made him continue his life as a Christian even after becoming a Paramount Chief. After his installment, there was no Church at Drobo. But knowing that he could do nothing without God, Beyeeman paved the way for the establishment of churches at Drobo. These were the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (Ebenezer congregation), the Assemblies of God Church, and The Pentecost Church, among others. Now, Drobo has not less than30 churches.

Beyeeman was again very instrumental in the establishment of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG) Christ Congregation at Adentan where he helped to raise the seed money for the construction of the chapel.

In November 2006, both Ebenezer Congregation, Drobo and Christ Congregation, Adenta, wnere elevated to Districts status a week apart from each other. Beyeeman ensured he was part of both ceremonies. Beyeeman dedicated himself to the worship of his Maker in a humble and selfless manner, supporting the various churches both materially and financially, and encouraging and leading people to Christ.

Beyeeman from time to time will call upon Ministers of the gospel, share ideas with them and seek their counsel and prayers. For his love for God and the church, it is not surprising that his family produced ministers of the Gospel of which one is a minister of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana with the support of both Ebenezer and Christ Congregations. For this, Beyeeman once said:

“God really loves me so much that He blessed me with a Catholic Priest at the beginning of my reign and whiles I am about finishing my reign he has blessed me with a Presbyterian Minister whom I can call upon at all times.”

Beyeeman was a man who believed in prayers and the fellowship of believers. He made time to worship his Maker at general church services and Men’s ‘Fellowship meetings. Indeed, he was a Presbyterian and stayed true to the Christian faith till death.

PERSONAL LIFE

Whiles in the military, Beyeeman met his wife, Mrs. Juliana Asiedu-Taku, and got married to her on 22nd July 1970. Their 50years of marriage life was blessed with four children, Josephine, Maud, Prince, and Emelia.

He also took care of his step daughter, Ellen, and some of his siblings, nephews, nieces, grandchildren and other children from the family. He played his fatherly role with respect and decorum as he loved, supported and had very good relations with all who were under his care.

Beyeeman was a unifier indeed and loved his family life. He treated members of both his nuclear and extended family equally.

SUNSET

From May 2017, old age set into the old soldier’s life, posing some challenges to his health. Being a soldier, he decided to seek medical attention from the 37 Military Hospital. This he continued to do from time to time with the support of his family until on Saturday, 27th January 2018, he was called home by His Maker at about 9:30 a.m. at the 37 Military Hospital.

He was survived by a wife, four children and 10 grandchildren.

Beyeeman Bosea Gyinantwi IV, Major (Rtd.) Jonathan Asiedu -Taku, Nana it is difficult for us to believe you are no more with us. Can we ever find someone like you to fill the great vacuum your demise has created? Hmmmm!

Nana we take consolation in the words of the Apostle Paul in Philippines 3:20-21: “Our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.”

May you be received by the angels into the Heavenly City where you belong and rest in the perfect peace of the Lord Almighty?

Nana nante yie! Amen.