Celebrated Professor of Literature, Kofi Anyidoho has expressed his frustrations about Ghana’s failure to “properly” celebrate the former chairman of the Council of State and writer, Professor Kofi Awoonor, as the legend he was.
He wondered if Ghanaians do not realize the greatness of the late statesman he described as “a great national asset.”
Professor was killed in the West Gate mall attack in Nairobi, Kenya in 2013.
“I don’t think Ghanaians as a whole have realized the treasure that we had in a person like him,” he complained.
He described as unfortunate, that “the first person who thought of doing something to memorialize him is an outsider, the publisher of Ovation International, Chief Dele Momodu.”
[contextly_sidebar id=”vTB1ZyghFxs34fT7OthT9MX27gT50XtD”]Prof. Anyidoho expressed these sentiments to Citi News after the launch of a literary prize competition in honour of the Awoonor.
The prize which was instituted by Ovation International will be managed by the University of Ghana.
On his part, the editor of the Ovation magazine, Michael Effiong believes the prize is a way of celebrating the great works of Professor Awoonor.
Meanwhile, the son of the late Professor, Afetsi Awoonor has hinted he will soon publish a book about the West Gate mall shooting incident that led to the demise of his father.
This, he said will be the best avenue for him to “tell his own story.”
Afetsi Awoonor was with his father at the mall when the terrorists started the attack and sustained gun shot wounds in the process.
He revealed this to Citi News on the sidelines of an international symposium to commemorate the first anniversary of the passing of the celebrated poet and diplomat.
By: Efua Idan Osam/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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