Some people are so monumental, so remarkable, so special
Kofi Asare was such a person.
He was PCC’s great Music Master, the man who could make music with incredible skills, especially on drums, accompanying himself with his distinctive voice, but also able to play an electronic organ, for example. Asare had immense musical talent, and who would have ever imagined that in the past?
Asare lived in our Community for almost 30 years and was about 50 years old. Before coming to PCC, he spent an unknown number of years in Osu Children’s Home. We know absolutely nothing about his life before that.
Fortunately, he was able to develop well at PCC. He had an intellectual disability and suffered from Friedreich’s Ataxia, which increasingly limited his movements. He also had poor vision and over the years, he developed high blood pressure and diabetes.
But all his limitations didn’t stop him from fully enjoying life at PCC. He loved good food, and when he felt he hadn’t got enough, he could loudly express it, even though he’d always been served an impressive quantity of food.
Although his eyesight was poor, he always found his way at his own leisurely pace, in recent years he did so with a “walker”.
At every party at PCC, Asare was unmistakably present, as the leader of the musical group, at the opening of the party as Koko the Clown and afterwards with his poems, for example of the cat that went to London and chased mice.
Asare ‘s voice resounded , and he played the drums with a great sense of rhythm. When PCC delegations occasionally visited other churches, everyone was amazed by his musical contributions and his dynamic presence!
For about 15 years, Kofi Asare had been coming to our sheltered workshop every working day, where he enjoyed himself in the Beads Hall with the caregivers and other young people. His contribution wasn’t particularly productive, as his eyesight was too poor and his coordination inadequate. But that’s not what the sheltered workshop is all about.
To keep his expanding body somehow in balance, he has been going to the gym at the Royal Community Hall every morning between 7 and 8 AM for the past few years.
However, that did not prevent him from gradually growing older, while his health deteriorated bit by bit.
He recently had to go to the hospital for short periods several times, but no one expected that on Friday, July 4, his earthly life would suddenly come to an end.
The funeral service was held the next day and after that he was buried at the Nkoranza cemetery.
Asare ‘s voice will never be heard again, his hands will no longer play a drum, and his striking personality will no longer be seen or heard in PCC.
Kofi Asare, you will be greatly missed, both in PCC and beyond.
We hope and pray that our Heavenly Father will have mercy on your soul for ever and ever.
Rest in peace, big drummer boy, rest in peace.