Ghana Association of Writers mourns iconic Ghanaian poet, Prof. Atukwei Okai

 

Ghana Association of Writers (GAW), has expressed their deepest condolences to the family of the late iconic Ghanaian poet, Prof Atukwei Okai, whose demise on Friday, July 13, 2018, at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital enveloped the country into a state of grief.

In a release signed by their President, Nana Kwesi Gyan-Apenteng, GAW submitted that it is with utmost grief they receive the news of the passing away of Prof. Atukwei Okai.

“The Ghana Association of Writers (GAW) has learnt with shock and utmost grief the passing away of Professor Atukwei Okai at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital last Friday, July 13, 2018.”

“Our condolences go to his family, especially his wife, Aunty Beatrice, who is also a poet, and her daughters have made personal contributions and sacrifices for the development of GAW and PAWA, Gyan-Apenteng added”

The late iconic poet showed his worth in his teens when at age 16 was already a member of GAW and subsequently recommended for further studies in the then Soviet Union by the first President of the Republic. Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah during a school event in 1958. 

He is not only an academic but a staunch cultural activist who used poetry performances to change the misperception of poetry as only an academic subject to a lively and living tool of communication and entertainment for generations.

He lectured at the University of Ghana and also became the President of GAW in 1971, a position he held for twenty years in transforming GAW tremendously.
Similarly, he and compatriots like Kwesi Brew, Efua Sutherland, Jawa Apronti, Kojo Gyinayie Kyei, Paa Kayper Mensah, Ama Ata Aidoo, Adali-Mortty, Kate Abbam, Akilapka Sawyerr amongst others created a literary movement of dedicated and progressive writers with Pan-African outlook.

And under his tutelage, the Ghana Associaition of Writers Literary Night was used to highlight our culture every year especially between 1970s and 80s. 

Enumerating the invaluable contributions of the Pan-Africanist, the Nana Kwesi Gyan-Apenteng, mentioned that the former through his tireless efforts with others to create a single writers’ association and after landmark conferences, the Pan-African Writers Association (PAWA) was inaugurated in 1989.

Ghana was selected as the headquarters and Prof. Atukwei Okai was elected as first and so far the only Secretary-General of PAWA. 

GAW, therefore calls on all writers, creative artists, poets, Pan-Africanists and friends of GAW and PAWA to come and sign a book of condolence  at their secretariat, Tuesday, July 17, 2018.   

Ghana | Atinkaonline.com 
 

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