Birth and family
The late Fianɔ Rose Akuyo Anyawoe, popularly known as Daa Akuyo (pronounced daa’kuyo), meaning, Elder Sister Akuyo, was born on the 28th day of May, 1932 at Ho Bankoe, to the late Eugene Kosi Anyawoe and the late Madam Dabi Yawa, all from Ho Bankoe. She was the third of her parents’ nine children.
She was baptized into the Roman Catholic faith at the Sacred Heart Parish (now Cathedral), Ho Bankoe, on the 28th of May, 1944 at the age of twelve, as Rosalia Akuyo Anyawoe. Later in the same year, she received her first communion. Her dedication and commitment to the faith ensured that she earned her confirmation on the 12th of August 1948 at the same Parish.
Though a smart child, little Daa Akuyo was not sent to school, the belief at the time being that, school was not meant for women because they will finally end up in a kitchen. Her subsequent efforts to ensure that she was sent to school proved unsuccessful, hence her inability to receive formal education.
She was given away early in traditional marriage to Mr. Degbador Mortey (deceased) of Ho Heve, with whom she had her first-two daughters.
Business and work
Luckily, Daa Akuyo was a highly motivated and hardworking individual, who demonstrated absolute commitment to whatever she did. She first went into selling palm wine. Her Providence Bar was known, not only for its cleanliness, but for the quality of its palm wine. Hence it became the favourite drinking place of local teachers, other middle-class workers and visiting Peace Corp volunteers, many of whom loved her sense of humour and the nicknames she gave many of them. Patrons also enjoyed games, including playing cards, ludo and oware, as well as music played with asiwa, otherwise known as palm wine guitar.
Her success was an example to many other women whom she encouraged to enter the business. Most of these newcomers started by buying from her. So her selflessness helped Providence Bar to add wholesaling to its retail business, and suppliers scrambled for her business. So Providence Bar was the favourite of both suppliers and consumers, and won every award there was at the time – best bar, cleanest bar, etc. Daa Akuyo was inevitably made the President of Palm Wine Sellers Association in the Volta Region, a position she held for nearly ten years.
To supplement her income from palm wine, and make her task easier, Daa Akuyo went into farming, cultivating such crops as maize, yam, cassava and vegetables at various locations. This move became her saving grace when Ghana experienced the devastating famine of 1983.
In her determination to ensure that food was always on the table for her children, grandchildren and other dependents, Daa Akuyo left no stone unturned, virtually. Thus, she applied to the regional office of the Department of Social Welfare, which gave her a third job from 1981 to 1991.
Social life
Daa Akuyo’s knack for light-hearted jokes and her good sense of humor meant she brought joy and laughter wherever she went. Also, her hard work, commitment and sense of duty made her stood out in groups she belonged to. She actively played various key roles as a committed member at the Sacred Heart Parish (now Sacred Heart Cathedral), and was a key member of St Cecelia Choir.
She generally loved singing, particularly Ewe songs with deep meaning. Among her favourites, were: Afisi klo ku ɖa la; Meble meble; Nɔvinyewo be nye ʋla loo; Tokɔ de; and Woena mewɔ nuvɔ. She had been a member of, and actively supported, many local musical groups.
As someone who believed in giving, she joined and played a major role in a social support group called Dormenyo. Through her initiative and contribution, the group gave various kinds of support to quite a good number of people in Ho.
She was also a football enthusiast and a key member of the Welfare Committee of the famous Mighty Eagles Football Club, for many years the pride of Ho.
Love for children
Daa Akuyo loved to take care of children. That, and her passion for education, led her to accept many kids who were brought by their parents from their villages to live with her and school at Ho. They came from far and near, and from diverse backgrounds – children of her suppliers, friends and relatives. Thus, her generosity helped many kids to have access to the relatively superior educational facilities at Ho.
Illness
As time went by, Daa Akuyo’s health began to decline. She received treatment in Ho and Accra, and more recently, in Israel. Medical doctors who attended to her never relented in their efforts to give her the best care possible.
In July 2018, her condition turned worse, notwithstanding all the efforts of top medical practitioners at the Ho Municipal Hospital. Even in her pain and weakness, she never stopped greeting her visitors with a smile. Various specialists did their best for her until Daa Akuyo finally answered her maker’s call at exactly 6:30 in the morning of Thursday, the 18th of October, 2018.
Daa Akuyo is survived by three children, fourteen grandchildren, thirty-two great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.
To those who devoted their time, and those who spent sleepless nights to take care of her, both at home and in hospital, relatives, nurses and doctors, we express our gratitude. God bless you.
May her soul rest in perfect peace