You answered the call of your maker on 1st April 1981 and left the surface of the earth. A little over a fortnight later, on 27th April 1981, I arrived.
Conventionally and culturally I was characterized as your reincarnation and that occasioned the need to name me Umar, your namesake, as an insignia after you.
Grandpa, even though you left us some 40 years ago, your legacy, legendary principles, and likeable ethics still live with us today.
From your humble beginnings, you strove, persisted, and rose beyond the circumstances of your birth to represent your people in the National Parliament, served as Trade and Industry Minister, Foreign Affairs Minister, and a first Black Chairman of Ghana Cocoa Board all in the First Republic.
“A President that never was” as history books choose to typify you, you paved the way and led the way. We did not bond on earth physically, but we surely are bonding in spirit.
Although we cannot see your smile or hear your voice, deep down our hearts, we know that your presence is here with us.
Your daughter, my mum, who later became Second Lady of the Republic made sure your values of discipline, kindred heart, and fellow-feeling were instilled in us.
It is exciting to inform you that forty years after you left like you represented your people in Sissala, I am representing my people in Yendi in my fortieth year.
I will serve them with humility and passion like you did.
We will not forget our grandpa since no one will ever take his place in our hearts, souls, and minds. Today, I treasure two memories that are so dear to me, the memory of my dad and yours.
Even though you’re no more, we will always be together in spirit until the day we will meet in heaven. May Allah continue to rest your soul.