Last Saturday, the wife of Professor Mike Oquaye, a former Speaker of Parliament, was put to rest in Accra's Military Cemetery in Tseadoo.
Last Saturday, funeral services were held in the Dome of the Accra International Conference Centre in advance of Major Alberta Boatemaa Oquaye's state burial (also known as Asafu-Adjaye).
Major Oquaye's casket was put in the Dome and covered in magnificent flowers and the colors of her country as mourners from all walks of life paid their respects.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and his wife Rebecca, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and his wife Samira, as well as other dignitaries, were among the prominent individuals who paid their respects.
They included former Chief Justice Georgina Theodora Wood, past Speakers of Parliament Ebenezer Sakyi-Hughes and Joyce Bamford-Addo, Chief of Staff Akosua Frema Osei-Opare, First Deputy Speaker Joseph Osei Owusu, and Second Deputy Speaker Andrew Asiamah Amoako.
The remaining individuals included members of parliament, including Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, the majority leader; ministers of state; Yonny Kulendi, a justice of the Supreme Court; Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, the inspector general of police; and Jean Mensa, the chairperson of the electoral commission.
Additionally present were Samuel Okudzeto, a member of the Council of State; Alan Kyerematen and his wife Patricia; the Adontenhene of the Asantehene; Nana Adu Gyamfi, who is also Major's cousin; the leaders of security agencies; and the CEOs of both commercial and governmental enterprises.
Traditional leaders, clergy, diplomats, and former students from the Presbyterian Boys' Senior High, Aburi Girls' Senior High, and Achimota Senior High Schools were all there.
'My wife knew me the best.'
Tributes were read on behalf of the widower, Prof. Oquaye, the kids, and the Ghana Armed Forces shortly after the dignitaries and members of the public passed by the corpse.
Prof. Oquaye highlighted the agonizing sorrow of writing in the past tense about "my one and only Alberta" in a memorial read by his first son.
He claimed to have had the luxury of spending more than 40 years with a woman who was always willing to support him no matter what. He referred to them as "the changing scenes of life."
He expressed his deep gratitude for his wife's extraordinary devotion and selflessness in tending to the Lord's vineyard and raising their six children.
He recalled her support for his progress in pastoral, academic, diplomatic, and political life: "My wife taught in the Sunday school for children and fully participated in the women's fellowship in a most unobtrusive manner."
"I give thanks to the good Lord for bestowing upon me such a lovely wife.
Quite the soldier! Throughout my time, she helped me as the Speaker's spouse.
Prof. Oquaye spoke kindly of his wife and added that she was "naturally tailored for the role, as was manifest in all state functions, including whenever her husband acted as President."
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