Accra, Ghana (PANA) –Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama led the country to say farewell to broadcaster, Komla Afeke Dumor, who died in his London home on January 18, 2014.
Hundreds of mourners including politicians, top public and civil servants, traditional rulers, the clergy and journalists, including his colleagues from the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), attended the funeral service at the State House in Accra. A requiem mass was said for him on Friday at the Catholic Cathedral in Accra.
He was later buried on Saturday during a private ceremony.
Various people paid glowing tribute to Komla, 41, describing him as a gem.
President Mahama described him as a friend and brother whose style changed the lives of many people. He also described Komla as a true son of Africa, a trail blazer and a role model.
Komla’s father, Prof Ernest Dumor, said his son was an icon for many and a gem for many more.
“Komla you are the legacy. Komla, I am so ever grateful for your life. What else can I say or do but to go on my knees and to say, ‘I confess my faith to you Lord through praise and worship.’”
Prof. Dumor said his son gave full expression to “the basic core values, which we cherish as a family: discipline, a zeal for knowledge, self-giving, self-denial, self-conservation, hard work and personal integrity”.
The Director of the BBC World Service, Peter John Horrocks, said colleagues at BBC “were all numbed” when news broke of Komla’s death.
He described Komla as a “genius” who personified the BBC’s commitment to covering Africa in a balanced manner.
Horrocks said the influence of Komla was so massive that Prince Charles took time off his busy schedule to write his condolence in a book opened at the BBC.
Komla worked for an Accra-based radio station Joy FM as the presenter of its Super Morning Show for 10 years before moving to BBC. He was Ghana Journalist of the Year in 2003.
He presented programmes on BBC World Service and BBC Television and was on set on January 17 evening when he hosted the BBC TV Focus of Africa programme but died suddenly on January 18, 2014.
He is survived by his wife, Kwansema, and three children.
Photo: BBC
