TRIBUTE BY NEPHEWS AND NIECES TO THE LATE ERNEST FRED ANKAMA MANTE

TRIBUTE BY NEPHEWS AND NIECES TO THE LATE ERNEST FRED ANKAMA MANTE You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body: you know exactly how I was made, bit by bit how I was sculpted from nothing into something Psalm 139:15 What shall we say ........
 Where do we begin to find the words to describe the gap you have left in our lives with your sudden departure?
 We are still shaken for we were very hopeful that you were coming back to Ghana as you promised on your last visit to bury your sister. Recollecting how you related to us individually will be a difficult task, but we will be brief in our discussion.
 Uncle Fred as we affectionately called him was a strong-willed man with character who fought for the rights of all irrespective of where you came from. He was a great pillar behind the F. G. Ankama family in all moments.

We the nephews and nieces have their own cherished and memorable encounters with Osofo Mante. We all at some points in our lives stayed with him at his residences in Accra be it at the Dansoman Estates, Bubuashie or Kaneshie. Uncle Fred would always welcome you to his home with open arms whenever you visited and will never ask you when you are going back to where you came from. Uncle Fred was cheerful and a guy, he loved fun and was a man on the move. He was a family man who also loved to work and worked hard. We especially enjoyed and cherished the moments at Femaako Enterprise at Atiko Junction in Accra where he had a small shop that produced Taxi Top Lights and Lamp Shades.

Early in the morning we those staying with him will jump into his Volkswagen Wagon and drive straight to the shop. Typical of him, it was in the car that that we got closer to him. A talkative as he is, he will tell jokes and motivational stories. At his factory Uncle Fred had stories to tell on a wide range of issues.
These moments with him encouraged us to live a life worthy of emulation. He knew the Bible and encouraged us to do same. It was not surprising that he entered the seminary to read theology. Uncle Fred has touched many lives who will for a long time remember him. We believe that he never lived his full life.

We would have wanted him to stay a little longer and more importantly to enjoy the fruits of his labor, to tell us more jokes and stories of his sojourn in the USA, stories that motivated us, the jokes that encouraged us, share his old age life worthy of emulating.
 We can't say much but "thank you" for all that you did for the Ankama Gyadu family in Akropong Akuapem. Your name and memory will forever live on. Send our best wishes to Auntie Augusta and Auntie Joana. Tell them the family will continue to keep the flame they lighted still burning.

 Uncle Fred, Osofo Mante, Damirifua Due Nne obi manso akawantuo mu nsem.!!!!! Rest in Perfect Peace.