Did you just mention “Fanta” and have in mind the popular non-alcoholic beverage produced by the Coca-Cola Company? Well, as long as you had that in your mind, and in your mind only, you may be excused. But don’t go to Mankessim and ask for “Fanta”, just like that and expect to be served with that popular drink, which in our childhood and youth was mainly reserved for or availableduringChristmas celebrations. No, the inquiry will immediately shift to our own and only “Fanta”, the one you now know as Professor Dr. Edgar Eduafo. But, please, don’t try to look for him with that name in Mankessim since only a handful, a privileged few, particularly his elementary school mates and some close pals may be familiar with that name, which has since been in the safe custody of a portmanteau somewhere inMankessim. Even within that community of close pals, your best attempt would be to refer to Kweku Ampah, who later became Fanta, not the drink! So allow me to join the chorus to celebrate the life and times of Professor Dr. Augustus Eduafo, the Mankessim Fanta, for a life well-lived and worthy of emulation. I am particularly excited and elated because, unlike the typical so-called “celebrations of life” organized as part of funeral ceremonies, we are doing this in his lifetime and on an occasion worthy of celebration, namely, his 65th birthday. Speaking of my decision to render this oration, I will assure you that it was not by accident. I will not pretend that Fanta was, as we say in Ghana, my “buddy-buddy”. In everything, age-wise and academically, he was my elder as well as my senior. If at all, I feared that too much familiarity with him would breed the concomitant contempt that we are always warned of. However, it is due to his good and honorable nature as well as his unparalled modesty and humility that he allowed me and many others the space to warm ourselves and to bask in his goodwill and good nature. One T-shirt I ever saw bore this inscription: “Improve your image. Be seen with me”. I guess that is the invisible T-shirt that I wear on this occasion in celebration of his birthday. It was from those humble beginnings that the legend we now call “Fanta” or “Dr. Fanta” ,as appropriate, started. Like the American Basketball Team at any Olympic Games, the top academic spot or first position in examinations was always reserved to the then Kweku Ampah (I don’t even know where the “Edgar” crept in), and all other positions from second down will be left to a medley crowd of class mates, with my sister sometimes taking the second spot. I came to testify of how, in spite of his greattalentsandexcellentachievements, our Fanta humbled himself and allowed himself to remain a human being and, in the process, impacted our lives and those of so many others in ways worthy of commendation, celebration, and emulation. It is this uncommon trait that I draw attention to, for which reason I personally celebrate him. For purposes of showing that this is not a mere pipe dream, you will permit me to illustrate it with my own experience, which I am sharing for the first time. For those who know, I joined the Nigerian bandwagon upon completion of sixth form in 1980 instead of entering the University of Ghana in the 1980/81 academic year when I had been offered admission. I did so under the pretext that it was only the law that I wanted to read (which I did not qualify for). In any case, I had written the November A-Level examination and was confident that I would be offered law the next academic year. Interestingly, based on my November results, I was offered admission to read law for the 1981–82 academic year. However, I still dodged for the second time running. You know the power of the naira in those days? Why am I recounting this? Because I recall vividly that of all the people who had surrounded me, it was only Fanta who was persistent and insistent that I should come back to university, so much so that when I eventually made up my mind to come in the 1982/83 academic year, it was as if I was doing Fanta a favor. Just imagine that! And yes, I was indeed doing Fanta a favor, to the point that when I arrived from Nigeria, I had nowhere to go but to him at the Medical School Hostel at KorleBu. And, very characteristicof him and true to his nature, Fanta welcomed me like the proverbial prodigal son, placed aside his heavy schedule, and personally accompanied me from Korle Bu to Legon to see to my registration, all over about a two-day period. So just imagine. Who knows? It is very well possible that, but for Fanta, I may not be whoever I am today. And talking about my experience, I can confidently say that even though the age gap between us and others of my Mankessimassociatesisnotreallymuch, Fanta has allowed himself to be used by God to become a big, big elder brother, mentor, and counselor to all of us. For that, we are all eternally grateful to him. Reflecting over these paranomic scenes in the chapter of Fanta’s life on the occasion of his 65th birthday today, I can recall no better words than the hymnist in the First Stanza of the Methodist Hymn No...., thus: NowPraiseWeGreatAndFamousMen Professor Augustus Kweku Ampah Eduafo, our own Fanta, we all celebrate you. May God create a thousand more of your type, and the world will not require another hero. God bless you forever more. The Real Fanta By Lawyer Paintsil Lawyer andMrs Paintsil
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