Posted: Monday, June 16, 2008     Source: Daily Graphic

Owusu Ansah, Kassim Laid To Rest

Kwame Owusu Ansah, the multi-talented actor, was buried last Saturday at the Osu Cemetery after wake at the Ghana Press Centre on Friday, June 13.
Due to poor organisation however, scores of fans who turned out to pay their last respects to the fallen hero during the wake were unable to satisfy their curiosity of filing past the corpse of the showbiz icon.
The security personnel could not help matters as they tried to control the teeming crowd.

In the process they had to beat some people to create order and this rather offered thieves and rogues an opportunity to steal from the fans and patrons. Items stolen included pen drives, phones, hand bags and money.

The Nigeria Actors Guild was well represented. Also present were local artistes and the general public.

The scene at the Holy Spirit Cathedral, where a burial service was held for the late actor, was more like a an event for showbiz stars than a funeral, but for the mourning clothes of the crowd.

Clad in black and red, stars like Harry Laud, Jackie Appiah, Emmanuel Armah, Adjoa Pee, Koo Fori, Wayosi and many more paid their last respects to a colleague many described as the "gentle giant".

Reverend Father Fred Agyeman, the Parish Priest of the Corpus Christi Catholic Church, told a packed church that it was prudent to give thanks to God in all things, since He knew best what was good for man.

He advised all, especially those in the entertainment industry, to always seek the face of the Lord in all their endeavours, while cautioning the public against reckless driving and the need to be vigilant and careful at all times.

After the interment of the body at the Osu Cemetery, family members, loved ones and the public converged on the Ghana International Trade Fair, where representatives from Kumasi and Nigeria, government officials, the Minority Leader in Parliament, Mr Alban Gbagbin, and running mate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) flag bearer, Mr John Mahama, were treated to live band, kete and borborbor performances by various artistes.

It was a sorrowful sight to behold as tributes were paid to the celebrated artiste who had warmed his way into the hearts of many people both in Ghana and abroad.

He was involved in an accident on the Accra-Tema Motorway on May 1, 2008 and died at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital the next day.

The mortal remains of Master Moses Kassim, one of the two persons who died during the recent Ashaiman shooting incident, were buried at the Kpone Government Cemetery last Saturday.

The 11-year-old pupil of the Ashaiman Government School and Mr Moses Ofori, aka Alhaji, 22, a driver, died when they were hit by stray bullets during a clash between the Ashaiman Police and commercial drivers.

Residents of Ashaiman, relatives and onlookers cried uncontrollably when the casket containing the mortal remains was brought to the funeral grounds at 10.40 a.m..

The Ashaiman District Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) William Kwanair, and the Commander of the Tema Community One Motor Traffic and Transport Unit of the Police Service, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Alice Gyamfi, led the police delegation to express condolences to the bereaved family.

ASP Gyamfi told the GNA that the Police Administration footed the funeral bills in addition to an undisclosed amount of money as compensation to the relatives of the deceased.

The Ashaiman Municipal Assembly, led by Mr Emmanuel Neequaye, the Presiding Member of the Assembly, donated three crates of non-alcoholic drinks, two cartons of beer, a bottle of Schnapps and GH¢500.

The National Democratic Congress and the New Patriotic Party parliamentary candidates for the Ashaiman Constituency, as well as the Ashaiman Branch of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union, also donated cash and drinks to the family.

The commercial drivers, on June 3, demanded the release of four of their colleagues who had been arrested by the police for parking at unauthorised places by the roadside, instead of a parking lot provided for them.

The drivers were joined by a mob and they besieged the Ashaiman Police Station where they threw stones, sticks and other missiles at the police.

The police responded by firing shots. Mr Ofori will be buried on June 17.