The Life & Legacy of
Major George Kofi Akoetey (Rtd)

George Kofi Akoetey was born to Mr. John Koshivi Akoetey of the Adom family, Nogokpo and Mrs. Felicia Fiawosinu Akoetey of the Agorbia family, Aflao in Keta on July 2, 1937. He was the third child of his parents. As the last trading post in the Gold Coast, Keta was a vibrant, multicultural and multiethnic thriving town with many educational opportunities.

Young George was bright and curious. He was enrolled at the Keta Roman Catholic Mixed Boys School. Following in the footsteps of his older brother, Francis Aloga Akoetey, he led the school's band. He completed his education by earning the Middle School Leaving Certificate in 1955. Being an aspirational, ambitious young man, he followed the pioneering steps of his older brother, Francis and enlisted in the Gold Coast regiment in 1956.

Unrelenting, he took correspondence courses for his Cambridge Ordinary and Advanced levels, earning him a position in the officer corps as part of intake 2. He was commissioned as an officer on June 11, 1961. George diligently served his country, continent, and humanity in the pursuit of peace during the Congo Crisis, as a platoon commander in the first UN Peace Mission in 1960. His dedication to service, peace, and humanity earned him medals and recognition among his men, peers, and seniors.

A man of deep values, intelligence and knowledge, he battled ignorance, small-mindedness and misinformation in every aspect of his life. He was committed to illuminating the mind. Dad was Grammarly and ChatGPT before digitalization, with a pen in hand to correct grammatical errors in every newsprint before rereading for its knowledge accretive purpose.

The boy from Nogokpo, who lived in Keta, excelled in all he put his mind to—from athletic competitions in the army, where he consistently won in the high jump and pole vault, to his victories in Dehradun, India. His stellar performance orchestrated his rise through the ranks.

Due to his professionalism and leadership qualities, he held several leadership positions in the Ghana Army, including a company commander of the elite President's Own Guards Regiment (responsible for the then first President of Ghana, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah) – where he served in Flagstaff House, coincidentally, opposite Christ the King Catholic Church, where we stand today to bid him farewell and celebrate the wonderful life he lived.

As a values-driven professional, he was not influenced or swayed by ideologies; he diligently served Ghana's First President and subsequent military and civilian governments. He was Commander of the Central and Western Regions of Ghana until December 1979. He retired into civilian life in May 1980.

He joined AFKO Fisheries as Purchasing Manager. He led many flagship programmes and initiatives of AFKO in rice cultivation, sports development and expansion into other areas beyond tuna fishing, agriculture and trading as a close associate of Bok Nam Kim, founder of AFKO Group of Companies, until his retirement in 1999.

He was not one to complain about abuse, discrimination, or excesses, nor did he disclose information, preferring to uphold his professional oath and code of conduct until the end. His life epitomized the inscription at the entrance to his childhood home and the Akoetey family house in Keta 'Mawu La Woe' – the blessed assurance that God has got him and will make all things beautiful in its time.

He was the perfect 'girl dad' - a feminist, in that he believed in equality of opportunity and didn't consider it a disadvantage to have had all girls. He taught us how to change light bulbs, check for oil, sort out battery terminals so that there was always competition over his toolbox and his long-nosed pliers.

June was the month of milestones: he was commissioned as an officer in June, married his dear wife of 61 years in June and passed away in June. He was a fortnight shy of his 88th birthday. We are very grateful that he lived 17 years beyond the age of 70, living his purpose & convictions. He lived a full life, enjoying each moment as it was. He lived to see his children's children, and the accomplishments of his children and their children.

Daddy left footprints in time. He is survived by his wife, children, grandchildren, siblings, cousins and many nieces and nephews who deeply loved him.