Anyemimei,
John Hammond was my friend, a long association from his first day at University in 1969, when we met.
He introduced all of us to our travel agency business Afro-Asian; he had come to England in 1973 to work for the company; he welcomed me on several occasions when I came for holidays in London in the 1970s, he welcomed me again when I finally relocated in 1980. He was on hand again in 1983 when I moved over to London from Manchester where I had studied and I perched with him for a full year during the period when I was setting up in my business.
John was a good friend and I cannot recollect our ever quarrelling though we had several disagreements over several issues. John was a fine gentleman with a wonderful and elegant turn of phrase who amused all around with his good sense of humour, he was a bon vivant who held the soul of any party.
John had attended Accra Academy from 1961 to 1968 before going on the University to read Linguistics from which he graduated in 1972. He worked in Accounting and Taxation after he left Afro Asian.
I wished him a happy birthday on his 65th birthday last month when he was in hospital, he last spoke to me two weeks ago before he went into a coma. Last night he passed away!
His wife Margaret and his daughter Pamela survive him
In the words of the hymn – Ebenezer
Mishee ke amane
Esuomo yeor ebua wor
Soumo ke solemo, sa ake
Workefaa gbe nee
Hewo nyehaa woke mishee
Asumua Nyorgmo
Koni ke wogboi le
Kristo abu wor Mantse fai
Joe Dee, Johnny, Fu Manchu, Addae Fante, The last time when we all held hands as our good friend Adjei prayed in the hospital, we did not know that this would be the outcome, but we continue to trust in the lord that he has taken you to a better place.
Yaa wo ojogbann