Ghanaian founder of Ghana Society of Central New York dies

Kwame Otieku, who helped found the Ghana Society of Central New York and helped many Africans who moved to the Syracuse area, has died of a heart attack.

Community services for Otieku, 64, who died on Thursday, are planned in September.

Otieku was born in the West African town of Kyebi, Ghana and came to the United States in 1973 on an academic scholarship to study math at Northeastern University in Boston.

He came to Central New York to work as an engineer and subcontract manager at General Electric, which later became Lockheed Martin. He retired in 2010 after 32 years.

Otieku was a founding member and executive secretary of the Ghana Society of Central New York, a non-profit organization that connects and supports Africans living in Central New York.

He was also a founder member of the Pan African Community of Central New York; he was that group's public relations officer.

He was an active community leader, coached youth soccer leagues in the Syracuse area and was passionate about connecting and uplifting members of local African community.

He is survived by his wife, Juanita; his sons, Nana-Yaw and Omar; three grandchildren; and siblings, Kwaku, Kwesi, Mary Donkor, Clara and Susan.

Community services will be held in September with a wake from 4 to 7 p.m. Sept. 12 at Burns-Garfield Memorial Home, 3125 E. Genesee St., Syracuse. The next day, Sept. 13, there will be a public viewing from 8 to 9 a.m. followed by services from 9 to 11 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church, 604 Oswego St., Liverpool. Burial will be noon to 1 p.m. that day.