Chief "Hijak" Funeral Funds In USA

The chiefs and people of Odumasi near Sunyani are going to be highly disappointed this weekend as the mortal remains of their beloved son and brother, Gilbert Williams Kwaku Diawuo, will not be flown from New York to Ghana so that the burial of the deceased and funeral rites could be observed as scheduled. The inability for the body to be flown to Ghana happened because fund set aside for this purpose has been “hijacked” by one Nana Odomfo Kwasi Apraku, known in private life as Dr. Kofi Amoah, a citizen of Odumasi and who is currently domiciled in the USA. Nana Kwasi Apraku who has since last week left for Ghana with the amount that was realized in the USA at the funeral organized by friends and relations of the deceased. His expectation was that the body will be flown to Ghana at the expense of the deceased’s brother Alex Kumi. The idea had to be abandoned as an amount of $5,800.00 which was handed over to Nana Kwasi Apraku as the chairman of the funeral committee could not be laid hands on. Absence of ample funds compelled Alex Kumi, the brother of the deceased, concerned citizens of Odumasi and other relations to bury the corpse today (September 22, 2006) in New York City at exactly 1.00pm ET.

The deceased, Gilbert Williams Kwaku Diawuo, who had been in the USA for the past thirteen years, died at the age of 53 after a short illness at the St. Roosevelt Hospital at Bronx in New York City, on August 3rd 2006. The corpse was then deposited at a funeral home expected to be flown to Ghana last Thursday, September 21st 2006.

Citizens of Odumasi and friends who are based in New Jersey and New York organized and observed the funeral of the deceased on September 2nd 2006 in New York City where an amount of $15,000 (fifteen thousand dollar) was realized. The essence of the funeral in New York was to help defray the cost to be incurred at the funeral home and in transporting the corpse to Ghana. Besides the occasion was used to make friends and lovers who will not be able to make it to Ghana pay their last respect to their colleague.

According to a reliable source, after deductions of all expenses an amount of $5,800 (five thousand eight hundred dollar) was the cash at hand. This said amount was to be used for the freight, to defray some other expenses back in Ghana and expenses to be incurred by the person to accompany the corpse to Ghana. Other interesting revelations according to the source who will like to remain anonymous are that Nana Kwasi Apraku was not present at the New York funeral, rather delegated one Kwadwo Awuah. And he never donated or contributed any amount at the sitting, but asked that all the donations should be forwarded to him at his base in North Carolina. The source is wandering the sort of explanation he is going to offer for his action and inaction.