A chief of New Juaben Traditional Area, Barima Okyere Boateng, will be laid to rest on Saturday, July 3.

This was contained in a news release issued by the Traditional Council, Wednesday, June 23.

Known as Dr. Joseph Felix Yaw Boateng Otchere-Darko, a retired trauma surgeon and lecturer, Barima Okyere Boateng was enstooled the Mmrontuohene and Ayokohene of New Juaben Traditional Area in 2005.

He passed away on April 12, 2021, at the University of Ghana Medical Centre, Legon in Accra, after suffering from a severe haemorrhagic stroke. He died aged 83 years.

The burial service will take place at the St. George Catholic Cathedral, Koforidua, at 10 am on Saturday, July 3.

The royal burial will be led by Daasebre Otuo Siriboe II of Asante Juaben and Daasebre Oti Boateng, Omanhene of New Juaben, under the auspices of the New Juaben Traditional Council.

The burial rites for the traditional ruler start on Thursday, July 1, with the swearing of oath ceremony to the departed Mmrotuohene by all the chiefs of the New Juaben Traditional Area.

This is a highly restricted event and will take place in the late hours of Thursday at the Mmrotuohene’s Palace.

Barima Okyere Boateng will be laid in state in the main hall, the Nana Ama Serwaa Hall in the Yiadom-Hwedie Ahenfie, the Omanhene’s Palace, Koforidua, from Friday.

Filing past will be opened to the public from 3 pm on Friday, July 2, to Saturday, July 3, at 9 am. Friday's filing past has been reserved for Koforidu residents while the second day, for invited dignitaries.

Owing to his calibre, several dignitaries would be present to bid farewell to the Chief, therefore, the Traditional Council is working with State Protocol, the authorities in the region and municipality to ensure a solemn, smooth and disciplined occasion.

Meanwhile, the Council has entreated residents of the area and all sympathisers to cooperate with them in the observation of the strict protocols being put in place.

The organisers of the event have been having series of meetings with Daasebre Oti Boateng, local authorities, including the MCE, police chiefs, and others to ensure that the burial service and related events are observed not only with dignity but also in full compliance with the Covid-19 protocols.

Barima Okyere Boateng was born in Koforidua on 8^th June 1937 to Opanyin Kwame Okyere, a native of Baamang, near Bonwire, in Ashanti Region and Odehyie Akosua Dufie of the Juaben royal household.

He attended St Augustine’s College, Cape Coast, completing his GCE O’Levels in 1956, and his GCE A’Levels thereafter.

He left Ghana in 1960 to study and practise medicine in Germany, where he qualified as a Physician, Dentist, General Surgeon and Trauma Surgeon before relocating to Ghana in 1980. He spent the rest of his career practising as a trauma surgeon and teaching medical students, first in Ghana and from 1989 in South Africa until he returned in 2006.

He left behind his wife, Mrs. Felicia Otchere-Darko, a retired state attorney, and his eight children, namely, Mrs. Margaret Otchere-Darko Asiedu (retired care worker, UK), Mr. Joseph Otchere-Darko Jnr. (ex-banker, UK).

The others; Dr. Paulina Kitcher deGraft-Johnson (psychiatrist, neurologist, US), Gabby Yaw Asare Otchere-Darko (solicitor, Ghana), Dr. Leticia Otchere-Darko (anaesthesiologist, US) , Miss Becky Otchere-Darko (ICU Nurse, UK), Mrs. Daisy Okyere (Attorney, US) and Dr. Josephine Otchere-Darko, (Physician and Public Health Specialist, South Africa).

He also left behind 19 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.