Mohammed Habibu Tijani, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs & Regional Integration on behalf of the Government of Ghana has presented a posthumous award to the spouse of late Ghana’s Honorary Consul General to Bermuda, Dr. Leonard Teye-Botchway.

The Award was in recognition of his meritorious service in the promotion of the interest of the Republic of Ghana in Bermuda as well as contribution to national development.

The event took place on the beautiful Island of Bermuda during the internment and funeral ceremony held from 13-15 September.

On 3rd September 2018, barely two months after a successful visit by officials of the Ghana High Commission, UK to Bermuda, (21st – 28th July 2019), the rather devastating news was received of the sudden death of Dr. Leonard Teye-Botchway, Ghana’s Honorary Consul-General to Bermuda. He was the first and only Honorary Consul of an African Nation on the Island and the Medical Director of the Bermuda International Institute of Ophthalmology.

Ghana’s official delegation which was led by Hon. Mohammad Habibu Tijani MP, included an 8-member delegation made up of Papa Owusu-Ankomah, Ghana's High Commissioner to the UK and Republic of Ireland, Ms. Doris Brese Director/Europe Bureau, MFA&RI, Mrs. Matilda Alomatu Osei-Agyeman, Minister/Head of Chancery at the High Commission, London, and other senior officials of the Ghana High Commission in London and the Foreign Ministry of Ghana.

The Government’s tribute read in part as follows: “Our befitting memorial is to ensure that Ghana and Bermuda deepen economic and trade relations for our mutual benefit and tell the story to the next generation - We have come this far through the dedication, commitment and hardwork of Leonard Teye-Botchway, and his legacy should live on, the ‘Doctors Doctor’, a son, a Teacher, a Diplomat, a Father, a Husband, a Brother, a Preacher and above all, a Proud Son of Mother Ghana.”

The Government of Bermuda was also represented by its Governor, His Excellency John Rankin, Lt. Col. The Hon. David Burch, Minister for Works who represented the Premier of Bermuda, and Hon. Craig Cannonier, the Opposition leader and former Premier of Bermuda.  Also, in attendance were representatives from the Consular corps including the USA, Jamaica, and St. Kitts & Nevis. 

Dr. Leonard Swane Pickard Nartei Teye-Botchway, who was commissioned as the Consul-General of Ghana to Bermuda on 20th July 2011, facilitated and organised the first ever visit of any High-Level Ghanaian delegation to the beautiful island of Bermuda to deepen the bilateral relationship between Ghana and the Island. The visit was also the first of its kind by an African Ambassador or High Commissioner accredited to the Court of St. James's to the oldest self-governing British overseas territory in the western North Atlantic Ocean.

A large contingent of Africans resident in Bermuda including representatives from Burkina Faso, Kenya, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Uganda and Zimbabwe also turned up in their numbers to symbolise Dr. Botchway’s overarching influence in bringing the African family in Bermuda together. They joined their Ghanaian brothers and sisters in paying glowing tribute to Dr Teye-Botchway.  As a sign of respect, this group observed the Ghanaian funeral tradition and wore the chosen family cloth - Nsroma (stars in the sky) and “wo aye wie” (your good works are acknowledged).

Dr.Leonard Teye-Botchway left behind the beautiful and lovely wife Mrs. Ronita Teye-Botchway and three sons Adlal, Addon and Addi.