As a Committee our heart was saddened when the news reached us that the spear of death has stuck in the heart of our son, brother, husband, father and a friend Komla Dumor. On the 18th January, 2014 Komla said a bitterly goodbye to the world.

As a young man he disproved the popular adage of “life begins at forty (40)” he had triumphed against all odds that often kills the bright talent of his kind. Eulogizing Komla as a Parliamentary Committee on Youth and Sports words are not enough to express his role in sharpening the dreams of million Ghanaian youth and African in the Diaspora.

We are talking about the life of a young man who entered the University with the enthusiasm to read medicine but along the way had to quit because he could not meet a requirement, so he quoted one of his professors, a Nigerian said “You're not supposed to fail, man! You're a Ghanaian!" He carried the flag of Ghana to a high esteem drawing aspirations that his grandfather Philip Gbeho composed the national anthem therefore he also has a role to play in the nation building.

KOMLA AND MEDIA

Komla Dumor started as a “traffic news reporter on a motorbike” on a programme called “Mobitel Traffic Watch” and later jumped into the talk radio hosting Joy FM’s morning show setting the pace for all inclusive in the matters that concerns the nation where his colleagues called him with the name “the boss player”. He chalked many successes in his journalism career in Ghana by winning the Ghana Journalist of the Year 2003 at age 31 by the Ghana journalist award and elsewhere Sony Radio Academy Awards 2011 as Speech Broadcaster of the Year. He was an icon named among the 100 most influential Africans of the year 2013 by the New African Magazine. His work has contributed in entrenching the press freedom and liberty of saying what one thinks.  From 2006 he had been with the BBC World Service hosting and presenting various forms of programme which drew attentions to Africa, winning Africa investors, philanthropist and many more.

KOMLA AND SPORTS

Komla was a die- hard fan of the national team the black stars, in his article “The highs and lows of 2013” Komla declared “Ghana, my team, qualified for the football World Cup. Komla loved football especially when the Ghanaian national team, the Black Stars, was on the field. His loved for the Black Stars were always shown from the remarks and posts on social networks in most cases being from the happening in the Black Star’s camp ahead of a big game or in the tournament. Komla took every opportunity that came to his way to support and promote the Black Star be it in his Office at the BBC or while covering a tournament especially during the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Komla was one of those young men who had genuine interest in the youth. He was a busy person, however, he always made time out of his schedules to engage the youth especially those in the media.

The Committee is therefore calling on the youth to work hard as Komla did which took him from Joy FM to BBC and rose through the ranks. We also want to take this opportunity to advice the youth to take time to rest after hard work and should not ignore signs from the body that says you need a rest, like difficulty in concentrating and physical restlessness. When at work take the needed break, go for a walk, read articles and many other things which help you to relax.

Our sympathies to his family, wife, friends, colleagues and fans

Damirifa Due, Rest is Perfect Peace.