Top government officials on Wednesday, July 22, joined hundreds of mourners to mark the one-week celebration of the passing of Chief Executive of the Forestry Commission, Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, in his home town in Ashanti Region.

Vice -President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, his wife Samira Bawumia, Chief of Staff, Akosua Frema Opare and the NPP General Secretary John Boadu led a host of government appointees to the rites.

The Kwabre Municipality town of Sakora Wonoo was the scene of a milling crowd, as politicians, public servants, media personnel gathered to commiserate with the family of the late Mr. Owusu Afriyie.

The former General Secretary of the NPP, also known as Sir John past on July 1, 2020  at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital  after a short illness.

The one week rites, held strictly under Covid-19 safety protocols.

NPP bigwigs, including  Stephen Amoah, the Chief Executive of the Microfinance And Small Loans Company(MASLOC), National Youth Organizer, Henry Nana Boakye and NADMO Boss, Eric Nana Agyemang Prempeh  eulogized late Sir John for nurturing many young politicians,  currently in leadership positions.

"He's been a pillar; he's been a huge pillar. A lot of promising young persons went through his hands. Myself, Sammy Awuku, Anthony Abayifa Karbo, Owiredu-the Foreign Affairs  Deputy Minister, Martin Agyei Mensah Korsah,  Perry Okudzeto; I can mention a tall list, Charles Owusu and many, many more," says NPP Youth Organizer, Nana Boakye.

Cataloguing some of the achievements of Sir John, he revealed over 80,000 youth nationwide benefitted from the ingenuity of the CEO of Forestry Commission under the Youth in Afforestation Programme, describing it as unprecedented.

"Indeed we have lost a huge personality and for the young persons,  we will remember him for one thing: for how he stood behind the youth wing; how he nurtured and prepared the young people to the path of the decision making body," Nana Boakye added.

For Stephen Amoah, MASLOC CEO, the huge crowd that besieged Sakora Wonoo is a testament of legacies the late Mr. Afriyie left behind - a good relationship and love for all.

"Whatever you see around represents the meaning of the sad demise of Sir John. Everybody is talking good about Sir John because of one thing: Sir John was very selfless," he emphasised.

National Disaster Management Organization boss, Eric Nana Agyemang beliefs Sir John's ambitious desire to help the youth in NPP and the country in general paid off.

"It will be difficult to live without memories of Sir John. He helped the party in diverse ways, especially, during his days as General Secretary of the party.

"He was ambitious in helping to develop and nurture the youth."

The one-week rite also provided an avenue for some merry-making.

Highlife artistes, Kofi Adu, also known as Agya Koo and Kaakyire Kwame Appiah, among others were on hand to entertain mourners.