Alfred Kwasi Kwarteng

We wish you and the family our sincere condolences.

May Alfred, my dear friend, rest in peace.

Silently, the shades of evening gather round my lonely door.
Silently, they bring before me faces I shall see no more.

Dr. Alfred Kwasi Kwarteng, what a noble man!
It is difficult to accept that this brilliant, kind, and generous soul is no more.

Doc has been part of our family for decades, and he related warmly with everyone. He discussed football with Cousin BC and fashion with the late Mr. Koranteng. His sharp intellect and brilliance were evident even in his youth. He was exceptionally gifted and talented, with knowledge spanning many fields of study. Yet, despite his great intellect, he was never proud or distant. He was sociable, approachable, and loved dancing.

Dr. Kwarteng cherished his nuclear family, his siblings, and the extended family. He always spoke of his family with love and pride. Beyond family, he freely extended help to others, reflecting his generous and liberal spirit.

He will be deeply and painfully missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him.

Awurade, fa wo somfoɔ Dr. Alfred Kwasi Kwarteng hyɛ wo nsa mu daa. Ma hann a enni awieiɛ nhyerɛn ne so daa.
Ahomegyeɛ ne asomdwoe nka ne kra, na wɔ awufoɔ sɔreɛ da no, ma no nsɔre wɔ anuonyam mu.
Yɛnam Kristo Yesu so. Amen.

I am devastated to see this departure. Dear Madam and Son Hon Minister accept my heartfelt condolences. Yoga former case worker from Shan & Co. Currently at Ravi Solicitors. Rayners Lane

I keep wonderful memories and experiences working with you at Shan & Co. Solicitors. What a wonderful gentle man you are. Learned a lot from you. Thanks
May your soul rest in peace.
Yoga

Adisco Scholar your contribution to understanding the multiplying and accelerative effects of the Minimum Wage whilst others were concerned about the ephemeral short term effects will be your everlasting Legacy. What a Scholar. Professor I will miss your midnight tutorials and jokes. Da Yie My brother. Kofi Otuo Acheampong Stanmore

This unfortunate news fills me with deep sadness, especially as I recognise that I have lost two notable individuals who would discuss matters regarding Adisadel College and AOBA-UK with me late into the night.

I reached out to Dr Alfred Kwasi Kwarteng on several occasions, and he always showed great enthusiasm to hear from me. It is genuinely tragic to lose such an outstanding Santaclausian, whose brilliance illuminated his entire life. May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace.

The late Dr. Alfred Kwarteng and his late nephew, Mr. Enoch Amo Owusu, truly exemplified the spirit of Santaclausians.

Dr Alfred Kwarteng had a strong interest in topics related to Adisadel College and AOBA-UK. As a member of the AOBA-UK Editorial Board, he approached his duties with the utmost seriousness, extending his influence to the AOBA-UK platforms, where he shared knowledge on how to post content in line with the Adisadel tradition. I found his contributions to be exceptional.

No matter his age, Dr Alfred Kwarteng actively interacted with both younger members and his peers within the Santaclausian community, showcasing leadership and motivating young Santaclausians to learn from his extensive experience. Through his participation in the AOBA-UK platform, he gave younger generations a voice. I gained a lot of wisdom from him, particularly regarding the values of inclusivity, respect, diligence in upholding discipline and standards, and, above all, cherishing and celebrating every facet of life despite challenges. I will profoundly miss his teachings on English proficiency, his perspectives on current issues, his friendliness, and his steadfast dedication to excellence.

During our late-night discussions, I took on the playful role, while the late Mr Enoch Amo Owusu was always the target of my antics. Engaging with him and his late nephew, Mr Enoch Amo Owusu, brought me immense joy. I hope they continue to discuss matters related to Adisadel College and AOBA-UK in Heaven.

Alongside the leadership of AOBA UK and the Santaclausian community, we rejoiced when Dr Kwasi Kwarteng became Chancellor of the UK, and our support for him remains strong. In these challenging times, we offer our support to Dr Kwasi Kwarteng, the lovely Mrs Charlotte Kwarteng, and the entire family. Please accept my heartfelt condolences, and may the Almighty God grant you strength during this difficult period of mourning.

Yours sincerely,
Charles Pokoo (Shofar)
Assistant Secretary, AOBA-UK

“Make me a channel of your peace. Where there is hatred ,let me bring your love. Where there is injury , your pardon, Lord and where there’s doubt true faith in you.”
( Sebastian Temple )
We sing the hymn “ Make me a channel of your peace” during funerals and memorial services and the first verse points us to an individual whose life and works we celebrate and give thanks for today. He may not have been widely known, but in his own “close knit unit”, he was popular, a peacemaker, humble , modest , compassionate and faithful individual. Dr. Alfred Kwasi Kwarteng’s ideals, ethos and principles on mortal life here in this transient world of ours are summed up in the above quote. Some of us would have known Alfred much more and close up, whilst some of us younger ones much less and also from a distance. On this basis we can only attest for his steadfastness in Christian beliefs buttressed by his selflessness, friendliness , constancy and love for all.
At Adisadel College , Cape Coast , Ghana he was in Quaque House with this motto :“ Pugnatu suma vi ” . And we could say he was among the first occupiers of Katanga. He was a brilliant Classicist. Due to the change in academic year, he finally left the school in December 1961 after completing his sixth form. His love for the school was never shaken . He fought to maintain standards, discipline and fairness in all interactions. Not only was he a staunch believer in the “charge” given in the School Ode, but he actually lived and manifested his Quaque House motto of “fighting with all your might” to the amazement of us younger Santaclausians who came to Adisco long after he had left. Even in his failing health, he asked to be dressed up in the school’s centenary cloth on Sunday 9th March 2025 , during our Founder’s Day Thanksgiving Service. He could not attend due to ill health.
After the formation of AOBA UK, he served as President for a number of years. He continued to serve on the Executive Committee until 2021when a new Executive Committee took over. He found time for all Santaclausians ,interacting and sharing ideas, exchanging and engaging in edifying discourses on our What’s App Platforms. He interacted with our members – young and old – on a level playing field treating all and sundry as equals. Santaclausians valued and respected his contributions . He always ensured that AOBA UK’s relationships both within the group and externally with other groups were amicable ,cordial and peaceful. He would participate in all our activities , including our Founder’s Day Service , Dinner Dances and The Family Fun Day events. He oozed exceptional quality. He worked hard to establish our FDS BROCHURE now OCCASIONAL PAPER produced annually as an Institution. Working with him as our Editor in chief on our Occasional Paper , he exhibited his leadership , writing skills and inspirational and calming influence .

Indeed, a mighty oak has fallen.
It is with profound sorrow that we mourn the passing of Dr Alfred Kwasi Kwarteng - a towering intellect, a gracious mentor, and a cherished Santaclausian who domiciled in Quaque House Adisadel College from 1956 to 1961.
Dr Kwarteng was a brilliant classicist, winner of the 1959 Hare’s Classics Prize, and one of the last of the great Latin and Greek scholars of his generation at Adisadel College alongside J. F. Gyimah, winner of the 1959 Hamlyn Greek Prize.
To AOBA-UK and the FDS Editorial Team, he was far more than a colleague. As Editor-in-Chief of the FDS official bulletin, his wisdom, courage, and clarity of thought shaped our voice and strengthened our mission. His counsel saw us through many trials, and his presence enriched every conversation.
We have lost a rare mind and a generous spirit.
We mourn deeply — but we are grateful for a life well lived, served, and shared.
May his soul rest in eternal peace.
AOBA
UK

It is with deep sadness that I share the passing of my aunty’s beloved husband, a man whose quiet strength, humour, and kindness left a lasting mark on everyone who knew him. He was a calm and steady presence in our family—never loud, never demanding, but always there with a warm smile, a listening ear, and a generous heart.
One of my favourite memories with him was just recently, before he moved into the nursing home. I told him I was planning to move to Ghana, and immediately he began asking about my mother and aunty who had raised me. He remembered everything, every detail, every connection. With that familiar spark in his eyes, he told me that once he got better, he would come with me. I’ve held onto that moment ever since. It summed up who he was: thoughtful, loving, and always looking forward with hope.
To me, he was more than my aunty’s husband, he was family in every sense of the word. His kindness, his gentle conversations, and the comfort of his presence will stay with me forever.
We are heartbroken by his loss, but deeply grateful for the time we shared and the memories he leaves behind. His legacy of love, warmth, and quiet wisdom will live on in all of us. May he rest peacefully. I am heartbroken by his passing, but deeply grateful for the time we shared and the memories he leaves behind.
Akonta Kwarteng, da yie
May you rest peacefully

Grandad was such a remarkable presence in all our lives, and I know the loss is immense. I wish I could be there in person to support you, hug you, and simply sit with you. Even from afar, I want to send you all the strength, love, and care in the world. Please remember that you are not alone in this—your family loves you dearly and we are all here for you, in spirit if not physically.

I will keep trying to call and check in, but I also wanted to write this message so you know how much you mean to me and how often I am thinking of you. Please take care of yourself, stay strong, and allow yourself the space to grieve and heal. You are in my prayers every single day.
With all my love and deepest condolences,
Nana Kofi Darkwa Boateng
(Millicent’s son)

I have known Dr. Kwarteng—whom I lovingly call Uncle—for most of my life. He was a steady and reassuring presence, standing by me through thick and thin.
My career path was shaped by his guidance during my time in London. When I faced one of the most difficult periods of my life, Uncle and Auntie welcomed me into their home with warmth and generosity.
It was Uncle who encouraged me to pursue accountancy, even arranging for the accountant at the Commonwealth Secretariat to sign my forms. His belief in me changed the course of my life.
I treasure the simple, joyful moments we shared—our Saturday chicken curry, a cold “Split,” and long conversations filled with laughter.
He was truly a fountain of knowledge, always willing to teach, advise, and share. His discipline and determination were remarkable; he even completed his solicitors’ course from the comfort of his bedroom, a testament to his focus and drive.
Uncle also loved to dance, and I will always remember the joy and energy he brought to every party. His spirit was lively, generous, and full of warmth.
Uncle’s influence on my life is immeasurable. I am forever grateful for his love, kindness, and guidance. His legacy lives on in all of us who were blessed to know him.
May his soul rest in perfect peace.
Millie

Dr Kwateng worked as a volunteer and an administrator in the late 1980s with the Unity Centre of South London, a registered charity based in Balham. South London, which was started by the late Rev Harry Kudiabor in 1983. The centre used to cater for black mentally ill patients, discharged from Springfield hospital in Tooting Bec, on their way home. The Unity centre had two hostels based in Balham and Tooting Bec where they prepared the long term, mainly black mentally ill patients through counselling back into the community. Dr Kwateng started as a volunteer, then was employed as a part time administrator, a position he held until the hostels were closed down in the early 1990s.The Unity centre is now used as a community centre where they teach adult computer literacy, luncheon club, food bank and church services.
Dr Kwateng remained on the management board of the charity for many years and for the past eight years became the chairman of the management committee. Dr Kwateng’s huge managerial expertise, legal knowledge and discernment helped the charity withstood few challenges it faced.
His services were very much appreciated and he was dearly loved and admired.
Dr Kwateng : The light of God surrounds you, the love of God enfolds you, the power of God protects, the presence of God watches over you where ever you are God is and all is well.
YOU WILL BE MISSED
REST IN PERFECT PEACE

Our beloved brother was born on a Sunday, and so he was named Kwasi. Yet our parents affectionately called him “Akwasi,” a name that carried the warmth of a nickname.
He was raised by our mothers, who were two devoted sisters, and guided early in life by our uncle, who at the time worked with the Cocoa Marketing Board. It was this uncle who first enrolled him in school, setting him on a path of excellence.
Akwasi lived with humility throughout his life. He attended Adisadel College in Cape Coast, in Ghana’s Central Region, where his brilliance and discipline shone. During his vacations, he spent most of his time with books. His love for reading was so profound that our mothers purchased
large trunks to store the many volumes he collected, filling an entire room with his treasured library.
To the Kwabeng Ofinso Asona clan, Kwasi Kwarteng was more than a brother, he was a mentor. He never quarreled or raised his voice; instead, he led by quiet example. In all our endeavors, he taught us how to fend for ourselves, instilling resilience and independence.
His passing has left a deep vacuum in our family, one that words cannot fully express. Yet we shall always remember him—with gratitude for his guidance, admiration for his humility, and love for the legacy he leaves behind.
Rest well, dear Akwasi. You will forever remain in our hearts.

How I wish we were gathered here under happier circumstances. Yet today, we come together to honor and celebrate the life of my dear brother, Kwasi.
My name is Dora Ahene, and I live in the San Francisco Bay Area in California. Growing up, I never had a personal name among my brother’s friends—they all simply called me Kwasi Kwarteng’s little sister. That title meant the world to me, because I was so proud of my big brother.
Kwasi and I were raised by our aunt, whom we affectionately called Maame Payin—our “senior mother,” as she was our mom’s elder sister. From those early days, Kwasi’s brilliance shone. Our uncle enrolled him at the local Presbyterian school in Kwabeng, where he excelled. He passed the Common Entrance exams and was admitted to Adisadel College, one of Ghana’s elite boys’ boarding schools. Afterward, he continued to the University of Ghana, Legon, where he pursued a degree in Economics.
While at Adisadel, Kwasi became deeply impressed by Wesley Girls’ High School in Cape Coast. He made it his mission that I should attend that school. He pulled every string, paid all the fees, and guided me through the process until I was admitted. At that point in my life, he saw
potential in me that I did not yet see in myself.
After completing his undergraduate studies, Kwasi moved to the UK to pursue his Master’s and PhD in Economics. He was an avid reader, and he passed that love of books on to me. I
remember afternoons on the veranda, reading aloud while he gently corrected my pronunciation. He introduced me to writers such as Somerset Maugham, Agatha Christie, Wole Soyinka, Chinua Achebe, and many more. That gift of reading has remained one of my greatest joys.
Kwasi also played a pivotal role in my career. He helped me secure a position at the Bank of Ghana and encouraged me to pursue the Associate International Bankers Diploma. When my name was published in the Financial Times among those who had completed the diploma, he sent me a telegram filled with pride and congratulations. Those were the days before the internet, Instagram, or WhatsApp—yet his support reached me across the miles.
Through his encouragement, I eventually returned to complete my education at the University of Ghana.
Kwasi was fun-loving, caring, and humble. He met people where they were, regardless of status—whether an executive chairman or a laborer, rich or poor, chief or commoner. He

treated everyone with the same respect. He was a mentor to many, and I never once heard him raise his voice. He disliked confrontation and would rather walk away quietly than argue.
I know my brother touched countless lives, and he will be deeply missed.
Last October, while my husband and I were vacationing in Italy, I had planned to finally visit him. We flew from Rome to London, and though I tried to reach him, he missed my calls. On Sunday morning, he returned my call, apologized, and we spoke warmly. I told him we would visit that afternoon. But just as we were preparing to leave, I saw missed calls from my sister-in-law Charlotte—Kwasi had collapsed and been rushed to the emergency room. I never got the chance to sit with him, to reminisce about our childhood, our mother, and our aunt. How I wish I had that opportunity.
It is heartbreaking to see him go, but I am consoled knowing he is at peace and free from pain.
Kwasi, we all miss you. But we live in hope, knowing we will meet again. Tell Mom and Auntie that we miss them too, and that one day, we will all be together again.
KWASI NANTE YIE, AMANING Kwarteng dammrifa due, due ne amanehunu.

Kwasi Kwarteng, myself and a cohort of starry-eyed sixth formers entered the University of Ghana in 1962, he from Adisadel College, Cape Coast, and I from Achimota School, Accra. In those days, the numbers of undergraduates were sufficiently low to enable lifelong friendships to be formed with year mates. After graduating, we both received scholarships from the University of Ghana to study abroad for postgraduate degrees with a view to returning to lecture at Legon. We both studied at London University and our friendship blossomed even more in the foreign land in which we found ourselves.
After returning to Legon to teach, he economics and I law, our paths were to cross again, working for another common employer. We both returned to London to work for the Commonwealth Secretariat. It seems we were destined to shared experiences and the enjoyment of each other’s company. Moreover, by chance, we married ladies who were also classmates in secondary school, namely Aburi Girls Secondary School. Accordingly, I believe that I got to know Kwasi very well. He was a good man, with a friendly and pleasant disposition. He was always willing to hold out a helping hand. He had an acute mind which enabled him to discharge his responsibilities as an international trade economist for Commonwealth countries, liaising with the World Trade Organisation in Geneva. As my wife was also working in Geneva for one of the United Nations agencies at the time, Geneva became another venue for my interaction with Kwasi.
At the Commonwealth Secretariat, Kwasi and I had fun together, both at the workplace and in our leisure time. In particular, I remember fondly a small intimate party I organised to celebrate my fiftieth birthday. Kwasi attended not only that 50th birthday party, but also my 80th. Although in our old age we did not meet too often, I invited him for the 80th birthday party in 2023, without realising that he was not in the best of health. Yet he graciously accepted and made the effort to attend it in Hertfordshire. Sitting next to each other at the function, we were able to catch up on latest developments in our lives, reminisce about incidents in our past and my current lifestyle of commuting between Ghana and the UK. That was a joyful occasion which will forever live in my memory.
Another memorable event was a lunch party I organised for Kwasi at my home on the Akwapim hills during one of his visits to Ghana. A few of our Legon year mates also attended. Kwasi so enjoyed the occasion that in ringing to thank me for organising it, he used the Akan idiom that when he died, I should not come to his funeral. By this, he meant that the occasion had been so enjoyable that I owed him no further obligation and I was excused from attending his funeral. Little did I know that he would predecease me. My wife Eugenia and I will miss him sorely.
The Legon class of 1962 pays tribute to Kwasi, a royal of Kwabeng in Akim Abuakwa. Kwasi, you have left your mark on us and the world. Now, may the Good Lord give you eternal rest. “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on”. “Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labour, for their deeds follow them.” Revelations 14:13.
Kwasi, Damirifa due. Nyame mfa wo nsie.

My Darling Kwasi, where do I begin?
No amount of words can truly capture the immense pain I have felt since you left us.
Although you are gone, I feel your presence everywhere; you are in every corner of my thoughts and in every laugh that manages to sneak in through my tears.
I still cannot believe that -that Sunday afternoon was going to be the start of a cruel twist of fate.
What started as a suspected stroke... led to seizures and an admission to the hospital.
I kept thinking to myself, “He will come home, of course he will.” And Kwasi, you did—but only for a short while. I never imagined that what we endured the last 18 months of your life would become the last chapter of our life together.
Kwasi, do you remember our first meeting? At that party, you were wearing those hideous short trousers—aboskie! “I swear God” , my first thought was, “Who is this bush man?” ...
We talked and laughed that evening - Despite my initial impressions, I asked you to escort me to another party later that evening.
The next day, you showed up at the library asking me for change for the photocopy machine. I thought to myself, “This shameless bushman again!” You knew you were coming to the library—why did you not bring money to make your copies? I gave you some change to make the copies you needed. You returned the money the next day, and I thought to myself, “Hmmm… maybe he is not so shameless after all.”
Every day, every week, you would invite me out,- and my response was No! -I would always tell myself, “This man does not have money, and he is inviting me out?”
I still laugh when I think about those early days – those fond memories creep in more now when I am on my own –
I remember that I liked someone else at the time—this person would bring me huge sweet mangoes every week when he came to visit. Kwasi, you brought no gifts,!
I showed no interest in you, but thankfully you did not give up.
You were very quiet, painfully quiet, whilst your mates were loud and boisterous. I didn’t understand you then, but oh, how I came to love that quietness. It was not empty; it was full of strength, thought, wisdom and steadiness.
One day Uncle Opanyine told me, “Akua, Kwarteng is serious, oh. He is very serious about you.”
After that conversation with uncle, I accepted one of your million invitations.
You cooked me shrimp Nkontomire stew at your house in Archway, ..and . I was impressed! Although I was allergic to fish then, I thoroughly enjoyed the meal. It must have been the company. We talked and we laughed –That was the day I began to appreciate the quiet—thoughtful, persistent and humorous man that I grew love and cherish.
Oh, but the drama continued! I remember trying to test you. I knew of a beautiful woman who shared a close relationship with you. I took a picture of her at a party, deliberately left it where you would find it, and waited for a reaction. You looked at it, didn’t say much, and I offered to introduce you to her. You did not flinch. That was when I knew you were mine, and I was yours.
Kwasi, you proposed so many times. Each time I refused—until that day at St Pancras in 1972, when I finally said yes. We were so happy that day. You never gave up on me, and I thank God that you didn’t.
There have been so many wonderful memories over the years but none as important as 26 May 1975? The day our world shifted forever—the day our son, Kwasi Addo Alfred Kwarteng, came into our lives. In that moment, all our education, certificates and degrees suddenly felt so insignificant, because we were about to learn one of life’s greatest and hardest lessons: how to be parents.
Who would have thought that together we would create something greater than ourselves? From that tiny baby to a man who would go on to make history—serving as a Cabinet member and famously as Chancellor of the Exchequer. And now, he is a father himself, blessing us with two beautiful granddaughters, Ida and Grace.
Do you remember the joy and relief we felt when our son found true love? When he married Harriet Edwards in December 2019—what a wonderful day that was! Our hearts were full of joy because we knew our son had found his partner for life.
Kwasi, we are so blessed. So thankful. Everything we dreamed and prayed for, everything we worked for, came full circle in that moment—through him and through them.
Kwasi we were supposed to enjoy our grandchildren together. Although you will not be here to see every smile, every milestone, I know you will be watching with pride, just as I am.
You were a quiet man, but there was never a dull moment with you. Your silence spoke volumes—wisdom, kindness, You, had a mind so sharp it amazed everyone who met you. My darling, you were brilliant. People respected you not just for your intellect, but for your kind and calm nature. You had a charm that made everyone around you feel at ease.
And your humour! Oh, how you made me laugh. In the quiet moments, I remember the jokes—whenever I invited you to attend church with me, you would always tell me that you visited the church enough during college to last you a lifetime.
Clever, quick-witted, always ready with a line that could lift the heaviest moment. That defined you, my dear husband.
Kwasi, you filled my life with laughter, joy comfort and a love so deep it changed me forever. You were my partner, my best friend, my confidant and my strength.
You touched so many lives, but mine most of all. Your wisdom, your kindness, your humour, your quiet presence—these are treasures I will hold onto for the rest of my days.
Kwasi who am I going to talk to when I come home- Who is going listen patiently and attentively to my stories-
Although you are gone, our love lives on. I carry you with me—your gentleness, your brilliance, and your beautiful soul.
You were everything I wished and prayed for.
You were the love of my life.
You were a precious gift, Kwasi. My gift.
And I thank God every day that I had the privilege to be your wife.
Rest well, my dear husband.

Rest well, my love.

Rest Well My African James Bond.
May the good and a merciful Lord keep you safe until we meet again.
Forever yours,
Akua Charlotte Boaitey

“Dear Granddad, your kindness, calmness and wisdom will be very much missed, and you will forever live in our hearts. With all our love from your granddaughters, Ida and Grace”

I don't believe that there is any precedent anywhere in the world when one word drew two people who hardly knew each other into a friendship. That is exactly what happened between Dr Kwarteng and I. Strange things happen in this life!

So what was the word? Wait for it, it was DISCOMBOBULATED. I hear you say "what is that?". And that was exactly what I said at the time. What on earth is discombobulated? I bet you don't know either!

It was like any other day on the Adisadel College Old Boys Association UK WhatsApp platform. Traffic was heavy with most postings forgettable. Then appeared a posting from a Dr Kwarteng. I had heard his name mentioned each time the formation of AOBA-UK came up in conversations but I hardly knew him close and personal. One paragraph in his posting blew me away. It was a beautifully-crafted paragraph with the English language so caressed you could be forgiven for wanting to kiss the screen of the phone. In there was the word discombobulated. Has the good man just made it up? Up popped up my online dictionary and to my joy, it was an actual English word. Are you discombobulated at this point? You are but you don't know it!

Immediately, I got on the blower as Del Boy is wont to say. "Hello Dr Kwarteng, this is Paulus, Class of 75". Can I be of any assistance, he asked, then added "I enjoy your series on the platform every Sunday morning". My head increased in size. I told him about that paragraph with the word discombobulated in it and asked if I could use that paragraph in postings on other platforms without attribution. He was fine with it, and so for years, I found any excuse to use the word or the paragraph, and that made me come across as a connoisseur of the beautiful language.

Over the years, he kept regailing us with his well crafted responses to discussions on the AOBA-UK WhatsApp platform. It is no exaggeration to say that everyone loved his write-ups and the way he lovingly massaged the language. Dr Kwarteng death has left a niche gap that can never be filled.

My first face-to-face encounter with him was in 2016 when my year group, the Noble Class of 75 sponsored the reception after the Founders Day Service. As a class, we decided to elevate the reception beyond the usual CEMENT and have food and drinks. But we had secretly arranged to meet at a pub afterwards,to continue the party. How Dr Kwarteng got wind of the arrangement remains a mystery but he was already there when my class arrived. He introduced himself and all I could say was how happy I was to have met the great man and great mind himself. Following that encounter, our conversations became more personal. I sought his advice on various matters and he always brought his extensive knowledge and wisdom to bear in his advice. He advised me when to pick a fight and when to let go on the platform.

One enduring memory is when I quoted a Twi proverb on the platform. He called and informed me that I had gotten it wrong like most people do. I had said "Efie biara Mensah wo mu" (There is a Mensah in every home). I was to learn that the original proverb had no Mensah in it. Come to think of it, it makes no sense to have Mensah in it but that corrupted version was popular and remains so. He explained what the original word was and how it sounded like Mensah. It all made so much sense.

The AOBA-UK has lost a great mind, a logophile, a connoisseur of all that is beautiful with the English language. He will be sorely missed. And I have lost a mentor.

Dr Alfred Kwasi Kwarteng, rest in perfect peace for your work is done.

A TRIBUTE TO NICO
Dear Nico,
I need to have people understand that between the two of us ‘Nico’ meant straight and confidential. And straight meant unalloyed honesty. We have known each other as fellow students at Commonwealth , University of Ghana; fellow Teaching Assistants at the University of Ghana and colleague lecturers at the University of Ghana. Our career paths changed when you went to work for the Commonwealth Secretariat and I moved to become the Executive Director of the Ghana Tourist Board. I came to London some eight years later as a refugee and you and your family offered me the initial shelter I needed. It was during this period that I learnt to appreciate your talents as a loving husband, a caring and educative father and a more than hardworking and honest professional.

For sixty-three years we have been more than close friends. Indeed we have been more than brothers. We never had a serious nor prolonged arguments nor did we ever have a spat. We were so much in cinch with each other that sometimes a word or phrase was a the embodiment of a long episode in our lives that could generate fits of laughter over prolonged periods of uncontrollable laughter.

I have been trying to find the true meaning of or the spirit behind the word ‘tribute’. I have failed because none of the pieces I found answer to what I consider to be an acceptable meaning of the word. I have therefore come to the conclusion that you are the TRIBUTE for the following considerations:
- An honourable gentleman and a serious academic;
- A loving husband and an exemplary father - your happy and loving wife and your accomplished son testify to this;
- A very caring member of the community and a consummate handler of the Asante language;
- An amazing exponent of the essence of friendship and the human touch.
Mourning your passing today is not so much because you are gone but also because I have lost my one soulmate. The one individual I count on when the chips are really down. The one support I can seriously expect to help me solve the proverbial ‘dilemma of a ghost’. With you also gone I have lost all those who gave me the enviable title ‘BOSS’. And please tell God I shall need to have a spot between you and Gyimah.

I have decided to keep two hilarious stories to remind me of you so that they would keep me tickled when I miss you – the wine purchase episode at the old UTC Department Store (1966) and the elevator story you told me when I squatted with you at the international house on my way back to Accra after my graduate studies in the US (1972)
I JUST MISS YOU!!

Kwasi and I entered Adisadel college in the same year, January 1956. He did four years for his Cambridge school certificate and I did five years for my school certificate. Of all my Adisadel school mates, Kwasi was the one who I socialise and interact with most.
Both of us are serving members of the management committee of the Unity Centre of South London, a charity based in Balham which used to cater for black and minority ethnic mentally ill patients discharged from Springfield hospital in Tooting Bec. The charity had two hostels in Balham and Tooting Bec where they prepared these mainly black long term mentally ill patients to enter the community through counselling. The hostels have long been closed and the centre is now used for adult computer literacy teaching, food bank, luncheon club and church services.
On our first day on the Adisadel Hill, Kwasi and I found ourselves in the same classroom, Form 2B which is situated below Canterbury Hall and close to the headmaster’s office. A couple of years ago, Kwesi and I reminisced an incident which took place on our first day in class which remained in our memory till today.
The acting headmaster at the time, Mr Albert Hammond came to our classroom to conduct a roll call. He started calling the names and we responded accordingly. Along the way, he called a name to which nobody responded. He continued to the next, then two students stood up to respond to a name! He asked the student who was late to stand: “What’s your name? “The student mentioned his name, which was different from the one the headmaster called; the headmaster asked him again which name he stood up to respond to, the student answered the one to which nobody responded, a name which also did not match with the one he told the headmaster earlier was his name.
The student was later called to the headmaster’s office where he met Mr Sam Sey who was the senior house master of the school and the master who conducted the interview in Kumasi. The student did not attend the interview.
It transpired that somebody else took the common entrance, attended the interview and the student in question came with that person’s name.
He was expelled, and we learned some important moral lessons for the rest of our lives: You need a super memory and alertness to protect and defend a lie and secondly, it is impossible to predict the outcome of a lie. These are the two moral lessons we learned on our first day at Adisadel College.
We have not met again since he left upper six in Dec. 1961 until we bumped into each other when we formed the Adisadel old boys’ association UK in 1984 in London. Not long after that Kwasi joined us at the Unity Centre of South London a charity I do volunteering work for in Balham South London.
Farewell my good friend.
Rest in perfect peace.

"He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." — Revelation 21:4
Oh Kwasi—our dear Alfred Kwasi Kwarteng! Our friend of many years!
We prayed that you might remain with us a little longer, but the Good Lord, who knows best, has called you home to rest in His eternal peace. We were aware that you had been unwell in recent times, yet we continued to hope for your recovery.
In 1955, a group of fresh-faced boys gathered on the grounds of Adisadel College, having passed the Common Entrance examinations and interviews. Among them was Alfred Kwasi Kwarteng from Kwabeng, together with Abu Kissie from nearby Abomosu. We lived, studied, and grew together through to December 1959 when we completed our Cambridge School Certificate examinations. Some of us reconvened for Sixth Form in January 1960 and eventually dispersed after completing the Higher School Certificate examinations in December 1961.
To us, your Santaclausian classmates, you were more than a colleague—you were a kind, dependable, and truly good friend. You made life on the Hill feel like home. Whenever you appeared among us, you brought laughter and ease, sharing short tales and humorous stories during the breaks between classes. Sam Boateng still recalls vividly your Kwabeng (Akim Abuakwa) anecdotes, often enriched by contributions from Dr. Abu Kissie of Abomosu. With Sam’s own childhood connections to Kwabeng through his father, then a headmaster there, those were delightful moments of camaraderie.
We remember not only your humour, but also your fairness, honesty, integrity, and steadfast loyalty in friendship.
Academically, you excelled in many subjects, but your brilliance shone especially in the arts. You were a gifted Classics student. Together with your close friend and our classmate, the late Osafo Gyimah—himself exceptional in both sciences and the arts—you earned the affectionate nicknames “Socrates and Plato” after the great Greek philosophers.
Naturally, we expected you both to proceed to the Classics Department at the University of Ghana. To our surprise, the two of you chose instead to study Economics. True to form, you excelled. Upon graduation, you and Osafo were appointed Teaching Assistants in the Department, and soon after, you were awarded University scholarships for postgraduate studies, bonded to return as lecturers. Alfred, however, never returned permanently to Ghana.
Dr. Kwarteng remained abroad, pursuing further studies and building a distinguished career, partly out of a desire for stability during a period of political and economic uncertainty in Ghana. Through his work at the Commonwealth Secretariat and other institutions, he served both himself and Ghana with honour. We celebrated his achievements from afar.
We later learned of his marriage to Mrs. Boaitey Kwarteng of Juaben, who became a prominent lawyer in her own right, and of their only son, Kwasi Kwarteng—former Chancellor of the Exchequer of the United Kingdom and Chancellor of a British university. Many of us remember watching him excel in the University Challenge competitions. We are immensely proud of these accomplishments, and we extend our heartfelt condolences to the family.
Now in our eighties, our voices may no longer ring out with the vigour of our youth. Otherwise, we would have sung all the verses of Methodist Hymn 896 in your honour:
Now praise we great and famous men,
The fathers named in story;
And praise the Lord, who now as then,
Reveals in man His glory.
Dr. Alfred Kwasi Kwarteng, we, your classmates, will miss you dearly. Yet we take comfort in the words of Psalm 34:18: “The Lord is near to the broken-hearted and saves the crushed in spirit.”
Sleep well, Kwasi. You lived life in your own gentle and thoughtful way—a good way.
We bid you farewell, until we meet again.
Rest peacefully in the bosom of Almighty G