•                          FIRST, SECOND, AND THIRD ENCOUNTERS

My first acquaintance with Mrs. Agbasi was in the early ‘70s at the Kwahu Hospital, now known as Atibie Hospital.

Meanwhile, Okwahu Hospital was operated by the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Church.

Sister Agbasi, as she was called at that time, was a midwifery tutor, lecturer, trainer, and administrative head of the Midwifery & Nursing Training School, which was attached to the hospital.

During those days, I was most senior pupil in elementary school at the Atibie Methodist Church Middle School, and I had joined the SDA Church about a year and half earlier.

It was at Church that I first met Mrs. Grace G. Agbasi. She was a music lover, a singer, and a member of Missionary Volunteers (MV) Club.

I was also, and still am, a music lover and singer, but due to my age, I could not join the MV at that time. I did, however, join The Junior Missionary Volunteer (JMV).

Once in a while, the MV and JMV members would meet on Sabbath afternoons for studies.

Sister Agbasi took me as her younger brother, and ever since called me: “My Brother”.

Anyway! All along, I didn’t know that Sister Agbasi had it in mind to invite me to join her in forming a singing quartet.

Just a few months into finishing the elementary school, there was a job opportunity for me at Kwahu Hospital where temporal workers were needed on a contract basis to paint the hospital buildings, including the Nurses/Midwives’ School block and hostel.

It was at this time that my supervisor for the painting job, Mr. Kwame Antwi Obeng, who also was a painter, guitarist, and a musician in general, organized a singing group called: “THE NEW WORLD GOSPEL SINGERS”, which consisted of himself, Sister Agbasi, and me.

Later on, Sister Agbasi invited another singer to join us but unfortunately, I can’t remember that person’s name.

In addition to our quartet, Sister Agbasi was one of the brains behind the first attempt to transition the Atibie SDA Church Singing Band to a Church Choir due to the many expatriates who did not understand and speak the Twi language, but they were also members of the Atibie SDA Church.

Well! The above events constituted my first acquaintance with Sister Agbasi.

My second encounter with her was in the early’90s in Accra.

We met as students for Piano Lessons. This school was partly organized by Brother Joshua Sarpong, affectionately called: “Akora”, a renowned Seventh Day Adventist Musician, and music enthusiasts within the South Ghana Conference of SDA Church.

The venue for the lessons was in the formal premises of the South Ghana Conference of SDA Church Head Office, near the formally known as Kwame Nkrumah Circle of Ring Road Central, but currently named: “Kwame Nkrumah Interchange-Circle Accra”.

I quite remember when Bothers Kismet and Karl were very young but would always accompany their mother for the piano lessons.

Oh! Little did I know that one day, Bothers Kismet and Karl would be great musicians as well!

Now! Somewhere in the late ‘90s, almost all the Agbasi family and that of the ABRAHs met again for the third time.

This time, we bumped into one another as Ghanaians in the foreign land of The United States of America.

In fact, we met as Washington-Ghanaian Seventh Day Adventist Church Members, worshiping and fellowshipping together under the same roof, like one family that drinks from the same cup.

Sister Agbasi’s smiles and bright face that were always beaming and radiating between the two shielding traditional marks on her cheekbones will always be remembered.

Despite her positions as Nursing/Midwifery tutor, Principal Nursing Administrator, and an Official of Ghana Nurses & Midwives Council/Ministry of Health, she always humbled herself to everyone she met, irrespective of the age difference.

Her cordial, humble, and respectful interactions with others, and her many other remarkable traits, are something we should all try to emulate.

Thank You.

Wɔfa Abrah

May the Lord comfort and keep the family and all loved ones of Mrs. Grace Agbasi at this difficult time.

Several years ago, I was privileged to worship with Mrs. Grace Agbasi at the Amakom SDA Church in Kumasi, Ghana.

Two things that were distinctly unique about her were her love for children and youth, and the pursuit of knowledge. She was actively involved in the training and development of children in the Children’s Sabbath School Department. Even in her old age she was actively involved in youth ministries. Mrs. Grace Agbasi was one of the very few adults who continued to wear youth uniforms well past their youthful days, not only in Ghana but in the USA.

As a Professional Nurse/Educator, Mrs. Agbasi also actively supported several Adventists in their pursuit of nursing education. Doubtless, many professional nurses within and outside the church owe her a debt of gratitude for facilitating their enrollment in the Nursing Training College/School in Kumasi. Her counsels, guidance and support in diverse ways are highly commendable. 

Mrs. Grace Agbasi was a trailblazer, a loving mother to many and a great lover of the Lord and His children.  Like Mary of Magdala it can be aptly said that Mrs. Agbasi has “done what she could”. May she rest in peace until that Great Resurrection Morning. Amen!