A prominent chief of New Juaben Traditional Area, Barima Okyere Boateng, is to be laid to rest on Saturday, July 3. This was contained in a news release issued by the Traditional Council Wednesday.
Known in private life as Dr. Joseph Felix Yaw Boateng Otchere-Darko, a retired trauma surgeon and lecturer, Barima Okyere Boateng was in 2005 enstooled the Mmrontuohene and Ayokohene of New Juaben traditional area.
He died on 12th April 2021 at the University of Ghana Medical Centre, Legon, Accra, after suffering from a severe haemorrhagic stroke. He was eighty-three (83) years old.
The main event, the burial service, will take place at the St. George Catholic Cathedral, Koforidua, at 10am on Saturday, 3rd July, 2021.
The royal burial is led by the two Juaben Amanhene, Daasebre Otuo Siriboe II of Asante Juaben and his brother Daasebre Oti Boateng of New Juaben, under the auspices of the New Juaben Traditional Council.
Many high profile dignitaries are billed to attend. The New Juaben Traditional Council is, therefore, working with State Protocol, the authorities in the region and municipality to ensure a solemn, smooth and disciplined occasion.
The New Juaben Omanhene, on whose direct laps, the burial rites sit, is leaving no stones unturned in ensuring a well-planned and dignified sending off for his uncle, the departed Mmrotuohene. The Council is appealing to the people of the area and all visitors to cooperate with them in the observation of the strict protocols being put in place.
The organisers of the event have been having series of meetings with Daasebre Oti Boateng, local authorities, including the MCE, police chiefs, and others to ensure that the burial service and related events are observed not only with dignity but also in full compliance with the covid-19 protocols.
The burial rites for the traditional ruler start on Thursday, 1st July, with the swearing of oath ceremony to the departed Mmrotuohene by all the chiefs of New Juaben Traditional Area. This, a highly restricted event, takes place in the late hours of Thursday at the Mmrotuohene’s Palace.
Barima Okyere Boateng will be laid in state in the main hall, the magnificent Nana Ama Serwaa Hallin the Yiadom-Hwedie Ahenfie, the Omanhene’s Palace, Koforidua, from Friday.
Filing past will be opened to the public from 3pm on Friday, 2nd July to 9am on Saturday, 3rd July. The people of Koforidua are advised to observe the filing past on Friday, leaving Saturday morning to the invited dignitaries.
Plans have been put in place to ensure that all Covid-19 protocols are strictly observed for the filing past, which takes place at the Omanhene Palace, and the two-hour burial service itself on Saturday, which takes place at the St George Catholic Cathedral, which is a short walk from the Palace.
Barima Okyere Boateng was born in Koforidua on 8th June 1937 to Opanyin Kwame Okyere, a native of Baamang, near Bonwire, in Ashanti Region and Odehyie Akosua Dufie of the Juaben royal household.
He attended St Augustine’s College, Cape Coast, completing his GCE O’Levels in 1956, and his GCE A’ Levels thereafter. He left Ghana in 1960 to study and practise medicine in Germany, where he qualified as Physician, Dentist, General Surgeon and Trauma Surgeon before relocating to Ghana in 1980. He spent the rest of his career practising as a trauma surgeon and teaching medical students, first in Ghana and from 1989 in South Africa until he returned in 2006.
He left behind his wife, Mrs. Felicia Otchere-Darko, a retired state attorney, and his eight children, namely, Mrs. Margaret Otchere-DarkoAsiedu (retired care worker, UK), Mr. Joseph Otchere-Darko Jnr. (ex-banker, UK), Dr. Paulina Kitcherde Graft-Johnson (psychiatrist, neurologist, US), Gabby Yaw Asare Otchere-Darko (solicitor, Ghana), Dr. Leticia Otchere-Darko (anaesthesiologist, US) , Miss Becky Otchere-Darko (ICU Nurse, UK), Mrs. Daisy Okyere (Attorney, US) and Dr. Josephine Otchere-Darko, (Physician and Public Health Specialist, South Africa). He also left behind 19 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.
