My first Friend and first brother
My father Kojo Debra in the late 1982 and early 1983 used to take his wife and children to a small farm in Haasto. It was at that time I met my first friend and brother Kwame Sasu whom we affectionately called Sasu.
Sasu was a kind person. He was shy when you met him for the first time. Once he becomes more familiar with you, you realize how nice of a person he is with his silly and funny jokes and giving nicknames to his friends.
Growing up with Sasu had its fun days, conflict days and friendship days too. At a very young age, we were Shepards. It was our responsibility to take his father the great Eugene Akoto - Bamfo of blessed memories livestock to graze twice a day on weekends and once a day on weekdays late afternoon.
During our primary school days at Association International, Sasu and I met at breaktime to buy and eat groundnut and banana and or Nkati cake, and in the afternoon when waiting on either Mr. Mike Oquaye, Brother Bediako, or the Great Eugene Akoto – Bamfo to come pick us up, Sasu and I will be at the monkey bar playing. At home, we fought over cheating when we played counters ball, pilolo, Alikoto, to name a few. We even fought over not using your assigned bowl especially if you did not wash the bowl after using it. In spite of all our quarrels, Sasu always knew that I got his back.
As I reflect on our childhood, I recalled how “snow white” the mean sheep will sneak up and knock us down, how “no comment” the dog will just sneak up on people he was not familiar with. I recall how we lost the livestock because we were playing instead of watching their movement and climbing over the wall to see if they made it home by themselves and it was a relieve when we see them roaming in the yard.
When I left the Great Eugene Akoto – Bamfo's house in the late 1980s, I could not wait for the weekend to be over so that I can see my friend and brother and it was a sad feeling when it was time to go home. Our high school days kept us apart, but I made it a point to visit during vacation time. We were teenagers then and we were each other's wing man.
In August of 1996 when the Great Eugene Akoto – Bamfo passed away, I dropped everything to go spend time with my first friend and first brother Kwame Sasu. We cried, we talked about life, and how his father’s passing was going to affect us and all the uncertainty ahead of us. At the time of Sasu’s father passing, I had lived without my own father for 13 years and Sasu was the only person who knew how much I missed my father although I knew very little about my father, so I understood how Sasu felt.
After the passing of his father and the burial, like most of us, we went on with whatever life was left to live. I tried to visit him and found out he relocated to Takoradi with his biological mother whom we had spoken of since they first met. I was happy for him but sad too because I did not know if our paths would ever meet. However, Sasu’s stay with his mother was short lived as he returned to Accra to live with aunty Vida, his Stepmother. Once again, my brother Sasu was back, and I made it a point to visit every Friday and spend weekends at aunty Vida’s house at Ridge. Aunty Vida from the bottom of my heart I say THANK YOU. Without your loving and caring and opening opportunities for Kwame Sasu, we would have lost him a long time ago.
I cared about Sasu for so many reasons. Sasu was non-judgmental, did not care about the social economic status of the people around him and was willing to share no matter how small he possessed. Sasu could make you smile, and he avoided unnecessary conflict.
When I decided to travel abroad, only three people knew, and Kwame Sasu was the first. I was hoping that he would come and join me, but he made no effort to despite me encouraging him.
In our youth, we had a way of guiding each other to make better choices. However, with me being so far away and having been consumed by my own life battles, I lost touch and was unable to positively influence him. I was upset with him because of the information I was gathering about his life choices. I called him, we spoke and gave him advice as a brother and a friend would. He was not happy with me, and I was not happy with him either and that was in the year 2022. Since his passing, I have asked myself if there was more, I could have done to help my brother make better choices.
Journey well my first friend and first brother your passing has made me regret traveling aboard. I feel like I abandoned you too. It was never my intention. Extend my greetings to our departed relatives.
Rest In Perfect Peace. My first friend and first brother.

— 22 February, 2025

Rest peacefully with your maker, comrade

— 21 February, 2025

Kwame! I can’t believe I’m attending your burial service. Rest in Perfect Peace Big Brother. Thank you for your warmth and acceptance in these past couple of years. I’m sorry I couldn’t do more. Your Lovely Amanda

— 21 February, 2025