Maame Esi Yaaba Finally Laid to Rest

A woman of substance and grace. A proverbs 31 woman is she. Central Region has lost a gem. She might not have been a minister or a president. But to us, she was more than that. And she is Maame Esi Yaaba, our mom.

The late Maame Esi Yaaba was born on Sunday, the 7th of August, 1960 at Senya Beraku in the Central Region of Ghana to Opanyin Kweku Essilfie and Obaapanyin Ama Amobah (of blessed memory). Maame Esi Yaaba was the first in the line of eight children.

As a young girl growing up, she spent most of her girlhood with her mum and she helped her mother in her fishing business. When her mother realized that her daughter (Maame Esi Yaaba) was dutiful, obedient and serious-minded, and focused, as well as teachable, her mother never rested on her oars to equip Maame Esi Yaaba with all the necessary skills necessary to succeed in the fishing business.

From the late 1980s to the early 2000s, Maame Esi Yaaba was the one who was leading the fishing business on behalf of her mother. Later on, having reached the stage of womanhood and also having gained some substantial experience in the fishing business (under the tutelage of her mum), she decided to venture into her own fishing business. She was involved in the bulk purchase of fish from the coastal areas (not only Senya Beraku), preserve the fishes (smoking or salting) and in turn took them to the various markets in Techiman, Bolgatanga, Bawku, Burkina Faso, Accra, and some other parts of Ghana.

Maame Esi Yaaba gave birth to five (5) children, 4 men, and a lady. She was relentless in supporting her children. Although she had no formal education, she tried her maximum best to ensure the best of education for her children. She would never mind even borrowing or sell her clothes just she could some money to pay her children’s fees. She was not only a mother to her biological children but also her grandchildren as well as children of her siblings and other relations.

Maame Esi Yaaba gave birth to five (5) children, 4 men, and a lady. She was relentless in supporting her children. Although she had no formal education, she tried her maximum best to ensure the best of education for her children. She would never mind even borrowing or sell her clothes just she could some money to pay her children’s fees. She was not only a mother to her biological children but also her grandchildren as well as children of her siblings and other relations.

She loved God and she encouraged her children to follow this religious path. She was a very active member of the El-Bethel Assemblies of God, Central, and Kumasi Assemblies in Senya Beraku. She was also a very committed member of the Women’s Ministry of her church.

Later on, in life, in the course of her fishing business, she happened to be involved in an accident that resulted in an injury to one of her legs. This leg was consequently amputated in the year 2004. That notwithstanding, she was still resolute in her quest to ensure the well-being of her children. She still worked tirelessly (in this physically challenged state) to ensure her children were educated.
She was full of life and active until early October 2019, when a stroke laid hold of her.

The stroke condition was very challenging as to defy both modern medical and herbal treatment. The worsening of her medical condition got to a point where it became possible for death to lay its icy hands on her on the 6th November 2020.

She goes home today and the whole family and Christian fraternity pray that her soul rest in peace.

Rest in Peace
Damirifa due! Dei Ferebi!