User talk:Gikunoo

Alfred Kwaku Gikunoo a Ghanaian born in Nigeria. Arrived in the UK in 1982. He attended West London College, Birkbeck College and later Middlesex University in the 90s. Subsequently he became a major popcorn manufacturer in the mid 80s in the United kingdom. The business was called POPCORN FACTORY. The two major lines were Salted and Sugared Popcorn.''' He Started the Business with his American friend, Sherry Lee Anne Scott from Fort Wayne, Indiana. Popcorn Factory major buyers were Blocbuster Videos, Co-operative, Europa Stores, Mega Bowl,Hackney Theater, Greenwich Cinema, Brixton Cinema, UCL Whiteleys and 100s of independent stores across England.

He then diversified into Artists Management and later formed Popcorn Records which had relative success with '''Rosemary Bain's track "Please Consider".

As a Manager, his first artiste was the group ,Just The Duce". The group was made up of MC Eric and Jason Farrel. I got them their very first recording and publishing contracts with Jive Records and Zomba publishing respectively.

MC Eric subsequently went on to join Ya Kid K to front the Hip Hop group Technotronic.

The other artistes he managed were Natalie Cobert, Sybil Martin,Rosemary Bain and many others.

BIOGRAPHY OF THE LATE ALFRED KWAKU AFAWUBO GIKUNOO
By Alfred Gikunoo 'BIOGRAPHY OF THE LATE ALFRED KWAKU AFAWUBO GIKUNOO.'

Papa Alfred Afawubo Gikunoo was born on 21 April, 1902 in Alagbati, Anyako.

He started his elementary education at Anyako from 1906 to 1912 and completed his standard seven at Bremen School, Keta with distinction in 1916. After his elementary education, Papa joined the Survey Department Training School and shortly after, he left to work at Bogoso mines for sixteen years. Papa left Bogoso mines in 1938 for Lagos, Nigeria to work with the Daily Times of Nigeria. He served that company from 1938 to 1950.

Papa moved to the Accounts Department of the Daily Times and started pursuing Accountancy as a career very vigorously. He left Nigeria for Dublin, Ireland where he studied to qualify as a chartered Accountant in 1955.

Papa returned to Lagos, Nigeria to form partnership with Akintola Williams and Co; now known as Akintola Williams Deloit Touch; It was the first ever Accountancy and Management Consultancy firm in Nigeria. He was solely responsible for auditing. His job took him to all the states of Nigeria until his retirement in 1979. At seventy-seven Papa plunged into a new career as an industrialist. He joined Motor Parts Industry as Executive Director. Papa retired again in May 1996. This was second and final retirement after a colourful and meritorious service.

The Late Papa Gikunoo was for many years Circuit Steward of the Methodist Church, Tinubu Square, Lagos as well as an organist. He was a member of the Men’s Auxiliary group. Apart from using his professional competence as an Accountant to streamline the accounts of the Circuit he also contributed a lot towards the upkeep of the church in Nigeria.

As Papa Gikunoo’s soul joins the invisible church triumphant we trust that he will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the undying. During his fifty-nine years of meritorious service in Nigeria, Papa was the light around which the Ghanaian community in that country gathered. His home was the unofficial transit place for Ghana Nationals. With the help of his virtuous wife Mama Lucy Awoyo Gikunoo, he entertained many Ghanaians in Nigeria on our National days. Nobody went to him in Nigeria and Ghana without eating or drinking.

Papa was wedded to Nigeria and his people that it was difficult for him to decide on his final return to Ghana. In November 1995 he took a bold decision and returned to Ghana still with the zeal and desire to establish some kind of business in his own country. Although he felt weaker and weaker soon after his arrival from Nigeria he celebrated his 95th birthday with family members and friends around to cheer him up. He finally breathed his last on Monday 8th September, 1977.

Papa Gikunoo left behind a wife, six children and twenty-five grand and great grand children. MAY HIS SOULD REST IN PEACE

BIOGRAPHY OF THE LATE LUCIA AWOYO ATORWOTSO GIKUNOO

Lucia Awoyo Atorwotso Gikunoo popularly known and called Mama, was born on 17th April, 1922 to the late Sosu Tsormana and the late Eyi Ahushie both of Anyako, Afegame.

She was the third of four children born to her father, Sosu. She was taken to Galo-sota where her parents migrated to pursue their fishing and related vocations.

At the tender age of three, Mama was taken to Akagla Kope a settler community which is now part of the Volta Lake, to live with her Aunt Awoyo Morku. She was introduced to trading by her Aunt at an early age. The socio-economic environment, in which Mama was raised at the time, stimulated and exposed her latent capabilities in trading at an extraordinarily tender age.

Mama was betrothed to her Uncle, the late Alfred Kwaku Afawubo Gikunoo in her early teens. This engagement later blossomed into marriage. The early part of the marriage life was spent at Bogosu, where her husband worked on the mines. Mama and her later husband left for Nigeria in 1983. whilst in Nigeria, she traded in jewellery, scarves and wax prints. She built a close and incredible rapport as a rare, ingenious, and extraordinary practitioner of her trade.

Mama was towering pillar of strength behind her husband and her encouragement and assurance of unremitting support enabled her husband to proceed to Dublin, Ireland in 1950.

Mama was also referred to as ‘Peoples Mother’ because of the motherly and singular role she played in the lives of many who came into contact with her. Their home in Lagos was the home of many Ghanaian emigrants in Nigeria. Many visited their home and Mama’s kitchen to have a taste of a typical Ghanaian food and hospitality. She personally supervised to ensure that every visitor had sufficient food, and this was her pleasure and gratification. Behind the cheerful and pleasant disposition of Mama was a strict and uncompromising disciplinarian. Her often repeated statement was “discipline” must be exercised and maintained no matter who the offender was. She ruled the home with iron hands, hence the nickname “Margaret Thatcher”.

Though Mama did not get the opportunity to receive formal education, she appreciated the need to have the basic orientation in reading and writing. She learnt how to read and write which she did with ease.

On her husband’s retirement in 1995 after a long, colourful and prosperous professional career in Nigeria, she accompanied him back to the home land, Ghana and settled initially at Abelemkpe until her husband passed away in 1997. Mama relocated to the family home at McCarthy Hill after she lost her husband. She continued with her matriarchal control of the household, ready to offer advice and direction, and ensured that every person was fed. In the year 2001, Mama developed rheumatoid arthritis, which gradually but inexorably restricted her movements. As the years wore on, the pain intensified. She often joked that the rheumatoid arthritis was the result of the mileage clocked over the years whilst walking round the house compound.

On Wednesday, 6th September, 2006, Mama woke up apparently in good health, was at her witty best, conversed normally with the household, and issued instruction in the course of the day to the little ones as she often did. Then suddenly she called for support which was provided immediately, but alas! The laborer’s task was over. She breathed out her last. She left us for the life hereafter.

Mama left behind children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

MAY HER SOUL REST IN PERFECT PEACE —Preceding unsigned comment added by 41.204.58.88 (talk) 19:22, 4 October 2008 (UTC)