Manasseh Addison Sackey, who was commonly referred to as Teacher Obour and was the 34-year-old headteacher of Aboponiso MA School, unfortunately passed away while trying to cross a river during his campaign for re-election.
However, he has now been declared the winner of the Teberebie electoral area election in Tarkwa, even after his death. Teacher Obour, who sadly passed away on Monday, December 4, had been the current assemblyman for the Teberebie electoral area. The committed teacher was on a mission to campaign when the regrettable incident happened. The tragedy occurred when individuals, including the respected headteacher, were crossing a river from Aklika to another location in a canoe. They were not wearing safety jackets, and as a result, the boat capsized, causing the unfortunate loss of life.
Even though there were sad circumstances surrounding his campaign, the deceased Teacher Obour achieved an outstanding win by receiving 860 votes in the District Assembly Elections held on Tuesday. Benard Obeng, his nearest competitor, closely followed behind with 857 votes, demonstrating the high level of competition in the district’s election. The voters recognized Teacher Obour’s dedication to education and improving the community, and as a way to remember him, they decided to re-elect him.
The residents have different reactions to the posthumous victory. Some feel sad about the tragic incident and others are showing support for Teacher Obour by voting for him. As the local population contemplates this mixture of happy and sad result, concerns are being raised about the protective measures implemented to ensure the safety of the native inhabitants residing in areas with difficult geographic conditions.
The grieving family of the deceased headteacher and the Teberebie community are now confronted with the task of balancing their sorrow over the loss of a highly regarded individual with the joy of his win in the election.
The upcoming days will be a time where mourning and reflecting will take place to remember the influence Teacher Obour had on the community. Their impact goes beyond education and will leave a lasting legacy.