The children of the late John Apaak paid an emotional tribute celebrating his discipline, faith, and love, as tears interrupted the reading at his funeral.
The tribute, read on behalf of the children, honoured John Apaak as a father whose life, they said, was anchored in “honesty, integrity, hard work and service to humanity.” The message was read by Professor Daniel Apaak.
“We affectionately called you ‘Baba’,” the children said, describing a man whose strictness, they noted, “was rooted in love.”
They recalled how he ensured their needs were met for most of their lives and remained steadfast even during periods of hardship.
“Even when you lost your job and could not do as much as we were accustomed to, you never relented on playing your role as a father,” the tribute said.
Education, the children stressed, was central to his values.
“Today, we are who we are because you valued our education,” they wrote, adding with warmth that “Clement and Dan remember the many times you had to crack the whip.”
They said he corrected them when they went astray and never abandoned them during personal or professional challenges.
The tribute highlighted his presence in their adult lives and marriages. “Our spouses felt comfortable confiding in you,” the children noted, saying he listened patiently and offered counsel aimed at preserving peace at home.
“You never hesitated to point out our shortcomings, yet you always did so with wisdom and love.”
They recalled his constant calls.
“Many a time you would call, and when we asked what the matter was, you would say, ‘I just wanted to hear your voice’.” The children asked plaintively, “Who will call just to hear our voices? Who will caution and give us guidance?”
Emotions peaked as the tribute recounted the final hours before his death on November 4, 2025. They disclosed that their senior brother, Clement, had visited him the previous evening.
“You even prayed for him and walked him to his car,” the message recalled, adding that he joked about being strong and walking daily for exercise.
His sudden passing hours later, they said, came as a shock.
As Professor Daniel Apaak broke down in tears while reading, Dr. Clement Apaak stepped forward to complete the tribute, a moment that visibly moved mourners.
“We are heartbroken,” the children said, “but we are consoled by the fact that you lived and died serving your God.”
They described his later years as fully devoted to faith.
“Anyone who knew you in the latter part of your life would have no doubt that you are in the bosom of your Maker,” the tribute said. “Baba, we miss you, but God loves you more. Rest well till we meet again.”
