A memorial service has been held in Southwark, United Kingdom, in honour of the late Professor Jason Atta Kwei Arday, celebrating his remarkable academic achievements, charitable contributions and enduring legacy.
The service brought together members of Professor Arday’s family, the Ghanaian community, Ghana’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, British Members of Parliament, ministers, the Mayor of London, scholars from the University of Cambridge, former students and loved ones to pay tribute to the celebrated academic.
Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, joined the family of the late Professor for the memorial service.
In a post, Mr. Ablakwa described the service as deeply moving and unforgettable, held in honour of the late professor’s memory.
In a message reflecting on the event, he said the gathering honoured a pledge to stand with the bereaved family while recognising Professor Arday’s contributions to education and society.
Professor Arday, who made history as the youngest Black professor appointed at the University of Cambridge, was widely recognised for his work in academia and his charitable contributions, which continue to inspire people across generations.
The memorial service provided an opportunity for those who knew and admired him to reflect on his achievements, his commitment to social change and the values he championed throughout his life.
The tribute also reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to supporting its citizens living abroad, with the government pledging continued solidarity with Ghanaians wherever they may be in the world.
“The Government and People of Ghana will continue to stand by our compatriots everywhere they are in the world. As we do so, we profess our commitment to justice, equality and the creation of a new world” Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Okudzeto Ablakwa, said in a post.
Reflecting on the life of the late professor, Mr Okudzeto said he will always be remebered for his response when asked what he will wish to do to change the world: “I would take a thread and a needle, and I’d interweave love into our society,” Professor Jason Atta Kwei Arday.
