In an emotional tribute shared on social media, former Communications and Public Relations Officer of Kumasi Asante Kotoko FC, Listowell Yesu Bukarson, has expressed his heartfelt admiration for the late Wofa Yamoah Ponko, a former Metropolitan Chief Executive of the Ejisu Metropolitan Assembly and a devoted supporter of the Porcupine Warriors.
Reflecting on his relationship with Wofa Ponko, Bukarson recounted a time when Kumasi Asante Kotoko faced a financial crisis after former coach Hans Dieter Schmidt took the club to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and FIFA.
The club was charged with a hefty fine, and failure to comply would have resulted in FIFA sanctions. It was during this critical moment that Wofa Ponko stepped in to help the club avoid a potential disaster.
“As the Metropolitan Chief Executive of the Ejisu Metropolitan Assembly, Wofa Yamoah Ponko brought me into his office and offered a check to help Kotoko settle the fine,” Bukarson wrote. “It wasn’t just about money; it was about his deep-rooted love and loyalty for the club.”
In addition to the financial support, Wofa Ponko had grand plans to further improve Kotoko’s infrastructure. According to Bukarson, Wofa discussed fixing the road from the Accra-Kumasi Highway to the club’s Adarko Jachie training grounds.
Furthermore, during the tenure of Dr. K.K. Sarpong as the club’s chairman, Ponko promised to connect the training grounds to the national electricity grid, enabling the team to train at night once an AstroTurf was installed.
Beyond Kotoko, Bukarson shared that their relationship extended to other aspects of their professional lives.
Wofa Ponko, who also served as the head of the National Health Insurance office in Bantama, shared similar values and commitments. “We had a lot in common,” Bukarson said, reflecting on the sincerity and boldness of Ponko’s character.
Despite often being misunderstood by the public and labeled as arrogant, Bukarson described Wofa Yamoah Ponko as a principled, independent-minded man who rose from extreme hardship through sheer determination and resilience.
“To me, he was a sincere, truthful, and courageous man who stood by what he believed in.”
In his tribute, Bukarson expressed profound grief over the loss of Wofa Yamoah Ponko, hailing him as a “full-blooded Kotoko senior brother” whose legacy would continue to live on in the hearts of those who truly knew and appreciated him.
“Rest well, my full-blooded Kotoko senior brother,” Bukarson concluded. “Da Yie! Damirifa due, Wofa.”
The passing of Wofa Yamoah Ponko has left a void not only in the hearts of those within the Kotoko fraternity but also in the many communities he served with dedication and passion.
Source:www.kumasimail.com/IJB/Kumasi
