Isaac Ardey Aryee

Hi, my name is Nii Ardey. I am sad to say that my father, Pa Isaac Ardey Aryee, passed on to glory at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital on January 6th, at the age of 92. With broken hearts, our family is planning for his funeral. We are raising money to help with his burial and other funeral expenses to honor his life. Any amount that you can contribute is greatly appreciated by me and my family.

my father taught me many things, but one thing I really appreciate about him is the help he gave me when I started my business, Anansi Beat, more than 20 years ago. He went to Burkino Faso to buy drums, clothing, and other things for my new store, and worked with me on building my business. I have always appreciated him for this support. My business would not be here without his help at the beginning. I would like to share a little bit more with you about his life.

Baboo, as we called my father, was the seventh child of his parents. His father and mother of blessed memory, Pa Nii Oblee Aryee and Madam Aryeley Yartey, were from Gbese in Accra. Mr Baboo started his primary education in the Talk About It school in Ga Mashie, Accra.

Baboo was very good at mathematics, and his teachers loved him because of his level of understanding. But he would not be able to continue his education. Because Baboo’s father had died when he was 12, his uncle was taking care of him. But then, his uncle died. A teacher volunteered to take care of his education, but then the teacher died. His mother then sent him to driving school. At the driving school he became the best driver among his colleagues. Because of his skill, he was given License A, and worked as a taxi driver for many years. As a child, I knew him as a taxi driver, but he also went on to lead an interesting life in politics.

Baboo got a job in the state housing corporation. By this time, he already had two children with Florence Yarley Quaye, of blessed memory. In 1959, he had another child. He met a young man called Attoh Quarshie, who, with much persuasion, convinced him to leave Dr Kwame Nkrumas party, CPP, and join the United Party. Dr. Kwame Nkrumah had built estate houses in Chorkor, and some of the estate house’s keys were given to Baboo to distribute to people interested in staying in the estate. He took one of the estates and later gave the keys to his friend, another taxi driver, and joined Attoh Quarshie with other notable people to form the GA Shifimo Kpee.

Because of the GaDangme lands, GA Shifimo Kpee party was formed. All the coastal areas were taken for industries. It was in this matter that the people of GaDangme rose up against Kwame Nkrumah’s government. Late in the night Baboo would drive his car with empty tins tied to the back. The noise disturbed the people in the area, and they reported it to the police. Baboo was arrested. It was 1959. They took him to Ussher Fort prison for one year, and then from Ussher Fort to Maamobi. Before his arrest, they had formed another group, the Tokyo Joes, near Teiko Kwao Ohetse’s house. These young men and women were always fighting the police. They carried bottles and threw them in the air and broke them with their heads. Baboo was released from prison, thinking that he was free from Nkrumah’s government, but the police started arresting people again, including Dr. JB Dankuah, Emmanuel Obetsebi-Lamptey, Attoh Quarshie, and journalist, Odotei Thompson. They came back again to arrest Baboo, but he ran away to Togo, and Dr. Busia fled abroad.

Baboo was in Togo for almost two years before returning to Ghana. He joined his elders in the Gbese traditional area in the Usshe town in Ga Mashie, Accra. Mr Isaac Ardey Arye, (Baboo) became a Kingmaker with the elders of the Gbese Ardey Akwa Family. He became the head of that family, after the late Akwashong and the late Gbese Mantse. Baboo joined the family with the council of elders to enthrone the chief of the Gbese traditional council to the Kotoku divisional area; and to enthrone another chief of the Alajo divisional area and other traditional Gbese villages.

In his elder years, Baboo enjoyed time at home with his family and grandchildren. With all of his stories, Baboo was a man of peace and courage. Baboo, may your soul rest in perfect peace.

we appreciate you learning more about my father, and any help that you can offer. Thank you.