Short Life History of Mrs. Effie Bondzie Ayayee

28th Feb 1952  to 7th October 2015

“They whom we love and lost are no longer where they were before. They are now wherever we are”.  St John Chrystotom

The late Mrs. Effie Bondzie Ayayee was born on Friday, the 28th of February 1952 at Anomabu in the Central Region of Ghana. She was the older of two children.Her parents were the late Mr. Bortsi Ampim Bonney, a Catechist, and Mrs. Mary Efua Bonney. Her father being a catechist and as was the practice in those times had his surname anglicised to make it easier for the church to spell
and pronounce. Effie and her only brother Dr.Victor Kwamena Bentum Bondzie, carry the original spelling and pronunciation of their family name- Bondzie.

Education

Effie started her academic journey early: as a young -10year- old girl, she was sent away to highly esteemed boarding school –Mmofaturo in Kumasi. She then went on to the prestigious Wesley Girls’ School in Cape-Coast from1965- 1970. She continued to Winneba Training College where she trained as a Certificate A-Post Secondary School Teacher from 1970-1972. She did not rest on her laurels but proceeded to do specialist teacher training at the Specialist Training College (now the University of Education) Winneba, on study leave, from 1973 to 1977.

Work Life

“What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains immortal” - Albert Pike.

As a teacher, Effie contributed greatly to the education system in Ghana having taught in several primary and High schools. She started her work life as a teacher at the Methodist Boys School in Winneba 1972 to 1973. She taught Home Science (Home Economics) at Mfantsiman Girls’ Secondary School, from 1977 to 1983, Apam Secondary School 1983-1986, and O’Reilley Secondary School in Accra from 1986 to 1987. From 1986 to 1997 she was appointed to and worked at the Association International School, Accra as the Headmistress (Principal) with the rank of Assistant Director.She was also Headmistress of Bethel’1’Basic School in Accra, 1997 to 2006 as well as Abelenkpe Junior High School, 2006 to 2010.

In 2010 she was posted to the Ayawaso East Sub-Metro Education Office as Deputy Director-in- Charge a post she held until she retired in 2013. At retirement, she had lived, worked and taught in Schools in Accra for 27 years.


Church life

Effie was not only an educationist she was also greatly involved in activities of the Methodist Church, Madina Circuit which is no surprise being the daughter of a catechist. In Accra, she was one of the founding members of Immanuel Methodist Church, East Airport offering the use of the classrooms and premises of Association International School for church service. She was part of the choir and a Sunday School teacher. During her time there she coordinated the Sunday School's Easter, Harvest  and Christmas pageants. She was also also part of the Women's Fellowship. 

She left Immanuel Methodist to find a home in the Ebenezer Methodist Church at Madina in 2009, under the Class Leader Madam Rebecca Ehuma. She became Assistant Leader with fully paid up tithes. She was also a paid up Card holding member of the Ebenezer Welfare Society under the Class-leadership of Mr. Joseph Kwame Adjei.

A woman of substance

In 2003, Association International School honoured her with a citation for pioneering the Junior High School education system in the shool. The citation also mentioned her continuous devotion to her vocation. In 2014, TV Africa, gave her recognition as an African Woman of Substance (Obaa Mbo) for her contribution in Education and the Literary Arts. 

Entrepreneur ‘par excellence’

Mrs. Effie Bondzie- Ayayee was not only an educationist and Church woman, she was also a businesswoman. Throughout her life, Effie was always involved with something commercial. She was an entrepreneur ‘par excellence’. In 2006, paying tribute to her late mother she wrote,” (she) would wake up the whole household to bake bread, fry doughnuts for sale’’ “She was an astute businesswoman and very much in charge of her household and ‘other’ businesses”. ”Sewing to sell to clients, keeping poultry.”Just like her mother before her, Effie did all that and more, she made and sold Batik. There was nothing that was beyond this astute businesswoman. She also ventured into the property market.

Wife and Mother

In 1979, while teaching at Mfantsiman Girls Secondary in Saltpond, she met her then husband- to- be Ellis who was then teaching at Winneba Secondary School.  In1982, they got married after having gone through the customary rites. The rest is History. Out of their union came three children-a daughter Eyram Deede Ayayee, a son, Ayitey Elikplim Ayayee and another daughter Korkoi Akpene Bortsiwa Ayayee. Even though Mrs. Effie Ayayee has a permanent Residential status in the Republic of South Africa as spouse, she chose to live in Ghana, initially, to give their children a permanent and stable home. She made extended visits to South Africa from time to time: in August 2002, in 2005, from November 2009 to February 24, 2010.

 On September 13, 2015 she came for a visit which turned out to be her final one. After 35 years of marriage, at dawn on 7th of October, after a short illness, she received the final call home to God’s Glory and she obeyed.

“And we are not afraid, but are content to die for then we will be home with the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 5:8

May her soul be granted God's grace.