Mrs. Ruth Akua Obuame Tettey was born on 2nd August 1961 to Mr. Moses Kwabena Twum Tete and Mrs. Leticia Akua Amene Tete, both of Apirede and deceased. She was the first of three girls born to her parents and of six girls born to her father.

In her early years she lived with her grandmother in Apirede. At the age of six, her dad took her to Akosombo to start her primary education at the Akosombo International School. She was a brilliant pupil and already showed her academic prowess in class five, where she won first prize in the primary school category of a botanical science quiz. She successfully completed her primary education and proceeded to Aburi Girls’ Secondary School in September 1973. She was among the first batch to be admitted to the Irene Anderson Compound.

Even though she successfully qualified for sixth form in a regular secondary school, she had already made up her mind to pursue a career in languages and opted for the “pre-SOT” programme of the School of Translators (SOT), where she underwent her sixth form programme, leading to the four-year translators’ course. As part of that course, she spent one academic year in Senegal for cultural and language immersion. She graduated in 1985 with a Diploma in Translation, whereupon she did her national service at the Institute of Population Studies at Legon.

Ruth was a fiercely independent person, who knew what she wanted in life.  This trait of character led her to pack bag and baggage and leave family and friends behind in Ghana, and venture on a new life in Abidjan, where, she felt, she stood a better chance of growing professionally. There, she worked at the Foreign Bureau of Information Services of the American Embassy as a news monitor and translator.  She was also a freelance translator for the African Development Bank (AfDB) and other international organizations such as the World Bank, UNDP, UNIDO and UNICEF. She had over 28 years’ proven experience in French-English translation, editing and proofreading

While in Abidjan, she was introduced by a friend to Dr. Ernest Kwadwo Obeng Tettey, whom she married at Akosombo in December 1988. They had their firstborn, Yaw Obeng in 1990, Kwabena Twum in 1995 and Amma Otwe in 2000.

Just before the crisis in Abidjan, she moved back to Ghana. Not one to be content with a first degree only, immediately after settling down in Ghana, she pursued and successfully completed a masters’ programme at the Agbogba campus of Wisconsin University. This was during a trying period, where she had to take care of her sick mother until her demise in 2005. When the African Development Bank, where her husband works, had to move to Tunis, the entire family moved there. After eight years in Tunis, the family was on the move again to Johannesburg, where Ernest had been transferred.

Wherever she was, she was fully committed and engaged in her church and children’s educational activities. Like Tabitha in the Bible, Ruth was truly hospitable to family, friends and strangers alike. She loved to entertain and was extremely giving. As a mother, she was gentle and caring and hardly ever raised her voice to reprimand her children. She had such a zest for life. She led a full and fulfilling life as a wife, mother, sister, aunt and friend.

Just after her fiftieth birthday, she was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer. For about four years following her diagnosis, she underwent treatment within and outside Africa, where she had access to the best doctors and medical facilities. While she bravely fought a determined and valiant battle with the disease, she finally succumbed to it on 21 December 2015. Her attitude during her sickness is well captured by her skype entry: ‘Yesoo….I shall not die but I shall live and recount the deeds of the Lord (Psalm 118: 17) and recount, she did! Although her life has cruelly been snatched by the enemy death, Ruth remains alive in the memory of all who had the privilege of knowing her.

She is survived by Ernest, her husband and children, Yaw Obeng, Kwabena Twum and Maame Amma.

May she rest in peace.