Nii Ankrah Amponsah of blessed memory, the grandson of Mantse Amponsah, Otublohum Mantse who reigned from “1901 to 1918” got married to the Grace Otobia Amoo and were blessed with Naa Densua on December 12, 1948, the first among 4 siblings.

Naa Densua had her primary school education at Apenkwa Presby Primary School and proceeded to Weija Local Authority Middle School in 1965 to obtain her Middle School Leaving Certificate. Whilst in school, she was an extra ordinary volley ball player. She dazzled the crowd whenever she was on the field to play. Naa Densua excelled in both her academic and field work to the admiration of teachers and colleagues.

Indeed, her dream was to become a professional tutor due to her ability to break down and explain complex issues with ease, but circumstances and the strong desire from the mum to join her that early in business changed the tide. Although she sometimes found it worrying especially with her brilliance in class, little did she know it was part of the grooming and preparation for later life.Hard work, truthfulness, honesty, respect for all, caring for one another, love for all, fairness, striving to survive in spite of the odds, fear of the Lord, were some but few of the tenets she acquired from her mum, Otobia Amoo during her childhood through to adult life.

With her mum’s keen interest in food and catering business, she was enrolled into the Domestic Science School in Accra where she graduated with a certificate in Food Science. Having successfully acquired the license in Food Science and being the first among the siblings, her mother drafted her into the catering business as her second in command. As smart and hardworking as she was and her mum also possessing fundamental business acumen they transformed the business from just provision of catering services into distribution of food items otherwise referred to as essential commodities during the Kutu Acheampong’s regime. She managed to secure food distribution rights from Tema Food Complex, GNTC, SD Karam under the essential commodities distribution business. As family centered as she was, Naa Densua managed to draft close family relationships into the business.

The business was taken a notch higher when they secured the license to be sole distributors of flour and sugar in the Ablekuma North District, Zone 13.Almighty Zone 13 by far was one of the most active zones among the lot. Her mother, Maa Grace was easily identified as “Densua Nye” (Densua’s mother) just because of the zeal and support Naa Densua gave to the business.

When the essential commodities business was phased out in the early 80’s, Naa Densua re-located from Odorkor to Official Town to revamp her catering business specializing in bread and other flour-related foods.

In 1993, Naa Densua re-located to Lartebiorkorshie with her late husband Jonas Nartey Tetteh and the family. Through the support of the late J. N. Tetteh, the catering business was formally incorporated under the name Lizytet Bakery and Catering Services, specializing in the provision of food at social events and supply to corporate organizations on request. Naa Densua remained the CEO of Lizytet Bakery until her demise.

Family Life

Although Naa Densua was blessed with 4 biological children, motherhood in her vocabulary went beyond the immediate family. Her love and interest in the extended family was beyond measure. Most of her nephews, nieces, cousins and children of friends who stayed with her can attest to Naa Densua motherhood traits.

The majority gathered here today can attest to her super human motherly love. There is no point trumpeting how she benevolently touched mankind, but those of us who came into contact with her under various circumstances can attest confidently; whilst some referred to her as a refuge in times of hardship, others described her as a provider of shelter, whereas others saw in her true friendship and a trustworthy icon. Indeed, the family was overwhelmed by the great tributes that poured in at her residence after her demise.

Her basic virtues included truthfulness, humility, love for each other, seeking each other’s interest, living in peace and harmony, refraining from backbiting. What was wrong to Mrs. Tetteh was wrong and can never be half-truth; she will say it without fear or favor. These virtues sometimes made it difficult for her to be accepted in certain quarters in society, but she cared less.Those of us who lived and studied under her feet can attest to how these principles have impacted our lives.

Her definition of sacrifice defied logic, to Naa Densua sacrifice was not just about giving something, but giving your all and hoping for survival. Sacrifice to her is when what you have left after giving is not enough to carry you through. It will take months if not years if we asked those whose lives she touched to share their respective benevolent experiences with Maa Lizzie.

Her extended family was of immense importance to her and she always fought tooth and nail to hold the family together and in-check some family members disliked her approach and style but to her, fairness, honesty, selflessness and seeking for each other’s interest in the family must be the hallmark.She is but of few words during family meetings but her words had always gone deep and far in addressing complex issues. She never fought and clamored for leadership roles in society or within the family but her demeanor, disposition and wisdom gave her seat at the table of elders. You may dislike her forthrightness and boldness in speaking her mind, but that was Naa Densua. How many times didn’t she seek the interest of the sick and needy in the family, how many times didn’t she deny herself of basic needs to seek the interest of family members and cater for their needs, how many times didn’t she travel far and near to offer support to the family.

Naa Densua, through dint of hard work, commitment, negotiation and overwhelming interest in family affairs managed to pull the extended family together on January 1, 2021 in a maiden extended family gathering. This was an event instituted by her mother for the close family, but had not been held in well over 35 years and not to the level of the extended paternal and maternal families. The gathering brought so much joy and excitement to her, “nothing compares to a family, let’s make a conscious effort to have this gathering twice a year and the bond among us will blossom like never before”–these were her closing remarks during the meeting. Was it a farewell message after fulfilling her desires? Christ knoweth the answer.

Christian Life

We cannot close the chapter on Mrs.Tetteh’s memoir without touching on her passion for the Lord’s work. Mrs.Tetteh was a born and bred Presbyterian and she remained a staunch Presbyterian for 72 years. Together with Mrs. Florence Bentil, Ms. Matilda Lamptey, Mr. Gibson Zelevor, Mr. Ransford, Mr. Eric Acquaa, just to mention a few under the tutelage of Mr. Seth Larmie, they were the toast of Odorkor Presby Church Choir in the late 60’s through the late 70’s under the guidance of Mrs. Acquaaye-Nortey. When she re-located to Odorkor-Official Town in the early 80’s she joined the North Darkuman Congregation which was then at its infant stage, together with Catechist Korboe, Rev. Baffour Owusu Gyimah, Rev. Isaac Gadri, Mr. Noi, Madam Favour Dagadu, Madam Grace Adjetey, Madam. Margaret Mpare, just to mention a few, relentlessly pushed the congregation to higher heights.Her love and hunger for the Lord’s work was beyond what one could ever imagine- she was a firm believer in Matthew 6:33 and made sure her entire household lived by that principle.

Mrs. Naa Densua Tetteh’s passion for the Lord’s work was further heightened when she re-located to Lartebiorkorshie in the early 90’s, joined the Bethel Congregation, Soko and later joined the Max Dodu Congregation in Lartebiokorshie. She again endeared herself to the service of the Lord as always. She served the Lord diligently under the following District Ministers; Rev. I. T. Sackey, Rev. Doku, Rev. Djeagu, Rev. Ollenu and Rev. Adjei Nortey. The welfare of Max Dodu and soul winning remained some of her strongest desires. Mrs. Tetteh also believed in keeping the house of the Lord habitable and welcoming to the soul, and was constantly pre-occupied with the beautification of the Max Dodu auditorium with flowers.

One significant and most recent feat worth mentioning was her effort in single handedly financing fumigation of most of the congregations in the Lartebiorkorshie District when the President asked churches to re-open last year after the pandemic lock down.

Aside supporting the church as an institution Naa Densua took keen interest in the welfare of member and Agents of the church both within the Max Dodu congregation and the Lartebiorkorshie District at large. She believed strongly that whatever blessing came her way was the doing of the Lord and the Lord should have a taste of His blessing ungrudgingly and without measure. The last time she hosted the Reverend Ministers, Agents and their families to break bread in her home was on that same January 1, 2021when she held the extended family gathering. She insisted on organizing the two on the same day when her children advised she split the two to ease the pressure on her. She retorted “Indeed I need my family to be together and united than ever but I need the Lord much more to bless and shepherd this family, the two events will be held together on the same day” my command and so shall it be, it’s either you show up or you don’t. A typical Mrs.Tetteh’s military style anytime she needs the job done.

She occupied key positions and played instrumental roles during her days with the Lartebiorkorshie Presbyterian Church; President of the District Women’s Fellowship, Treasurer for the District Women’s Fellowship, Senior Presbyter of the Max Dodu Congregation, President of the local Women’s Fellowship.

Her love for hymns and songs made her accept request to serve as patron for the many church choirs within and outside the Presbyterian family.

Naa Densua Tetteh was survived by her 4 children Diana, Edward, Felix and Sylvia with 13 grannies.