Celebrate and commemorate Tetteh Quarshie

Tetteh Quarshie (GN)
Story: Alice Aryeetey
TWO traditional rulers have begun an initiative to celebrate and recognise the achievement of Tetteh Quarshie in the era of cocoa production in the country.
The two rulers, Nii Nortey Owuo III,Chief of Osu and the Mamponghene, Osabarima Kwame Otu Darte III, at a ceremony to begin a yearlong programme to be held next year in memory of Tetteh Quarshie , called on the government and the people of Ghana to celebrate and commemorate Tetteh Quarshie for the honour he did the country.
Tetteh Quarshie was a pre-independence Ghanaian agriculturist who first introduced the cocoa crop to the country in 1879, by bringing its seeds on his return from Fernando Po.The crop has since been the bedrock of the country’s economy.
He had also been the most successful entrepreneur the country had ever produced.
 On his return to the country, Tetteh Quarshie planted the seeds in Accra, but did not yield any fruits. He therefore decided to go back to Mampong, where he worked as a Blacksmith, to plant the cocoa beans, and that was successful.
Many equally important historic Ghanaians who have contributed to the country’s development has always been remembered and celebrated, but according to the chiefs, Tetteh Quarshie has not been given the needed  commemoration.
The cocoa crop he brought to the country has been a major export crop of the Ghanaian economy.
Speaking at the ceremony, Nii Owuo III stated that cocoa had been of help to sustaining the country’s development, for which the one who first introduced it into the country needed to be remembered.
He also stated that if it had  not been Tetteh Quarshie who brought the fruit to Ghana, the nation would have suffered greatly despite the oil production.
“Even if we have found oil, oil cannot do what cocoa has done for the country”, he said.
He expressed his gratitude to the Mamponghene, who brought up the initiative,and paid him (Nii Owuo III) a visit as well, to discuss how and what should be done in memory of Tetteh Quarshie.
Nii Owuo III further advised the youth of Osu and all Ghanaians to uphold the unity that had transpired between Osu and Mampong Akuapem, and to also urged other chiefs and people in the country emulate what the two chiefs of the Osu and Mampong Akuapem communities  had done, since that would transform into bringing peace and unity among all ethnic groups and Ghanaians which would in turn aid in developing the country.
“This should have been done long ago, but we will start for our predecessors to continue”, he added.
Osabarima Kwame Otu Darte III stated that there was the need for a day to be set to celebrate and commemorate Tetteh Quarshie. He therefore appealed to all Ghanaians and the government to help in making that possible since Tetteh Quarshie had contributed greatly to the nation’s economic growth.
A yearlong programme had been tabulated for the celebration, but would begin with a memorial church service at Osu to mark his death. The chiefs would also meet with government officials to discuss the issue of setting a day to celebrate Tetteh Quarshie, as well as what would be done in memory of him.
In attendance was the elders and some people of the Mampong Akuapem who paid a brotherly visit to the Osu chief to plan the celebration of Tetteh Quarshie, and other sub chiefs and people of Osu.