Agooo na mi,

It is with great sadness in our heart that we announce the passing of Mr. Philip Fugar today, September 23, 2009 at 6:00 am GMT in Ghana.

Mr. Philip Fugar was a founding member of Southern Volta Association of Canada, a staunch member of EMAO, the creator and moderator of CEANA, Eweland and Anlosusutialawo forums over the last 10 years.

We will keep all posted on further developments in days and weeks to come when more information becomes available.

He'll surely be missed by some of us.

MAY HE REST IN PEACE.

TRIBUTES

Philip Speaking to Ewe Association Members

TRIBUTE TO PHILIP FUGAR

By  Dr. Padmore Agbemabiese

When we all heard the news of Philip Fugar’s sudden death, our souls lost their voices and we griped our jaws with our palms biting our tongues in the pain of loss. Our tears refused to fall and out of sorrow, we asked the gods, why, why no one ever heard of his illness. We all stood still in the middle of the world's broad field of battle, singing our songs of sorrow: Afika dzie miadetorwo tona yina adzogbe dee, be mor dee.  Friends, if you have tears, loan them to me for Efo Philip’s departure has broken the stem in our fence before the Sun sets on our evening star. By his death we are a family in grief, a people in mourning, citizens of the world of Eweland lost in shock. We all stand in awe united, not only in our desire to pay our respects to Efo Philip, but rather in our need to do so. For such was his extraordinary appeal that anyone and those who never actually met him, feel that they too lost someone close to them.

To those who did not know Efo Philip, he was the very essence of compassion, a man with the sense of urgency for duty towards his country, in a manner and style unequaled; he was a man whose heart is filled with human milk. From every corner of North America and Canada, Philip was a symbol of selfless humanity, a standard bearer of the Ewe nobility and unity. In fact, he was a Ghanaian who transcended nationality and class, and more, he was a man who proved even onto his last breath that love is the virtue we all need in this world of woes. And so, he spent his life to bring people of all walks together to brighten each other’s lives.

When Ewes who found themselves outside home and felt like a fatherless child in North America and a motherless orphan in Canada, they called Efo Philip and he stretched his arms and CEANA was born, when Ewes in Toronto cried he wept and the Ewe Union of Toronto was born. His ambition was to see all Ewes united in love and unity even in the cold arms of winter. To whom shall we go from now, whenever we are engulfed by a raging sea? Who shall we call tomorrow when the twilight and evening bell tolls and the dark fall on our morning glory? I am told we are born fighters where birth marks a beginning and the tombstone a destination. But the angel of Death should have known better; Philip is too young to die, too dear to leave and too caring to abandon his loved ones. Uncle Philip should have died hereafter and there would have been a time for such a word on our lips. He died earlier than expected for us to hear him say his last words. My friends, if the hunter Death's snare catches the climbing monkey, you crawling animals should take care. Death has crawled into our midst, he has snatched away our jewel, yet with our guns in hand, we cannot fire at Death; we are like the bird awatsakpoli we cannot fly away in defence. And so, with a broken heart, we bow to Death into whose arms we finally surrender whatever it was we always chased in life so that he will bring us onto Him who our pain and sufferings He will distill into purity; and removed from this ecstatic struggle of the world we will step through the soul's quixotic looking glass where our body's chaff separates from the soul's grain; it is then that we will feel the comfort of the warm heart of God's gift to us—that of peace, of oneness, of harmony and a love never before grasped on earth.

Hear me now my friends, until his death Philip Fugar was the most engaging and beautiful Prince of Eweland who captured the imagination of his country Ghana and the admiration of the world of all Ewes. Though many of us never met him face to face, yet we knew his special gift was for making the people he met feel special irrespective of their ethnicity, religion, race or color. I once heard him say "Everyone needs to be loved and valued regardless where he comes from and how tall he stands in society." And therein lay his true magic, a man of his people, a brother, an uncle and a friend we never met yet, he made us believe he knew us. It is for this that we give thanks for the life of a man we are so proud to know and call a father, brother, and an uncle, a very unique man whose extraordinary love and devotion to mankind is irreplaceable, a man whose love for each of us will never be extinguished from our minds.

Efo Philip Fugar, may our forefathers who left before you welcome you home; may God reward you for who you are to humanity, and may Abraham, the patriarch of our faith give you a seat by his side.

Rest in Perfect Peace.

I still do not believe brother Philip Fugar is dead. The last time I called him his wife told me he was in Ghana.

Now, to hear that he is no longer with us is a big shock and sadness to my family.May he rest in perpetual peace.
Torgbui Setranah

Wow, what a shocker. Unbelievable. Total sadness to read that he is no more with us in the flesh.  I still have an email he sent me a few weeks ago, and I have not acted on his requestyet. CEANA, Eweland, Anlosusutialawo, Tarso and in fact the whole Volta Region have  lost a great dedicated son.

May the good Lord take him into his kingdom and give him his perpetual peace.

Rest in Peace, Fo Philip.

Seshie Artie

Indeed, I had a shock when I read about the death of my brother and cousin-in-law Philip three days ago.  In fact I waited until now for someone to tell me that, perhaps, it was not real!  But, having waited in vain, I all of a sudden remember that our old folks back home used to say that "EKU NYA MENYE NA ALAKPA NYA O".

This is really a very tragic and shocking sad news, and indeed a heart-breaking news.  The Council has greatly valued and benefitted Philip's wise counsel.  His confidence and momentous support and contributions for the Council have to be cherished, for I am sure that we have all profitted from his devotion, dedication and wisdom.  I join the Council and the whole groups in mourning Philip.

To my dear beloved Cousin Afiwa Alice and the family I send my deepest condolences and I say "ESESE, GAKE ME SESE NA MAWU O".  I sincerely believe that his hope and his dreams will live on.

Peace onto his soul!.

Frank Kalepe

He is sadly gone too soon, indeed!  "Ameadewo dzi vi tsor nukor nee be Ekudolo (Kudolo)."

"Ke nye ya magblor kple kaka de dzi be na, ameyinugbea, Dumega Phillip Akukorku Fugar enor nyui worwor dzi da heyi vasede ku me ke.  Le kpordenume;"

A few weeks ago, the late Dumega Phillip Akukorku Fugar contacted me from Ghana entreating us to assist in helping Togbui Lagbo Kofa III (Head/Leader of Amlade Clan of Anlo and Fia of Anloga) and Mr. Mayor Agbleze (President of Anlo Youth Council) to attend the just ended, well-celebrated and joyous 2009 CEANA Convention in Atlanta, GA.  Due to the short notice that was given to us, this request was not accomplished but postponed until next year's CEANA convention in Washington DC.  Around the same time, the late Efo Phillip Fugar also furnished me with the draft constitution of an Anlo State Development Co-ordinating Council (ANSDECCO) for review and editing.  This was also accomplished and sent to him for further review.

Prior to these and other efforts, the late Efo Phillip Fugar was instrumental in trying to help resolve the Anlo Awoamefia chieftaincy impasse, which subsequently lead to the establishment of our Anlosusutialawo newsgroup, which he spear-headed meritoriously.

That is how well and how much he did serve and continued to serve mankind until his sudden death.

Personally, it therefore came as a shock that he passed away only after a very short period of being sick (within three weeks).

"Miado nuku amenugbe Dumega Phillip Akukorku Fugar dzi kple Ewe hakpanya sia be (play attachment above).  Efo Phillip Fugar, dzudzor le nutifafa me.  Mawu Sogbolisa, adanuwortor si wor asi wor afor la nutor nado dzidzeme fe norpe di nawo."

As per recommendation from Mr. Cornelius Ackumey of Colorado, I would like to add that CEANA should establish a "fund" in Phillip Fugar's name.  His name and deeds should linger on forever!  This is in addition to supporting his funeral and burial.

"Akpe nami.  Miawoe se nya voe."

Kobla Dotse kple pomea, le afe kple gbedzi.

Condolences to the Fugar family for such a great loss. Philip was such a great guy that words alone cannot describe the kind of pillar that he was. When we decided to tackle the Awoamefia problem, Efo Philip contibuted everything that he could afford. He was the vice president of the group and it was during this time that he created the ANLOSUSUTIALAWO discussion group to facilitate our efforts. All of us owe so much to you, Efo Philip. May your  soul rest in peace.

Dr. Dan. Morvey and Family

Ewe Assn. of Georgia

The Ewe Association of Georgia, Inc. and myself convey our deepest sorrow to the family. My little piece of advice. Can we all make it our duty from now onwards to be calling on our brothers and sisters regularly? This sad news is a shocker to me.

You are in peace, Phillip.

Christian Adedze

In Sympathy

we are born fighters
where birth marks a beginning
the tombstone a destination

between them— the quiet whispers of our souls
cached like a secret note
on a quiet journey

and when we finally surrender
whatever it was we always chased
our pain distills
all suffering into purity

removed from this ecstatic struggle
we step through
the soul’s quixotic looking glass
where our body’s chaff separates from the soul’s grain

there we feel the comfort of letting go
into His warm heart
God’s gift to us— of peace, of oneness,
of harmony not grasped until now

May Mawuga and the Ancestors receive the Soul of dear Philip Fugar HomeOur condolences

Padmore E. Agbemabiese Ph.D.
POST OFFICE BOX 29036
COLUMBUS, OHIO 43229
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