In Loving Memory of Ex-WO1 Raphael Yaovi Deku (1944-2025)

Biography

A Life of Service, Faith and Quiet Strength

Early Life and Education

Raphael Yaovi Deku was born on 29th April 1944, in Kléme Aflao. He was the first of nine children born to Mishiso Deku and Adonor Avunyra Adorsoo, both of blessed memory. From an early age, he carried the responsibilities that often accompany firstborns, such as imbuing discipline, sacrifice, and perseverance within a close-knit family.

His early education began in Assahoun in the Republic of Togo. In 1954, following the return of the family to Ghana, he was enrolled at Avoeme RC Primary School in Aflao where he continued his elementary education. Through diligence and commitment, he went on to complete Standard Seven education at Avoeme RC Middle School in Aflao, obtaining the Middle School Leaving Certificate in 1960.

Apprenticeship and Technical Training

Young Yaovi aspired to become an engineer. With the support of his uncle and his devoted mother, Yaovi began a four-year apprenticeship in Automobile Mechanics at a vehicle workshop in Accra. His work ethic, discipline, and eagerness to learn quickly distinguished him. He enrolled in evening classes at the Accra Technical Institute and successfully passed the City and Guilds of London Institute Intermediate, completing both his academic and apprenticeship training with distinction in 1965.

A Calling to Military Service

Before officially joining the military, Yaovi dedicated himself to the service of God. In 1967, he joined the St Catherine Catholic Church Choir in Burma Camp, where his deep bass voice, commitment, and faith quickly became evident. His consistency caught the attention of the Choir Director, Colonel J. P. K. Mensah Brown, who also served as Deputy Director of Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.

One defining moment occurred during choir practice when the Director asked, "Young man, what is your rank in the Army?" The choir responded unanimously that he was not a soldier. When asked whether he wished to become one, the choir again answered in unison. That simple exchange marked the beginning of his military journey.

On 26th April 1971, Raphael Yaovi Deku was formally recruited into the Ghana Army, a moment he later regarded as a divine affirmation of Proverbs 18:16.

Military Career and International Service

After completion of the military recruit training, Young Yaovi was posted to the General Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (GEME). Throughout his service, he consistently pursued professional growth. In 1982, he obtained his Ordinary Level Certificate from the School of Advanced Education at the Military Academy and Training School (MATS) after which he pursued the City and Guilds Certificates in Motor Vehicle Engineering.

The military sponsored him for Specialized Training in Armoured Vehicles - the Mowag Piranha in Switzerland. He was subsequently posted to the Recce Regiment, where he handled complex armoured vehicle repair and maintenance. He also served as a part-time instructor at the Base Workshop EME.

"...with limited resources and challenge in critical operations, you need to be brutally decisive, prompt and aggressively spot-on through innovation and creativity in keeping the armoured vehicle functional to the task."

His expertise extended beyond Ghana's borders. He participated in United Nations peacekeeping missions, including deployments to the United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF) in Sinai Desert in Egypt, United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), and Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) in Liberia.

Ex-WO1 Raphael Yaovi Deku served with dedication at multiple posts including the Ministry of Defence (Records), 1 MT Battalion, 4 MT Coy, 3 Station Workshop, Forces Headquarters, PNDC Headquarters, and finally the Recce Headquarters, where he served with distinction for over fifteen years.

On 24 January 2003, Ex-WO1 Raphael Yaovi Deku was honourably discharged. However, in recognition of his technical expertise, he was retained on contract by the Military to undertake Special Missions for a few more years.

Life After Military Service

Life after the army was marked by active social engagement, networking, and a deep commitment to giving back to society. He remained passionately involved in the Ewe 'Haborb' group and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Party, where he rose to the position of Branch Chairman of St. Francis Catholic Primary School.

His love for God's work was especially evident in his devotion to the Church. He served faithfully as Choir President for two consecutive terms at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, Ashaley Botwe. In all his engagements, he consistently projected peace, respect, unity, and love for one another.

Marriage and Family Life

Yaovi met Victoria Adede, a professional teacher at Osu Salem '2' Primary School, in Accra. Their union was first sealed in a traditional ceremony and blessed with six children. On 11th February 1989, they solemnised their marriage at the St. Catherine Catholic Church.

Victoria, fondly called "Vic", was the anchor and love of his life. Her passing in May 2005 left an irreplaceable void, yet Yaovi pressed on with quiet resilience. He later married Yawa, who brought him renewed companionship and cared for him devotedly until his home call on 24 December 2025.

Conclusion: A Life Completed

Though his voice may now be silent, his song endures and his kindness lives on. His love, sacrifice, and unyielding devotion to his family cannot be erased. After decades of service, steadfast faith, and song, his final words echoed with quiet triumph, "Eo" (it is finished).

"Come, come, ye saints, no toil nor labour fear;
But with joy wend your way;
Though hard to you this journey may appear,
Grace shall be as your day.
God's hand of love shall be your guide,
And all your needs He will provide;
His power shall every foe dispel—
All is well. All is well."

Truly, All is well. Rest well.

Tributes

Words of Love and Remembrance

Tribute to My Beloved Husband

By His Wife, Yawa

"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away." — Revelation 21:1

I am here today to honour the life of my husband. Though our hearts are grieving, we find comfort in the assurance that he has left this earthly life for the glorious new heaven prepared by God for His faithful children.

Efo, as I lovingly called him, lived a life of sacrifice. His love was not shown in words alone, but in the quiet, steady actions that defined who he was. He carried life's burdens with resilience and faced every challenge with courage, always trusting God even when the road ahead was uncertain.

When you suddenly became ill in December 2025 and were on admission, I believed, as I had, through the many storms you overcame, that you would be well again and come home for Christmas. I held on to that hope. But as the Lord wanted it, that was not to be. He called you home, to a place where there is no pain, no fear, and no suffering.

Though your physical presence is no longer with us, your spirit, your teachings, and your love remain deeply etched in our hearts. My heart aches at your absence in ways words cannot fully express. Yet I hold on to God's promise in Revelation 21:4, that "He will wipe every tear from our eyes."

Until we meet again. Rest in perfect peace. He de nyuie.

Yawa

Tribute by Children

Francis, Anthony, Esinam, Celestina & Mawunyo

"The righteous perish, and no one takes it to heart; the devout are taken away, and no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil. Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death." — Isaiah 57:1–2

"Some men leave footprints in the sand, but our father left them in our hearts." Today, we stand before you with grateful hearts, though heavy with loss, to honour the life of our beloved Daddy.

We grew up in Burma Camp, where Daddy served diligently in the military. Life in the barracks shaped our childhood in many ways. After his retirement, we moved to Ashale-Botwe, but the discipline and structure of military life never left our home.

Daddy was stern, very stern. He was particularly hard on his boys and did not spare them the rod when he felt discipline was necessary. But he never disciplined his girls with his hand or a cane. Yet strangely, even though Daddy never beat his girls, Esi, Cele and Mawunyo feared him more than anyone. All it took was one disapproving look, and if you were unfortunate enough to hear him say, "Hey!" you immediately felt like disappearing.

Daddy loved music. He was a committed member of the Catholic Church Choir for as long as we could remember. His baritone voice was rich and exceptional. We fondly remember teasing him whenever he had to sing in Twi, a language he could not speak!

He was a peace lover and a peacemaker. Daddy hardly held grudges. He could be upset with you one moment and, in the next, speak to you lovingly as though nothing had happened.

Daddy loved his military career, especially his armoured vehicles. It was more than a profession, it was a passion. We remember when he returned from a peacekeeping mission wounded and limping. Though he recovered, he lived with a knee problem for the rest of his life.

When we visited him at the hospital, he looked fine. We prayed together. Esinam and Celestina asked him to sing his favourite song, and once again the familiar baritone voice was heard:

"My God loves me,
His love will never end.
He rests within my heart,
For my God loves me."

Rest well, Daddy. We will forever love you.

Francis

Anthony

Esinam

Celestina

Mawunyo

Tribute to Grandpa

By the Grandchildren

"A good man leaves an inheritance for His Children's Children" — Proverbs 13:22

We never imagined that Grandpa would leave us this soon because he had a very special place in everyone's heart. We always looked forward to his birthday and Christmas but as stated in the Bible, everyone will be called back home to the Father in Heaven when their time is due.

The pain we felt on the day you fatefully departed was truly unbearable, and mere words cannot describe how we felt when we heard the news, especially as it occurred on the eve of Christmas, a time when the family usually came together to celebrate.

We will never forget the life stories you shared with us, especially those about the military that always fascinated us, nor the morals that touched every part of our lives year after year. We cherish the words of encouragement you gave us and the hope you had for us to become people at the top of society.

You were a precious gift from above to all of us. Even in your weakened state, you still tried to do as much as you could for us. Thank you for instilling the fear of God in your children, our parents, uncles, aunts, and in us, the grandchildren.

There is a saying that 'a man is not dead unless he's forgotten', so to us, you are not dead because we will never forget, we will always remember you.

Rest easy, Grandpa. Rest in perfect peace.

The Grandchildren

Tribute by Brothers and Sisters

Man born of a woman must surely depart one day into eternity and that is the loss of our dear brother Ex Warrant Officer Class one Raphael Yaovi Deku. It was so sudden and unbelievable. Death indeed is a thief; it has snatched our dear brother like an eagle does to unsuspecting prey.

Today, we gather not just with heavy hearts, but also with hearts full of gratitude for the gift that God gave us in you. As your brothers and sisters, we are still coming to terms with the reality that you are no longer with us physically. Yet we rejoice in the truth of God's word that assures us that you are now resting in the presence of the Most High.

Uncle, you were more than a brother to us, you were a source of strength, wisdom and unwavering love. You have always been there for your siblings, opening not only your home but your heart to us. When we lost our mother, you did not hesitate. Though newly married, you and your young wife, Sister (Victoria Adede) took on the added responsibility of becoming family to us in every way.

All six of us, at one time or another, lived with you and came under your tutelage as you prepared us for the journey of life. In your home we found discipline, direction, comfort, and love.

One statement he normally made under such conflict situations was "dadavi Tsikpl o bna mee nawo" to wit, the bond between Siblings of the same mother is unbreakable.

As we say goodbye for now, we do so with thanksgiving for the memories, for the laughter and the bond that death cannot break. You fought the good fight; you finished the race and you kept the faith. Rest in the eternal embrace of our heavenly Father until we meet again.

Efo Xede Nyuie. Wò luv nedzudz le nutifafa me.

Tribute by Nieces and Nephews

"Now the labourer's task is over; now the battle day is past; now upon the farther shore lands the voyager at last: Father, in thy gracious keeping, leave we now thy servant" — John Ellerton

Uncle, with profound sorrow and sadness in our hearts, we stand here to bid you farewell and to celebrate your remarkable life well lived here on earth. You were an uncle in a million, and your sudden death came as a shock to us all.

No, there will never be another you!
Who's going to fill your shoes?
Who's going to stand that tall?
Who's going to bind us together?
Lord, I wonder who's going to fill his shoes.

Uncle Raphael, you were more than just an uncle - you were a guiding light, a safe haven, and a constant source of love. Your welcoming spirit opened your home and heart to us, making us feel seen, heard, and loved. Your wise counsel and listening ear helped shape us into who we are today.

You instilled in us the value of education, encouraging us to strive for excellence and pursue our dreams. You took your role as an uncle seriously. From graduations to weddings, naming ceremonies, and more, you were there, cheering us on and celebrating our milestones.

You always emphasized the importance of family unity. Thus, you always end each conversation with us with the phrase: 'Mià w nvi hee, mì le nvishie', and we'll carry that lesson with us until the end of time.

Uncle Raph, through our numerous discussions, you said, "One day, you would challenge those who doubted you, and that they will be among the witnesses, and they will clap for you, and you will forget that they once criticised you". Where is the lie?

Rest in peace, dear Uncle Yaovi. Until we meet again, fare thee well. Amen.

Tribute by the In-Laws

Eric, Richard, Victoria & Sylvia

"Precious in the sight of the Lord is the Death of His Faithful Servant" — Psalms 116:15

Today, we celebrate your life for the love you showed us for all the years we had with you as our father-in-law. You welcomed us not just into your home, but into your life. You did not try to impress or look down upon us in any way. You allowed things to unfold naturally.

Your nature made it possible for us to develop a close relationship with you. Your Godly advice to us anytime we call or visit will continue to be our guide. You treated us as your own and it was easy for us to call you and have a conversation with you.

You also had an incredible capacity at your age to give a helping hand whenever the need arose. Till the time you left us, you were assisting in bringing some of your grandchildren home from school. A task you did with so much pride and joy.

Now that you are gone, there is an empty space that feels both quiet and profound. Our get-together every Christmas with you and your grandchildren is going to be missed greatly.

A gentle soldier, a lovely father, thank you for raising wonderful children who are our spouses.

Who wouldn't like to have a father-in-law like you? You may be gone, but you are forever in our hearts. Rest well Daddy, till we meet again.

Eric

Richard

Victoria

Sylvia

Tribute by St. Catherine Catholic Church Choir

Burma Camp

We gather today to celebrate the life of a true hero, Ex WO1 Raphael Deku, a dedicated soldier, and a passionate chorister. He joined the St Catherine Catholic Church Choir many years ago at the old site, now the Pension House.

He was a mechanic and a civilian Defense Staff Worker with 1MT Battalion now the Defense MT Battalion. He was recruited into the Army and posted to the Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (EME) CORPS and came back to the choir to continue his talent of singing.

He served with honor in the Ghana Armed Forces, defending our nation with courage and distinction. His voice, once raised in battle, now echoes in the harmonies of the St Catherine Catholic Church Choir, where he found solace and purpose.

He played roles in the Church as a Lay Reader and was reading the Gospel in Ewe his mother tongue. Again, he was a Tenor singer and became a bass singer years later. Ex WO1 Deku was very instrumental in the Choir until he retired from the Armed Forces.

'Akpakpai' as he was affectionately called will forever live in our hearts.

Rest in peace, Ex WO1 Deku Raphael. Your service and song will never be forgotten.

GACCCA; With Heart and Voice
LAUDATE; Dominum!!!

Tribute by St. Francis of Assisi Parish and Main Choir

Ashale Botwe

"...Blessed are the dead who from now on, die in the Lord. ... they will rest from their labors, for their deeds shall follow them." — Revelation 14:13

The Parish Priest, the Parish Pastoral Council, members of the St. Francis of Assisi Parish and the St. Francis of Assisi Main Choir of Ashaley Botwe grieve with the family of our beloved member, the late W.O.1 Raphael Yao Deku.

The late W.O.1 Raphael Yao Deku, who we affectionately called W.O or Old Soldier dedicated himself to St. Francis of Assisi Parish. He contributed his quota to the development of the Church, financially, musically and security wise.

After the reformation of the choir, WO became Choir President and was assisted by Miss Rosemond Hinson, with Mr. Jesse Wilson as our then Choirmaster. True to his military background, he was an upright man, honest, fair, affable, friendly and surprisingly very humble.

The Main Choir is proud of old soldier for all the roles he played including being a Bass Singer, Choir President, Choir Father, Counsellor, Ex-Officio member of the Executive Committee and more particularly for instilling discipline and unity among the members.

Until he was struck down by sickness, WO attended and participated in almost every activity or programme of the Church or the Choir. Little did we know that our visit to him on the 23rd of December 2025 was to be the last moment we would share together.

We salute you in your usual sarcastic manner: "According to the yam, the cassava no don!! And again, Boys you must know better!!!"

We believe you have gone ahead to join the heavenly host of choirs to continue the praise of Yahweh.

W.O! We love you more, but your Maker loves you most. Fare thee well. Rest in perfect peace. Amen!

Tribute by the NDC, Adentan Constituency

"A giant tree has fallen."

The NDC Adentan Constituency mourns the profound loss of a dedicated cadre, Comrade WO1 Raphael Deku. Since joining the Congress in 2011, WO1 distinguished himself as a pillar of loyalty and grassroots mobilization.

As the Branch Chairman of St. Francis Catholic Primary School, he was instrumental in the reorganization and structural stability of our party at the local level.

Beyond his official duties, WO1 was a father figure and a sagacious counselor. He was a man of peace whose doors were always open to any comrade seeking advice or mediation. His sudden departure has left a void in our hearts and our political machinery that will be difficult to fill.

We have lost a remarkable man, a disciplined soldier of the revolution, and a true friend.

Comrade Raphael, fare thee well. WO1, Hede nyuie. May your soul rest in eternal peace.