Burial of the late Madam Cecilia Printson Newman, a retired Consular Assistant of Embassy of Ghana took place in Berlin Friday, September 24.
Hundreds of Ghanaians, amongst them, His Excellency Mr Paul King Aryene, Ghana`s Ambassador to Germany and some members of his staff attended the solemn burial ceremony of the former long-serving staff member affectionately known by many as Auntie Ceci.
Clad in the traditional mourning Dress of black and red, the mourners were led in prayers by Evangelist Tieku Darkwa of Bethel Revival Church. He was assisted by Prophetess Thompson who flew in from London.
Most of the assembled mourners could not control their tears as the closing prayers were said which was preceded by the Hymn “Abide With Me”. The casket was then carried by the pall bearers to its final resting place.
In a Tribute on behalf of personnel of the Ghana Embassy in Berlin praised Ambassador Aryene praised the late Cecilia Printson Newman as a dedicated worker. “Auntie Ceci as she was affectionately called performed her assigned duties and role meritoriously throughout the period of service to the Mission and the Government of Ghana,” the ambassador wrote.
He said it was with deep pain and sorrow that “we recollect your 34 years of meritorious service to this Mission and the Government of Ghana.”
Cecilia Efua Newman was Born on 27 November 1944 at Fante Newtown, Kumasi to Charles Emmanuel Newman of Prampram & Egga and Hilda Aggrey of Atwaa & Biriwa both of blessed memory.
Cecilia had her primary education at K.O. Methodist Kumasi in 1956 and middle school at Asawasi Methodist Girls between 1957 and 1961. She entered Mfantsiman Girls Secondary in Cape Coast as one of the few girls who started the school.
After successfully completing her secondary education, Cecilia worked with her grandmother the late Mrs Appiah in her bakery business. Cecilia helped in transforming the shop to become one of the best in the Ashanti Region.
When Ghana opened her new embassy in the former German Democratic Republic in 1973, Cecilia was one of the few staffs employed to manage the facility with Ambassador Afful. She worked at the Embassy till she attained the pension age of 65 in November 2009.
A practicing Christian, Cecilia Efua Newman Printson was born into the Methodist faith. She was a regular chorister from her school days. She used to visit the church and gave gifts to the choir of Wesley Cathedral anytime she was in Kumasi. Till her death, she was a “distant member” of the Wesley Methodist in Kumasi.
Madam Cecilia Efua Newman Printson died at the age of 65 in Berlin in August 2010 after a short illness.