I got to know Marlon when he was admitted to the University of Ghana and assigned to Mensah Sarbah Hall Annex 2 popularly called Okponglo Republic in University circles.
He was given Room 105 and I was in Room 104. We therefore became neighbours.
Soon after a strong bond of friendship developed between us.
We had a lot in common.
Marlon was a very proud Voltarian as I was and even more particularly proud of his homeland Akpafu.
We resisted the dominance of Twi Language on Campus and the assumption among many at the time that everybody spoke Twi even though Marlon was much better at Twi than I was.
Our friendship grew to the extent that we made our Room keys available to each other and whatever food and provisions we had individually became available and accessible to any of us.
Marlon was very good at argument and debate and would make clever, logical and persuasive submissions as we often did at the JCR.
We also realized that we shared the same liberal, democratic and political ideas and beliefs in an era afflicted with coup d’etats.
It was no wonder then that we found ourselves members of NPP.
Marlon was so respectful to me as his Senior and very protective of me that you dare not say anything offensive to me.
When it was time to elect a new Vice Chancellor for the Okponglo Republic as the informal tradition of Sarbah Annex 2 was at the time Marlon insisted I offer myself for the position. He single handedly mobilized support for me and I was elected the Vice Chancellor of Okponglo Republic for the 1980/81 academic year.
We remain in close contact even after he left to settle in the UK until he returned to Ghana for the love of country and the NPP.
Until his painful demise Marlon still calls me Vice Chancellor.
Marlon I will miss and forever remember the bond of friendship, mutual respect and political ideas we shared over the years.
We have not concluded the discussions we had on a lot of issues and I was particularly happy when the President nominated you as DCE for SALL and subsequent confirmation to start work.
I knew you will find a way to make your vision for SALL a reality because I knew your openness to all and above all your humble capacity to learn from everybody high and low.
But Alas! Alas! Alas!
Marlon my faithful and honest friend. Rest In Peace until we meet in the Resurrection.
“Those we Love don’t go away, they walk beside us every day Unseen, Unheard but always Near, still Loved, still Missed and very Dear
