I was 16 when my mother died

Hon. Michael Baafi Okyere, Member of Parliament for New Juaben South, has reflected on his formative years, offering an emotional glimpse into his upbringing in the Eastern Region.
Born into a polygamous home, he revealed that his mother was the only educated wife among his father’s several partners, a fact that shaped both his worldview and his determination to succeed.
“My mother was the only educated wife of my father. We are four on my mother’s side, and we are so different from our other siblings,” he shared on Joy Prime monitored by MyNewsGh.
His mother’s influence was profound but tragically short-lived. “I was only 16 years when my mother died. I had just finished secondary school, and I was always with her,” he said softly.
“Anywhere, my home, my office, you’ll always see my mother’s picture first. I believe she’s always around.”
Despite growing up in Sudai, a community he described as “not known for education,” Drops defied the odds. “A lot of people dropped out from school. It was rare to see someone like me. Only a few made it through.”
Balancing school with his passion for sports, he excelled in both football and table tennis, the latter of which remains a lifelong hobby.
“I still play,” he added with a smile. For Drops, his mother’s faith in education remains the foundation of every achievement he has built since her passing.