Former President John Dramani Mahama has eulogized late Professor Atukwei Okai, describing him as a genius and a unique oral poet.

The Renowned Ghanaian poet, scholar, cultural activist and author died at the Korle Bu Teaching hospital in Accra on Friday July 13, 2018 following a short illness aged 77 according to family.

Former President Mahama in a statement to mourn the late Prof. Okai indicated that he will be remembered as “a genius whose musical poetry was not only spectacular in imagery and clever wordplay, but also natural in how it captured the cadences and rhythm of speech.”

“He was a unique oral poet of our time; a wordsmith whose art was a unique combination of music and dramatization. ‘Lorgorligi Logarithms’ for which he was well known, tickled our cultural fantasies. I was honoured to have him accept me into the Writer’s Association after the publication of my book, ‘My First Coup D’Etat’.I am yet to know anyone who was not delighted after listening to one of those beautiful poetic renditions by Prof., which we are going to miss forever.Prof., like the eponymous ‘Rosimaya’, you have finished our Friday and wrecked the rest of our week,” Mr. Mahama added.

Until his death Prof. Atukwei Okai was the Secretary-General of the Pan African Writers Association of Ghana.

Prof Atukwei Okai won a great number honours both locally and internationally during his illustrious career, and was in June 2007, awarded the national award of Member of the Order of the Volta.