BIOGRAPHY
Early Life
Kofi Asimenu was born on July 31st, 1949, in Ashanti Kpoeta to Mr. Fredoline Asimenu and Madam Veronica Abra Bidua. He was the youngest of four siblings, all of whom predeceased him, and are fondly remembered. Tragically, Kofi’s father passed away when he was just a toddler, thus, Kofi barely knew his father throughout his childhood. However, his mother, Madam Abra Bidua, and Theodore Kwasi Asimenu, his older brother remained strong and supportive figure to him. Indeed, he always spoke passionately about this brother, emphasising the significant role he had played as a father figure in his life.
Kofi cherished the wonderful moments he shared with his brother. He followed him wherever he went. Theodore, who was a teacher and later became a headmaster, frequently moved to different towns in the Volta Region, affording Kofi the chance to explore and to become intimately acquainted with the area. Kofi often recalled how these trips to the various towns in the Volta Region provided him an invaluable opportunity that deepened his knowledge of the region.
Did you know?
Originally called Kpoeta, is a small town on the borders of Togo with Leklebi, Kpedze and Holuta as Ghanaian neighbors.
Education
Kofi Asimenu began his primary education at E. P. Primary School in Ashan Kpoeta. In 1964, he had the fortunate opportunity to gain admission into Mawuli Secondary School, where he completed his ‘O’ and A’ levels. He often reminisced about how attending this prestigious secondary school- Mawuli School- encouraged him to have big dreams.
Following his A’ levels, he proceeded to the University of Cape Coast (UCC) for his tertiary education. However, his academic journey took an unfortunate turn when he had to discontinue his studies. This decision was influenced by the promise of assistance from an individual who claimed to help him relocate to the United States of America. Regrettably, this turned out to be a scam, and Kofi Asimenu fell victim to the swindler. As a consequence, he faced financial constraints that made it impossible for him to continue his education at UCC.
Family
Kofi tied the knot with Dorothy in 1976 and later with Beatrice in 1979. From his marriage to Dorothy, he was blessed with three sons: Kafui, Mawuena, and Gameli, while with Beatrice, he had a daughter, Sheila. As time passed, his family grew, and he became a proud grandfather to four grandchildren: Sena, Eli, Fafa, and Elorm. Throughout his life, Kofi held his family in the highest regard, and they were his utmost priority. He consistently gathered all his children whenever the situation called for it to showcase his strong devotion to his family. His entire existence revolved around the well-being and happiness of his beloved children.
CAREER
Before enrolling in the university, Kofi had worked at a timber firm and British Petroleum (BP) in Kumasi. However, due to financial constraints, he had to drop out of university. Fortunately, in 1975, he landed a job at Barclays Bank, a rare opportunity for him, and he felt a strong sense of loyalty towards his employer for giving him that chance. Over the next thirty years, Kofi dedicated his life to Barclays Bank, starting as a clerk and steadily progressing through the ranks. He served in various branches, including Accra High Street, Aflao, Tema Fishing Harbour, Kejea, and Takoradi High Street, before eventually returning to Accra in 1999.
During his tenure at Barclays Bank, Kofi faced some health challenges. He had experienced diabetic attacks and went into coma on three occasions. As a result, he sought medical care at Lucida Clinic in Tema, Nyaho Clinic in Accra, Lister Hospital in Accra, UK, and Canada. Unfortunately, in 2005, due to declining health, Kofi had to retire from the organization he had loved and served so passionately. It is worth noting that he retired earlier than the retiring age of sixty.
After retiring from Barclays Bank, Kofi ventured into a money lending business named EKA. His ultimate goal was to grow EKA into a full-fledged financial services business. However, his plans faced setbacks as some customers failed to fulfil their financial obligations, leading to the eventual closure of EKA. Additionally, Kofi acknowledged that his health issues significantly influenced his decision to step away from EKA.
Christian Life
Kofi was born, baptized, and confirmed into the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana. During his early years, he worshipped at the Kpoeta Kpodzi Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana. The E. P. Church in Kpoeta Kpodzi held a special place in his heart and he eventually decided to renovate the chapel as a way of expressing his gratitude to God, the church and the community. Later on, he became a member of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana- Lorenz Wolf Parish, located in Community 1, Tema. There, he took on the role of a Patron, supporting both the Good News Choir and the Hadzihagã.