Kwadwo Amo Yelarge, affectionately known as Rainbow for his versatility and excellence in all he undertook, was born on 5 June 1940 at Nkwanta to a peasant family. In a community where access to formal education was rare, he emerged as one of the few to attend school, developing early a lifelong conviction that education was the surest path to opportunity and transformation.
From childhood, Kwadwo displayed uncommon discipline and bravery. He went hunting at a young age and continued into adulthood, a pursuit that demanded patience, physical endurance, and strategic thinking. These early experiences shaped a character defined by straightforwardness, self-control, and resilience, qualities that guided his personal and professional life.
Kwadwo trained as a teacher at Atebubu Training College and received his first teaching appointment on 1 September 1976. Over the years, he served as headmaster at several schools, including Bui Camp L/A Primary School, Nkwanta SDA School, Tanokrom, New Longoro, Kobeda No. 2 L/A School, and Apaaso D/A. He later rose to serve as a circuit supervisor with the Ghana Education Service.
In classrooms across rural communities, he was known for firm discipline, clarity in teaching, and an infectious enthusiasm for science experiments. He insisted on neat handwriting and proper reading skills, believing that mastery of basics laid the foundation for lifelong learning. Many students benefited from personal sacrifices he made to ensure they had access to education and structure.
Kwadwo often expressed his life philosophy through a saying he coined: “Kontoa na epɛ ma ahoma da ne kon mu.” He demonstrated this belief by carrying a gourd tied with a rope wherever he went, a constant reminder that determination and resolve could overcome obstacles. This philosophy informed how he taught, farmed, hunted, and served his community.
He married the late Madam Victoria Akosua Nsiah and raised a large family of both biological and adopted children. Beyond his household, he considered many of his students his children, guiding them with patience and firm counsel. His legacy lives on in the achievements of those he mentored, including daughters in business and nursing, sons and daughters in public service, healthcare, science, engineering, and governance.
Kwadwo was a man of records. He documented daily events in his diary, noting the weather, visitors, journeys taken, distances travelled, and time spent. Using these records, he often predicted rainfall and planting seasons as a farmer, relying on observation and data rather than chance. He believed this habit helped him remember and appreciate the blessings life offered.
His sense of duty extended deeply into civic life. He trained as a vaccinator and emergency healthcare provider for rural communities, volunteered as an election officer in every election, and served as an assemblyman in his electoral area. He also founded and led the Nyame Ahyira Farmers Association at Kobeda No. 2, working collectively to improve livelihoods. In later years, he devoted himself to mentorship and counselling, offering guidance grounded in lived experience.
Kwadwo Amo Yelarge passed away peacefully on 19 May 2025 at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, surrounded by his children and family, as he had always wished. His final words, “I feel relieved, biiwa he gyam,” captured a sense of fulfilment and peace.
Marked by education, courage, meticulousness, and unwavering willpower, his life leaves an enduring legacy. He will be remembered as a teacher in the truest sense, a guide to many, and a quiet but powerful example of integrity, service, and determination.
