Biography of Mrs. Gladys Osei (Alias Auntie Gladys)
Auntie Gladys was born on the 3rd of March, 1952 in Assin Bosomadwe. She was the second born among six children by the late Opanyin Kweku Baah and the late Maame Adwoa Wona. Four of her living siblings are Ama Donkor, Joseph Kweku Baah, Mary Baah, and Grace Baah.
Due to circumstances beyond her control, young Gladys had to drop out of school. Gladys’ parents could not afford to support her to complete her formal education;. Gladys’ desire and determination to excel in life was the corner stone that propelled her to rise from a house help to become a successful wife, mother and an entrepreneur.
In 1970 and at the age of 18, whiles working and learning a trade as a seamstress apprentice, she met Mr. Peter Armstrong Osei who was to become her future husband. Mr. Osei was then a young and vibrant revolutionary guard of President Kwame Nkrumah, who had visited the village during one of the annual “afahye” festival in Assin Bosomadwe. With the assistance of friends and family, the two became love birds and they flew together to begin their life’s journey. This life journey started with virtually nothing but in time, on the foundation of love, fortitude, foresight, discipline and the fear of God, ended in many success stories and blessings unto others.
Auntie Gladys had 5 children with Peter Armstrong Osei: Eddie Twumasi-Smith (Chemical Process Engineer, Canada), Richard Atiaku-Osei (Retired Army Corporal currently living in South Africa), Mrs. Freda Osei-Atta (Social Services Nurse, Germany), Francis Nana Osei (Supply Chain Professional at Kingdom Books, Ghana), Mrs. Christina Mensah (SG Bank Kumasi, Ghana). Auntie Gladys was blessed with 8 grand children who live in different parts of the world.
In addition to raising her own children, Auntie Gladys also helped to raise and supported many children who lived with her. To name but a few: Bernard Twumasi, Humphrey Twumasi, Kofi Banfo, Yaaya, Emoora, Grace Baah.
Auntie Gladys was kind-hearted and generous. She opened up her house to her extended family and friends. While living in Accra and working as a seamstress, Auntie Gladys would often host her siblings who had just moved into the city until they were established in a trade or career opportunities. She would open up her house to her apprentices who didn’t have any means of accommodation. Deeply cognizant of her own inability to have completed education because of parents who lacked the financial wherewithal, Auntie Gladys supported similarly disadvantaged children in the village. She was always looking for opportunities to help and bring out the best in her family and friends.
The nature of her husband’s work as a military personnel meant moving from one military barracks to the next. Auntie Gladys never relented in her efforts but always sought to explore new and different opportunities in all the regions she travelled to. This enabled her to venture into different types of businesses. She tried and tested all sorts of merchandise and services. She was the Queen of commerce, so to speak, travelling and criss-crossing the length and breadth of cities and towns in Ghana looking for opportunities to buy and sell. Through it all, she made appreciable gains and invested well in her family and made generous charitable donations, to churches, those in need and her extended family.
She was very firm but fair. She inculcated in her children the sense of honesty, service and hard work.
She gave of everything she had and even used limitations she had experienced as a child as an opportunity to educate the younger ones about the importance of education. She was a true definition of humanity, a reflection of the image of God, touching and impacting positively on the lives she touched. A woman of humanity is one who, in seeking to establish herself, finds a foothold for others and who, desiring attainment for herself, helps others to attain beyond themselves.
Auntie Gladys had limited formal education, but her gifts and skills in business and entrepreneurship far exceeded those with educational qualifications. Auntie Gladys was astute and shrewd when it came to trading. She adopted methods and good customer relationships with her clients that won her many businesses and clientele. She was always ahead of the game. She will plan ahead to win new clients before the start of a new season. She will ensure all her clients needs were met and in so doing made appreciable profits. She would meet with different segments of the market women with a view to determining their needs and presented to them what was trending and by so doing sold them what the latest fashion or style was. She always wanted to be the first to find new deals and make decent profit out of serving her clients. No wonder, by popular acclamation, she was nominated the Queen Mother of the “Mankessim-Togo Traders’ Association”. She diversified in her businesses and trading. She invested across different portfolios which sustained her during economic downturns.
She was the epitome of life and style. She worked hard and ensured she lived well. She wanted the best clothes, best kente, the best watches and necklace/jewelleries. She loved meeting and gathering with friends after a hard day’s work. She would sacrifice and made sure her guests enjoyed their visits to her home. She always wanted to serve and give to others.
Auntie Gladys was religious and a devout Christian. She didn’t have a good voice but will always try to join the chorus whenever a gospel song was being sung.
In her latter days, her message to her children and her grand children was, never leave your God. Be prayerful and live an honest life. She wanted her kids and grand kids to excel in education, be honest, show leadership, hard work and perseverance in all endeavors.
Our family, friends and the world will miss Auntie Gladys. We are certain her life which touched many will be recorded in the heavens and that the angels in heaven will find her a truly restful place.
Auntie Gladys Daayie
Auntie Gladys Nante YiyƐ
Auntie Gladys Rest in Peace, until we meet again
