Madam Gladys Korkoi Holm was born on the eve of June 8th, 1960, to Mr Robert Akrong Holm of Akrong Wayo Wei, Osu Alata and Madam Grace Odey Quaye of Osu Kinkawei, all of blessed memory.
EARLY LIFE AND OCCUPATION
Korkoi, as known by all, had her elementary education at the Roman Catholic Primary School, Osu. Upon completion of her elementary school in 1978, she enrolled at the Sowah’s Gift Typing School, Labadi, to become a typist. After completion, she joined her mother at the Osu market to sell foodstuff and through her engagement with her mother, she encountered one customer who was a senior staff at the then Osu Castle. The customer, amazed by her hard work and good service, offered her an appointment at the Osu Castle where she worked as a typist for a while. Due to the uproar the coup caused, she decided against continuing her work at the castle and joined her mother at the market once again.
Through her dedication and service to duty during her short stint at the Osu Castle, she was later poached to work at the Department of Feeder Roads, head office in Accra in 1981. She was part of the first group of individuals to have worked at the Department of Feeder Roads upon its establishment. She assisted the then-director, Mr Bashiru, and served as the typist/secretary of the department. She took up various top-up courses in secretaryship at the Government Secretarial Schools in both Ho and Accra and rose through the ranks to become a stenographer secretary, the highest rank in secretaryship. As the head secretary, she took the opportunity to train various Secretaries who passed through her hands for her over twenty years stay at the Department of Feeder Roads.
As civil service work demands, she was later transferred to work at the Attorney General’s Department as head secretary where she distinguished herself and won the love of all. She worked as the line secretary to the then Chief Director of the department, His Lordship V.C.R.A.C. Crabbe, and contributed her quota to the reforming and reviewing of the laws in Ghana. As head secretary, she confidently advised and typed all write-ups emanating from her office.
She was again transferred to work at the Local Government Service Secretariat (LGSS), Accra, in 2012 where she served under then Member of Parliament for Amenfi East, Hon. Akwasi Oppong Fosu and later Calistus Mahama as an administrative secretary. Madam Korkoi indeed distinguished herself and left a mark at the LGSS.
After a few years, she was transferred to Adentan Municipal Assembly where she retired in June 2022.
FAMILY LIFE
Madam Gladys Holm was blessed with two children: Robert Kwaku Arthur and Barbara Sakyi. However, because of her love for children, she adopted most of her late sisters’ children from Osu and gave them the best of care. She was nicknamed ‘Gbekɛbii nyɛ’ meaning children’s mother’ as lots of kids would be seen in her household, especially during the Christmas holidays. During this time, she would buy Xmas dresses for all the children and also attend church service with them on Christmas Day.
She never discriminated among her children; both biological and adopted, so it became difficult for one to differentiate among them. One thing we shall miss; who will take care of your grandchildren? Who will buy them goodies as Christmas is just a few days away? What are you going to tell their mothers? Well, God knows best!
CHRISTIAN LIFE
Madam Gladys Korkoi Holm was baptized into the Presbyterian Church at Osu Ebenezer Presbyterian Church. Despite her busy schedule as a public servant, she never forgot about her Maker. She was actively involved in all the religious activities in her church. With her love for music, she was a member of the Singing Band group during her youthful days and because of her commitment, she was appointed Patron of the Singing Band and also an Elder of the Beersheba congregation, La Bawlashie Circuit. She won various laurels and admiration for her dedication, philanthropism, and commitment to the church. She was also a resolute and committed member of the Women’s Fellowship. Because of her dedication to serving God and growing the church, she later joined the new Okponglo branch of the church to help grow the branch. She is indeed a stalwart of the Okponglo branch and was always seen at all church gatherings. She duly served as a patron of the singing band until her untimely demise.
TWILIGHT
With entrepreneurial skills acquired from her mother from childhood, she engaged in all forms of trading alongside her active civil service work. This became evident as she retired from civil service and began importing diapers from China. With the assistance from her daughter, whom she also impacted with her entrepreneurial skills, the diaper business saw a massive boost.
On the 30th of September 2023, Korkoi was called to her Maker where we believe she is resting peacefully in His bosom. We are comforted by the words of Apostle John:
“Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, ‘Write: “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “they may rest from their labours and their works follow them.”
May you rest peacefully in the bosom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ till we meet again.