By Belinda Kumuyi
Level 300, Communication Studies Student, UCC
At exactly 8:00pm, as the moon climbed quietly into the Cape Coast sky, the usually busy roads around the University of Cape Coast (UCC) slowed to a hush. Clad in black and holding flickering candles, students and lecturers emerged from lecture halls, hostels, and homes, forming a solemn procession in front of the School of Business. Cars paused. Passers-by stopped to watch. In the soft glow of artificial lights, the candles became the loudest voices, carrying grief, gratitude, and remembrance.
It was Thursday, December 4, 2025, and the School of Business had come together for a vigil night to mourn one of its own, Dr. Mac Junior Abekah, a 32-year old lecturer whose sudden passing has left a deep and aching void within the university community.
Despite ongoing lectures and academic commitments, hundreds of students, joined by dozens of lecturers, walked UCC’s new site campus roads in silence and reflection. Their presence was a testament to the profound impact Dr. Abekah had made in a life and career that, though brief, was marked by exceptional dedication and love for teaching.
Dr. Abekah’s journey at UCC was one of remarkable continuity and commitment. He joined the School of Business in 2010 as an undergraduate student, pursuing a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting and Finance, which he completed in 2014. Even after graduation, he never truly left. He returned to the school to serve his national service as a teaching assistant (TA) under the supervision of Professor John Gartchie Gatsi, beginning a lifelong bond with the school and UCC.
He went on to earn a Master of Commerce (Finance) between 2016 and 2018 and later a Master of Science in Economics from May 2020 to July 2021, all at UCC. Over the years, he rose from a Graduate Teaching Assistant in the Department of Finance to a Teaching Associate, playing a crucial role in handling undergraduate courses such as Quantitative Methods, Managerial Economics and Applied Macroeconomics.
Beyond the main campus of UCC, Dr. Abekah also taught at the College of Distance Education (CoDE), where he handled courses including Statistics for Business Research, Project Finance, Accounting and Finance for managers, and Financial Markets and Institutions. To many students, he was not only a lecturer but also a constant academic companion, present in classrooms, offices, and moments of uncertainty.
A passionate scholar, Dr. Abekah was deeply involved in peer research across diverse areas such as Financial Economics, Corporate Governance, Energy Economics, Trade Policy, and Institutional Quality. His academic excellence earned him publications in top-tier, Scopus-indexed journals, including Thunderbird International Business Review, Journal of African Business, and Journal of International Trade and Economic Development. He also served as an ad-hoc reviewer for respected international journals, quietly contributing to global academic discourse.
Yet, beyond the titles and publications, it was his humanity that students remember most.
“He is the only lecturer who shares pens with students during exams,” said Bernard, a recent graduate of the School of Business, recalling a simple act that spoke volumes about Dr. Abekah’s empathy. Another graduate, Gilbert, described the unique mentorship and personal supervision he received during his final year project, calling Dr. Abekah “a father in the academic journey.”
For many students, the pain of his passing is still raw, “I was at work when I heard about his death, and I had to go home because of the pain,” one student shared quietly during the vigil, echoing a grief felt across the campus.
The vigil night became more than a ceremony; it was a space where sorrow was shared and memories were woven together. Stories of how Dr. Abekah shared chocolates with students, encouraged struggling learners, and treated his mentees like family resurfaced, many preserved in heartfelt comments on LinkedIn and circulating videos on social media.
As the candles burned low and voices softened into silence, one truth became clear: Dr. Mac Junior Abekah was more than a lecturer. He was a mentor, an advisor, a colleague, and a friend. His sudden departure has left scars that may never fully fade, but his footprints, etched in lecture halls, research papers, and the lives of countless students, remain fresh on the University of Cape Coast campus and beyond.
Long after the candles were extinguished, his light continues to shine.