Introduction

Emmanuel Kweenu Haizel, (affectionately called Uncle, Saa Emma, Simpa Panyin) was born on 9th April, 1963 in Accra. His parents were Emmanuel Aidoo Haizel a native of Agona Odobeng (near Swedru) and Hagar Akyempong Haizel née Parry, a native of Winneba, both of blessed memory.

Early Life/Family

Uncle was the 5th child born to the family. His older brother Bobo was born with sickle cell anemia and had died of complications of the disease at an early age. You can imagine the trauma in the home when Uncle and his younger brother Joshua were also diagnosed of the same disease. The house would be solemn during crises.

We learned to care for the two younger brothers to ease their pain during a sickle cell crisis. We also learned what triggers a crisis and tried to shield them from strenuous activity. That was a great time for bonding and growing together, shaping Uncle's compassionate nature and love for family.

In 1971, Kweenu first met his ‘adoptive’ sisters Gloria and Irene. They were the ones who were closest in age to the two youngest boys and together they had amazing experiences on Legon campus during school vacations The friendships nurtured across the four age groups on the Legon campus during these long vacations, are some of the closest and dearest.

Education/Career

From 1967, when Unclewas five years old, he attended Anumle Primary School with his two older siblings Abigail and Mercy because mother was a Home Science teacher there and needed to keep an eye on her little ones during school hours and return home with them at the end of each day. After a few years, Abigail took her Common Entrance and went to Secondary School while Joshua was old enough to attend school.

The three youngest siblings were therefore enrolled at the University Primary School, Legon (UPS), where Kweenu completed his Common Entrance. He made many lasting friendships at UPS, and he kept in touch with them on WhatsApp platforms and Facebook right to the end. In spite of ill health Saa Emma pursued his five-year Secondary education at Presbyterian Boys Secondary School, Legon (Presec) from 1976 to 1981. From there he attended the then Ghana Institute for Journalism (GIJ) and after graduation he was employed at Ghana Broadcasting Corporation. Later, he landed a job with Joy FM as a Journalist/Reporter.

Personal Life

Kweenu married the late Christina Adjoa Otwiwaa Haizel née Sackey at a colorful traditional ceremony in Ghana. They migrated to New York in the year 2000, the same year their son Kobina Kweenu (aka Kobi) was born. Uncle spent the last 25 years of his life in the United States of America. Where he worked in Sales and later in Security until 2025. He faced health challenges but he was brave and did the best he could.

During this period Kweenu and his family were able to spend quality time with his eldest sister Doreen and her family who live in Maryland, USA. Kweenu was quite devastated when his lovely wife Otwiwaa died in 2018, just when his son was about to enter University. But by the amazing Grace of God, Kobi has graduated and is in gainful employment.

Kweenu became an avid Facebook user, carving out a niche as Simpa Panyin- a satirical commentator of Ghanaian society and his own life. He was able to stay in touch with his friends and share in many people's lives online. After he was diagnosed with kidney failure in 2025, he was forced to stop work because of dialysis, in his own words in the Christmas Day post in 2025 : “Yes it was in July that I felt I was having a bout of my usual sickle cell crisis, only to be told my kidney was not behaving itself. Now let’s go back to this supernatural story. Lantei Mills might understand what I have been going through for almost a year. I call it supernatural but I am sure somebody will say it’s the screws touching in my head. Some Scientists will attribute it to some neurons in my brain getting used to the long hours I worked the night shift and my body trying to adjust to that situation where I am not using any of the night shifts neurons i.e. being at home the whole day. The circadian rhythm trying to adapt to a new situation”.

Final words

It was not to be. On March 18, 2026, Kweenu returned home from dialysis and suffered a massive stroke. He was rushed to Lincoln Hospital in New York; however, due to his underlying conditions, he did not survive. Kweenu passed away on Saturday, March 28, 2026, surrounded by his family.

He was preceded in death by his brother, Bobo; his mother, Hagar; his sister, Abigail; his father, Emmanuel; his wife, Christie; his brother-in-law, Kwame and his niece, Gail.

He is survived by his son, Kobi; his siblings, Doreen (Alex), Mercy, Gloria, Josh (Elisabeth), and Irene (Daniel); and his nieces and nephews, Imelda, Lilian (Gideon), Salome, Daniella (Cary), Felix (Adelaide), Alexander, and Frances.

Uncle, our brother, our friend, our partner in chaos. Your sass, your laughs, your love - they'll live on. Rest well, Simpa Panyin.