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Busia’s vision serving Ghana well - Akufo-Addo

Nana Akufo-AddoThe presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the 2012 general election, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has stated that the vision of the Prime Minister of the Second Republic, Prof. Kofi Abrefa Busia, is what is serving Ghana now by way of democracy and rule of law.

He said although Prof. Busia’s  moral courage and ideas were abused in the 1950’s and 1960’s, the whole nation had turned to his ideas and multi-party democracy and rule of law.

Nana Akufo-Addo was speaking at a forum  on the centenary celebration of Prof. Busia  in Accra last Thursday evening.

He said it was important to commemorate the late  professor because of the legacy he left behind.

He described Prof. Busia as a man who fought for the liberty of the individual and to build a society where people could create wealth for national development.

Nana Akufo-Addo, who spoke on democracy, said Prof. Busia was a great intellectual who used his brains for the development of humanity and his country.

He said ‘’even after 35 years of his death, Prof. Busia’s legacy still lingered on, adding that he was not only a God-send man, but also a visionary and excellent personality.

‘’Prof Busia started rural development as part of his determination to transform Ghana into a better place for all,’’ he stressed.

Nana Akufo-Addo said Prof. Busia was not only committed to fairness and equal opportunity for all Ghanaians but also ensured that every citizen got access to the national cake.

He said Prof. Busia was inspired to give all Ghanaians access to education and also used science and technology as the main mechanism for the development of the national economy.

‘’Prof Busia encouraged the processing of the nation’s raw materials into finished products to add value to them before exporting,’’ he stressed.

Nana Akufo-Addo said Prof. Busia had unshakable belief in Ghanaians that they were capable of succeeding in all their undertakings.

Former President J.A Kufuor stressed that Prof. Busia was nurtured before taking over the administration of the country, because he was born into a royal family at Wenchi.

Speaking on governance, former President Kufuor said Prof. Busia was a scholar, an industrialist and researcher.

He described Prof. Busia  as a selfless man, servant leader who had inner strength to lead his people to prosperity.

Mr Kufuor said Prof. Busia, who started the Centre for Civic Education, was a global personality whose legacy would linger on forever.

A former member of the Council of State who is the younger sister of Prof. Busia, Madam Ama Busia, giving the background of the former Prime Minister, said Prof. Busia was born in a rural area but due to his hard work, discipline and commitment, he rose to become a national asset.

Among the personalities present at the ceremony were Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, Nana Akufo-Addo’s running mate in the 2012 general election. Mr Jake Obetsebi Lamptey, the National Chairman of NPP, Mr J.H Mensah, a host of former Ministers in the Kufuor administration and Members of Parliament.

In a related development, a memorial church service was organised at the Calvary Methodist church at Adabraka, Accra, last Friday as part of the centenary celebrations of the late Prof. Busia.

The function was attended by a host of personalities, including former President J.A Kufuor, Nana Akufo-Addo, Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia, current and former ministers and MPs.

The officiating clergymen included the Most Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Asante, Presiding Bishop, the Most Rev. Dr Asante-Antwi, a former Presiding Bishop, the Rev. Kwesi Arthur Mensah, superintendent Minister,  Accra North Circuit, Rt Rev William R.A Blankson and the Very Rev. Prof. Benjamin Gorbah, all of the Methodist Church, Ghana.

By Samuel Kyei-Boateng/Daily Graphic/Ghana

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