Emulate exemplary life of Issifu Alhassan — President Mahama
The final funeral rites of Ambassador Roland Issifu Alhassan were held in Tamale yesterday, at which President John Mahama admonished the people to emulate the exemplary leadership qualities of the late statesman, whose life he described as an epitome of unity and humility.
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He commended Alhaji Alhassan for not pursuing politics of acrimony and divisiveness during his active political life but rather resorted to dialogue, compromise and principles, traits the President advised current politicians to emulate.
In a speech read on his behalf by his senior advisor, Dr Sule Gariba, President Mahama indicated that decent political conduct by all stakeholders would give a further boost to the prevailing peace and tranquillity the nation was currently enjoying.
The ceremony was witnessed by a large crowd of sympathisers, including politicians, chiefs and family members from far and near.
It momentarily united Dagbon and brought the leadership of the two largest political parties, the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the opposition National Patriotic Party (NPP) together as they exchanged pleasantries.
Political parties
The NPP delegation was led by its National Chairman, Mr Paul Afoko.
Others members were the presidential candidate of the party in the 2012 general election, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo; his running mate, Dr Mahamud Bawumia; past and current national executive members, former ministers of state, Members of Parliament (MPs) and other party faithful.
An elder of the ruling NDC, Alhaji Iddrisu Mahama, also led his party’s delegation, which included ministers of state, metropolitan and district chief executives and MPs.
The other political parties were also duly represented by their leadership.
Tributes
Tributes were paid by the NPP, the Ghana Bar Association, the family, the government and parliamentarians in the Third Republic, of which Alhaji Alhassan was a member.
Mr Afoko described the late ambassador as a formidable pillar of the NPP whose immense contribution to the growth of the party and the development of the north was enormous.
For his part, Nana Akufo-Addo eulogised the late Alhassan as a dedicated democrat, principled and fair who served his party and nation with zeal and loyalty.
“The nation and the party have lost an extraordinary man,” he emphasised.
The deceased’s children, led by Alhaji Dauda Alhassan, said their father was “an honest, dedicated, humble and unassuming person with a strict sense of duty and dedication. He was always the sunshine and not a gloom to his family and friends”.
Donations
The NPP donated GH¢10,180, five bulls, quantities of rice, maize and cooking oil to the bereaved family.
The government also made a total presentation of GH¢9,000 to the family.
There were also personal donations from individuals and representatives of the other political party.
Biography
Ambassador Alhassan was a founder member of the NPP in the Northern Region and one-time running mate to Professor Albert Adu Boahen of the NPP in the 1992 general election.
He died at the 37 Military Hospital in Accra on April 14, moments after he had been flown there from Tamale.
Even though the cause of his death has not been disclosed, he is said to have suffered from a protracted illness. He was 87.
The first qualified legal practitioner from the north, Mr Alhassan’s last public office was Ghana’s Ambassador to Germany from 2001 to 2006.
He was also one-time MP for Tolon/Kumbungu in 1979, after earlier representing the people of Chereponi in Parliament in the Nkrumah regime.
The ambassador also served respective roles in various government and public offices.
He received a national award, the Order of the Volta, for his meritorious service to the nation in 2008.
Upon his retirement from public service, he became a commercial farmer cultivating rice and maize.
He was survived by a wife, Mrs Jane Alhassan, and six children.
“The NPP will always remember him for his immense contributions to the growth of the party in the region for his wise counsel and advice in times of challenge,” Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo said of him.
