Late Amissah-Arthur Deserves Respect – Addo-Kufuor

By Justice Dzido On Jul 26, 2018

Former Defense Minister under the John Kufuor administration, Kwame Addo-Kufuor has urged government and the general public to treat departed statesmen with respect, for the services rendered to the country during their life time.

Using the poor state of Asomdwee Park, a place earmarked for the internment of the first sitting president to die as an example; Mr. Addo-Kufuor argued that more can be done for departed statesmen.

As the country marks the 6th anniversary of the demise of President John Evans Atta Mills, it is alleged that his successors appear to have neglected his final resting place, reopening the debate on whether his body should be returned to his family for a befitting burial.

Speaking at the Accra International Conference Center where the laying in state of the late former Vice President, Paa Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur is being held, the former defense minister alleged that the “short-term memory span” of Ghanaians allowed people to be mourn only for a short period and their memories forgotten after they have been buried.

According to him, services rendered by notable statesmen and people to the country should be enough to speak for them, long after their demise.

“Ghanaians are very emotional. When you die everybody will weep, but within a year you have been forgotten. I hope that will change and I hope government will pay more attention to Asomdwee Park. Mills was a very close friend and I think we should show some respect. The people that have served the country and have moved on deserve respect. We need to show them that. ” – he said.

ABOUT PAA KWESI AMISSAH-ARTHUR

Born on April, 29, 1951 in the Central Regional capital Cape Coast, Paa Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur is currently the Fifth Vice President of the Fourth Republic of Ghana. He was nominated by President John Dramani Mahama as the Vice President after he was sworn in as President of the Republic of Ghana following the demise of the Late President Atta Mills and was sworn in as such on August 6, 2012 following vetting by Parliament of Ghana.

He attended Mfantsipim Secondary School where he obtained his G.C.”O” and “A” Levels in 1964 and 1971. He graduated from the University of Ghana, Legon with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1974 and had his Master of Science degree in 1976 both in Economics.

He became a Research Assistant at the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research from 1974 to 1975 and later became a lecturer at the Department of Economics at the Legon from 1980 to 1988. He also lectured at the Department of Economics at the Anambra State of Education, Awka, Anambra State in Nigeria between 1981 and 1983.

Amissah-Arthur served as a special assistant to the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) Secretary of Finance and Economic Planning, Dr. Kwesi Botchwey. He later became the Deputy Secretary for Finance in the PNDC Government from February 1986 until March 1993 and served at the same position for the first term of the NDC government under former president Rawlings after the establishment of constitutional rule.

He was in charge of the preparation of the Annual Public Investment Programme, Management of the budget of the government of Ghana.

The 65 year economist worked as a consultant for the World Bank in Gambia and the Netherlands government education project in Ghana.

He was appointed as the Governor of the Bank of Ghana in October 2009 by the late President Atta Mills until August 6, 2012 when he became the Vice President of the Republic of Ghana.

Paa Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur was married with two children. His sudden demise occurred on June 29,2018 at the 37 military hospital where it was reported to have collapsed at the Air Force Gym during early morning training session.