Asiseh laid to rest

Former NDC Press Secretary, Vincent Asiseh, was laid to rest at the Osu Cemetery in Accra last Saturday after a touching funeral service at the Ridge Church in Accra.

The veteran broadcaster passed away on Wednesday, January 19, 2011, at the 37 Military Hospital after he was suddenly taken ill.

The funeral and burial service attracted people from all over Ghana as well as Nigeria. The large crowd that thronged the Ridge Church included Ex-President J.A Kufuor, the Minister for Roads, Joe Gidisu, Mr. Sidney Laryea, Former Treasurer of the NDC, the National Chairman of the NPP, Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, Former Deputy Minister of Roads & Transport, Steve Akorli, Former MP for Ho West, Agbotse , Former National Youth Organiser of the NPP, John Boadu, Editors of the Daily Democrat and the Ghanaian Lens, Emmanuel Opare-Djan and Kobby Fiagbe.

In attendance was the Accra Diocesan choir of the Methodist Church of Ghana, the Winneba Youth Choir as well as the Action Chapel Choir.

In her tribute to her late husband, Mrs. Kate Asiseh, said in times of darkness, he was a beacon of light to her and their children.

“In times of uncertainties, you were a shoulder to cry on. In times of joy, you beamed hope and encouragement for greater things to come,” she added.

His children described him as a man “who believed that children must be brought up like plants that require a lot of pruning,” and as a result, his children ended up being Economists, Pharmacists, Bankers, Civil servants, Designers, Publishers and businessmen.

Uncle Ebo White of JOY FM fame, in his tribute, described the late Vincent Asiseh as a man who “showed that you did not have to be obnoxious to make your point in politics”

“It was always a joy to listen to Mr. Asiseh making his point in a debate. He chose his words carefully and kept his voice controlled. He showed respect for his opponents and for the listeners…he was indeed a master of articulation and communication on… I believe that if there were more people in Ghana’s politics like Mr. Asiseh, our development would be smoother and rapid” he added.

Mr. Sidney Laryea described the late former Press Secretary of the NDC as an “amazing man full of goodness and spiritual values.”

Ironically, the political party that he served for almost a decade, the NDC, failed to be present officially at his funeral and burial service. This drew condemnation from many people present who believed that Vincent Asiseh had served the party so well that the least the party could do was to be officially present at the funeral and burial service. Ironically, the NDC’s name was on the list of Chief mourners on the funeral brochure.

The NDC supporters who were present to pay their last respect to their Former Press Secretary were embarrassed by the absence of the party.

The NDC’s absence was even more glaring with the presence of ex-President Kufuor and his team who Asiseh clashed with several times in defence of the NDC between1992 to 2000.

The behavior of the NDC brings to mind the sad departure of Castro, a journalist with the pro-NDC newspaper, Ghana Palava in 2009. Castro, who worked hard for the pro-NDC newspaper for years did not only die penniless; his family could not raise GH¢600 to bury him. To add insult to injury, his employers, key men in the NDC, failed to show up at his funeral and burial service.

Vincent Asiseh’s immediate family members unanimously agree that he led a fulfilling life and this is summed up in his own words, captured in his wife’s tribute;

“I am a happy man, a very happy father. I have joy, deep, deep down in my heart”