Book on President Kufuor's Biography launched

Accra (Greater Accra) 28 March 2003- "Ladies and Gentlemen, lend me your ears, I come to launch this book about President J. A. Kufuor, and not to praise Kufuor," these were the poetic words of Professor Atukwei Okai, Secretary-General of Pan African Writers Association as he launched the book, "Between Faith and History - A Biography of J. A. Kufuor" in Accra on Thursday.

"Any holy truth in the words of politicians is visible, discernible and declared in their actions and deeds and this volume speaks about not only his actions but more importantly about his intentions," Professor Atukwei Okai said.

The 107-page book authored by Ivor Agyeman-Duah, founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for Intellectual Renewal captures the President's story in eight interesting chapters: The Child May Resemble His Father But Has a Family- The Making of 'Apagyefie;' The Journey to Oxford - The Love of Theresa and of Politics.

The others are: Return to Ghana: Sorcerer's Apprentice; Following the Foot Prints of the Fathers; Farewell to the Men on Horseback; Waiting for Godot; The Agama Lizard Walks Slowly But it will get to its Destination; and A Long Journey Ends at Sunrise.

"When on 8 December 1938, in one of the rooms of the family house, Apagyafie, in that famous part of Kumasi called Asante New Town- Ash Town, conception took place in the royal womb of Nana Ama Dapaah, with the male prompting of the local chief, the Kumasi Oyokohene, Nana Kwadwo Agyekum little did the world know that the child that would appear would declare himself to the world by collecting in his Prempeh College, in 1959, five of the six prizes...." the story unfolds.

"At the age of 28, he became the youngest public official to run Ghana's second city, Kumasi, where he served as Manager and Town Clerk. Before the age of 30 he was Deputy Foreign Minister in the Busia Government. On the overthrow of that government, he had his first spell in detention," it continues to what Prof. Atukwei-Okai described as the story of the loneliness and triumph of a long distance runner.

According to Prof. Atukwei-Okai, the book democratises access to the interesting insights that explain the combination of vision and determination, self-confidence and self-sacrifice that hitherto remained the preserve of a few close allies.

The PAWA Secretary-General, therefore, commended the author for having the foresight to decide on writing the biography and for being lucky and patient enough to successfully execute the assignment.

"The destiny of the 18 million Ghanaian lies in the hands of one elected Ghanaian, and it is good, useful and healthy to really know who that man is, where he comes from and what he believes in. This biography does that – for all Ghanaians and all Africans."

Some copies of the book were auctioned for 100 million cedis, with Ebenezer Essoka Chief Executive of Stan Chart and Kwame Bamfo Managing Director of SIKKENS buying the first, two copies for 25.5 million and 25 million cedis respectively.

Vice President Aliu Mahama, Council of State Chairman Alex Kwapong and Kabral Blay Amihere, Ghana's Ambassador to Sierra Leone, all urged Ghanaians to read the book to understand the personality and vision of the President.

The Book also captured the political history of the country from independence to the election of President Kufuor. The author, Agyeman-Duah said he wrote the book to consolidate Ghana's democratic development and as a reminder of where we are coming from and the personalities who have led us along the way.

"The book is to ensure that for good or evil the portraits of heroes and anti-heroes of this political journey are available as a miner's canary for later generations," he explained. Agyeman-Duah, who has five other books to his credit, said he would write the second edition after 2004, to assess the success and failures of President' Kufuor's vision.

He thanked the elder sister of President Kufuor, Obapanin Akua Durowa for her support to the work, and also his publisher, Agoo Media Ghana. The cover of the book has President Kufuor's portrait and it has several pictures of some interesting events.