C. K. Tedam was buried in his hometown, Paga in the Kassena-Nankana West District
Mr Clement Kubindiwo Tedam, the late Chairman of the Council of Elders of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), has been laid to rest at his hometown, Paga, in the Kassena-Nankana West District of the Upper East Region.
The state burial amidst cultural displays was graced by President Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, Professor Mike Aaron Oquaye, the Speaker of Parliament, Ministers of state, Members of Parliament, leaders of the NPP and other political party functionaries, and traditional authorities among others.
The astute politician was laid to rest at his home according to the royal customs of the Paga Traditional Area.
President Akufo-Addo described the late C. K. Tedam as a Ghanaian patriot, an outstanding statesman, a stalwart and legend of the NPP whose contribution to the development and democratic governance remained outstanding.
“He belonged to group of Ghanaians, who never wavered despite persecution and vilification, in their belief that a vigorous, market economy, within an open democratic system of governance, would best serve the needs of our nation.
“C. K. Tedam leaves a big void not only in the NPP family and the Ghanaian nation, but also in my personal life, as he was a constant and consistent source of good and invaluable counsel. I will miss him dearly,” the President added.
The children of the late Prince described their dad as God-fearing and firm disciplinarian, who served his family, constituents and the nation with patriotism, fairness, humility and selflessness.
The children said though as royals, the late Chairman taught them to live simple lives and see everyone as equal.
Most Reverend Philip Naameh, the Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Tamale and the President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference, who presided the burial mass called the late C. K. Tedam as a “man of peace who did everything he could to better the lives of those he served”.
He urged Ghanaian politicians to emulate the outstanding virtues of the late C. K. Tedam and serve the country with a dedication to improve upon the lives of the people in the country.
Mr C. K Tedam, 94, before his demise in May this year was the Chairman of the Council of Elders of the NPP and the last surviving member of the Northern People’s Party, the first NPP. He played a critical role in the development of the Danquah-Domba-Bussia political tradition.
A teacher by profession, he began his political career in the pre-independence era and contested in elections for the Legislative Assembly held for the second time in the Gold Coast on 15 June 1954.
He was one of 11 independent candidates who won a seat in the 104-seater Assembly dominated by the Convention People’s Party which controlled the House with 71 seats.
In the next election in 1956, C.K Tedam, a royal of Paga in the Upper East Region stood on the Northern People’s Party and won his seat.
During the military regimes, C.K Tedam served as a Local Government Minister in the Supreme Military Council.
After Ghana returned to civilian rule in 1993, C.K Tedam was key in forming the NPP that contested the presidential elections and lost.
He was elevated to join the Council of State after the NPP first won political power in 2000 and was made the chairman of the party’s Council of Elders when NPP lost power in 2008.
He died on May 25, 2019, at Mamprobi in the Greater Accra Region leaving behind six children.
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