Institute memorial lectures for Prof. Awoonor – NDC Caucus

The Ashanti Regional Volta Caucus of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has advocated the institution of memorial lectures in honour of the late Professor Kofi Awoonor, former Chairman of the Council of State.

The lectures, the Caucus noted, should aim at educating the citizenry on the dangers of terrorist acts, the impact on the nation’s socio-economic and political stability, as well as measures to take in dealing with such threats.

A statement signed by Mr. Asamoah Mensah, Chairman of the Caucus, copied to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Kumasi, stated that the programme should also seek to challenge the younger generation to strive for excellence in their fields of endavour.

Professor Awoonor was among those killed in the September 21, 2013, attack by Somalia’s Al-Shabab at the Westgate Shopping Mall in Nairobi, Kenya.

The deceased, 78, a poet, author and former Chairman of the Council of State, was in Kenya as a participant in the Storymoja Hay Festival, a four-day celebration of writing, thinking and story-telling at which he was due to perform on the evening of his death.

The statement described the death of Professor Awoonor as a “great loss to the nation”, sending its condolences to the bereaved family and all those who had been affected by his demise.

The Caucus, while condemning the attack in no uncertain terms, also extended condolences to the families of all those who lost their lives.

The statement indicated that the late Professor would be forever remembered for inspiring many people with his scholarly writings and poetry and hoped the Almighty God would give him rest in His abode.