Parliament eulogises Nana Asante-Frempong

Parliament has eulogised the memory of the late Nana Asante-Frempong, former Member of Parliament (MP) for Kwabre East Constituency of the Ashanti region for the passion he had towards the development of his area.

Most members in their contribution to a statement read in his memory, commended the former MP for his diligence towards work.

Ms Francisca Oteng Mensah, MP for Kwabre East, who presented a statement on the floor of Parliament to celebrate the late MP stated that, Nana Asante-Frempong was a politician, businessman, a traditionalist as well as a good listener.

She said Nana was second to none when it came to NPP party business at the constituency, regional and national levels. Nana also had the rare opportunity to represent the Kwabre District in the Consultative Assembly, as its Presiding Member, when the District Assembly Concept was introduced in 1988.

She said despite the fact that he had been sick for some time now, Nana was all the time very current on both political and national issues.

Ms Mensah said Nana, an avowed Danquah-Dombo-Busiaist, was instrumental in the organisation of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in Kwabre.

She said he entered Parliament on two occasions on the ticket of the NPP (1997 to 2001 and 2001 to 2005). He served as the Chairman of the Select Committee on Trade, Industry and Tourism.

She said he was liked by members of both sides due to his frankness and good human relations.

“Mr Speaker, I was very much inspired by Nana when I went to introduce myself to him after winning the NPP primaries in June 2015. He shared a lot of experiences with me and pledged his support for the 2016 campaign and also assured me of his support in the discharge of my duties as an MP, if I won the elections. I owe him a big debt of gratitude”.

Ms Mensah said Nana Asante-Frempong attended Opoku Ware Secondary School in Kumasi and during his time as a student, Nana had to weave kente on campus with the permission of the expatriate headmaster because he had nobody to pay his school fees.

She said Nana did most of the weaving during the weekends, public holidays and even after classes to enable him pay for his fees and other expenses.

Ms Mensah also indicated that in 1969, Nana picked forms to contest in the Progress Party (PP) primaries against Victor Owusu but had to step down through the intervention of Professor Kofi Abrefa Busia, the then leader of the PP, who advised Nana, saying “Young man your time will come so allow Victor to go”.

This advice from the leader of the PP inspired Nana to step down, hence the late Victor Owusu was retained unopposed and became the Member of Parliament for Agona Kwabre Constituency.

Ms Mensah said Nana Asante-Frempong, in collaboration with other natives of Kwabre, were very instrumental in the establishment of the Kwabre District Assembly.

She said the choice of Mamponten as district capital came from his wise counsel. He chaired a fundraising programme to raise funds for the inauguration for the new district assembly.