Sunyani (B/A), July 12, GNA - The Busia Foundation International (BFI), a non-profit organisation committed to promoting ideals, deeds and values of the late Dr. Kofi Abrefa Busia, former Prime Minister of Ghana, on Friday organised a symposium in Sunyani to commemorate the 95th birthday anniversary of the late Prime Minister. The symposium, which was under the theme: "The Prof., A Man Remembered, The Life, Vision and Legacy of Dr. Busia", was well attended by some members of the clergy, academia, senior citizens and a cross-section of the public.
Delivering an address on the life of Dr. Busia, Mr. Ignatius Baffour-Awuah, Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister described the late Prime Minister as an astute politician, a traditionalist, a distinguished academician, and a true Christian who made the values he believed in and his personal talents reflect on the social life of the people in his country.
He said Professor Busia brought to bear all his academic luminaries on the necessity to create state institutions that would promote the democratic course of his country so in 1959 when he fled into exile as a result of the political instability, his mind was still focused on the contemporary scene, the state of Christianity and its relevance in today's course as well as the political scene in Africa and the concomitant institutionalism for one party state and dictatorship. The Regional Minister stated that the late Busia was one of the few leaders among the nation's past leaders, who was committed to promoting human rights, Christian beliefs, who paid great respect to education as the tool for the transformation of the state, Africa and the modern world.
Professor Wayo Seini, Lecturer, University of Ghana, Legon, described him as the father of democracy, whose leadership credential was marked by humility in nation-building with special interest in rural development which he stated was the late Prime Minister's policy which should spell and become the fulcrum for Ghana's development. The Professor said Dr. Busia in realising corruption was inimical to Ghana's development, as its impact was felt more by the rural people, advocated for liberal democracy in which individuals could be supported to grow and the vulnerable helped. In paying tribute to him, Mr. J. H. Mensah, MP for Sunyani East and Chairman, National Development Planning Commission, said the late Busia investigated the beliefs, values and structures of society during his time and explored the deep rooted part of the country's cultural heritage.
He added that the NPP strictly espoused the values and ideals enshrined in the Danquah-Busia tradition stressing that, in their 60 years of existence they have thought Ghanaians what to think about as patriotic citizens of the land and extol Busia for strengthening the institution of chieftaincy, while encouraging the younger generation to follow his good example. Amma Busia, Member of Council of State, who is the late Prime Minister's younger sister, who spoke emotionally acknowledged that the juxtaposition of her brother's religious and Christian values played an active role in his service to his follow countrymen.
She said Dr. Busia's penchant for quality education and the need for people to seek knowledge wasn't only limited to those of his family members but also for all other people around him, adding she had to succumb to the advice of her brother to pursue higher education in 1959 in England where they fled to, when there was a political upheaval in the country.
Mr. Mac Manu, Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, admonished members of the party to be proud of the legacies bequeathed the party by the late Prime Minister, and asked them to let this fire them up in their grassroots activities as they campaigned in the various constituencies to win more seats for the party in Brong-Ahafo. He said, apart from championing the course of human rights and the rule of law, Dr. Busia also had a firm belief for free speech and the support for the poor and the vulnerable so they can stand on their feet and fight against poverty. The NPP Chairman stated that, Dr. Busia also left a legacy of unity and urged those would be leaders in the party and the country to follow suit.
He expressed delight that the President followed his steps as seen in the massive infrastructure his government has put up and was hopeful that Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo would do the same thing to keep the tradition moving. On his part, Prof. Gyan Baffour, Deputy Minister of Finance and MP for Wenchi, reiterated that the late Prime Minister strongly upheld the tenets of liberal democracy and said after 50 years, he had been vindicated due to the failure of socialism. He said Dr. Busia's social programmes ensured that each person became his brother's keeper, adding that, he was one such individual who had total conviction in consensus and dialogue even though some disagreed with him. Mr. Mac Manu urged them to use his values and ideas to chart a new course for the development of Ghana rather than adopting a try and error attitude which, he said, was time wasting. Alhaji Haruna, Managing Director, Metro Television, conceded that during his regime tribalism and enthnocentrism was reduced to the barest minimum with the introduction of the 'don't accept gifts, they corrupt' policy catch phrase during his administration. He said his tenure also saw the introduction of civic education, linking of rural areas to urban centres as well as the legacy of national service fashioned in bold leadership, the need for cost-sharing in tertiary education, a policy being applied in today's tertiary education, massive infrastructure development with his development of the Dansoman Estates and the construction of the Kaneshie Market, all in Accra. A footage about the life, who the man was, what he stood for was shown.
