Congratulations to Professor Frimpong Boateng

Congratulations to Professor Frimpong Boateng on his Appointment as the Minister for Science and Technology

Before going on to congratulate Professor Kwabena Frimpong Boateng on his appointment

to head the Ministry of Science and Technology, let me first express my heartfelt

appreciation to His Excellency President Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo-Addo, a very

reminiscent of biblical Joseph, Moses or David, for selecting him to head that

particular ministry in the first place. What a thoughtful and farsighted decision

taken by our renowned incorruptible, intelligent and wise President, Nana Addo

Dankwah Akufo-Addo, a septuagenarian whose age is exceptionally an indication of

wisdom!

Going back to Professor Kwabena Frimpong Boateng, I say, congratulations to you on

your selection to head a ministry that calls for the best out of you. Like many other

Ghanaians, I am personally very much aware of how passionately you are about seeing

Ghana go industrialized rather than being a raw-materials- producing nation for all

these years since obtaining political independence from the British Colonialists.

Your appointment to head the ministry in the NPP-led government under His Excellency

President Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo-Addo, will give Ghanaians the opportunity to

realise the fullest benefits to accrue from their compatriot Professor Frimpong

Boateng, always an accomplished African heart Surgeon of Ghanaian origin.

You lead by example, for that I know and can vouch for it. Taking myself on a trip

down the memory lane, I remember clearly well meeting Professor Frimpong Boateng at

the late Mr B. A. Mensah’s house in Kumawu in November 2007. On that day, I was in

a hurry to go to Accra as I was flying out of Ghana the next day in the evening. Just

as I was leaving my house to catch a passenger bus to Kumasi and then to Accra, I was

invited over to attend a meeting with Professor Frimpong Boateng and his campaign

entourage by Hon. Philip Basoah, a younger half-brother of the late Mr B. A. Mensah.

As the meeting was delayed by the tardy arrival of the then Kumawu NPP Chairman, Mr

Adusei, who had gone to Kumasi or Effiduase to attend hospital, Professor Frimpong

Boateng had the courtesy to come out of the hall to the balcony, introduced himself,

and held about thirty minutes chat with me. He did this in the knowledge that I was

in a rush to leave Kumawu for Accra.

While still chatting, with both of us discussing various subjects as came across, Mr

Adusei finally arrived. Even though I was itching to catch a bus to Kumasi in order

not to arrive at Accra very late in the evening, I decided against leaving without

sitting through the meeting. I spent about a further one and a half hours sitting in

the meeting which was about Professor Frimpong Boateng come to Kumawu Constituency

not only to introduce himself as a contestant for the flag bearer slot of the NPP but

also, to solicit their votes.

After listening convincingly to him, watching his recorded video on what he intends

achieving for Ghana when given the nod, and how he has been practising them at home

and within his family, I could see how real his passion for Ghana developing through

industrialisation was. I did not hesitate to recommend him to those in the meeting

with a declaration of supportive statement. I said, “This is the type of person

that Ghana needs but not those who would come to tell stories”

Barely had I made the statement when Mr Adusei, unknown to him that I was a fellow

Kumawu subject, stood on his feet and said, “Professor, if this gentleman is a

member of your entourage, I shall recommend to you not to allow him to accompany you

anymore to anywhere on your campaign tour. This is because the type of statement he

has just made will cost you votes. It is not good for him to be making such sweeping

statements”

Professor Frimpong Boateng said, no, I wasn’t and that it was his first day or time

of meeting me. To avoid any further altercation, I stood up, apologised and withdrew

that alleged thoughtless statement I had made.

Professor, do you recall what you said following my rendered apology or I should

remind you about it since it is over nine years ago? You said and I quote, “If I

were a President, both of you are the type of people I would prefer to work with. One

makes a statement; the other is not happy about it and does not hide his feelings but

makes his views about it instantly known. The offending party quickly accepts his

mistake and apologises to avoid any further escalation of the situation” Yes, you

are the type of people I would love to work with because of your frankness, readiness

to acknowledge your mistakes and act in appropriate manner for peace to reign”

Anyway, you have now been given the governmental portfolio where all your noble

scientific knowledge and applications leading to the industrial revolution of Ghana

can be achieved. As your good and proven intentions are for mother Ghana, so are the

President’s. Therefore, I wish you the best and I have absolute faith in you to be

a great asset not only to His Excellency President Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo-Addo’s

government but also, to the entire nation and all the citizens of Ghana.

It is my fervent hope that many a Ghanaian emulates your exemplary life.

Rockson Adofo

(Written on Monday, 13 February 2017)