The late Dr. Kofi Abrefa Busia
The Busia Institute has marked the 50 years anniversary of the assumption of office of Ghana’s second Prime Minister, Dr. Kofi Abrefa Busia. The Wenchi born scholar served as Ghana’s Prime Minister from 1st October 1969 to 13th January 1972.
In a press statement signed by Anane Agyei, Executive Director of the Institute, to commemorate the 50 years anniversary, it stated that Dr. Busia valued the tenets of democracy and the rule of law adding that “his leadership was characterised by deep commitment to good governance.”
Bane of Ghana’s Progress
The Institute further stated that the usurpers who overthrew the man sought their own parochial interest instead of national interest describing the overthrow as “a phenomenon that became the bane of Ghana’s progress.”
The institute however expressed happiness that despite the overthrow, the vision of Dr. Busia had been continued by subsequent governments. “The vision of Dr Busia in building a multiparty democracy instead of a one-party state was accepted when the country returned to democratic governance at the onset of the 4th Republic,” the statement said.
Pledge
Mr. Agyeihas thus pledged the institute’s support for some government projects such as the ‘One District One Factory’, ‘Planting for Food and Jobs’, ‘One Village One Dam’ among others.
This according to Mr. Adjei is because such policies are in line with Dr. Busia’s vision of rural development. The statement stated that the institute is pledging its support to any initiative by government or any person or groups “that aim at enhancing the wellbeing of the rural communities for holistic national development.”
The institute has also urged Ghanaians especially the youth, to “read more about the life and works of Dr Busia so as to be imbued with the noble traits that defined his life.”
By Nana Kwasi