Professor Kwesi Botchwey
Former Finance Minister, Professor Kwesi Botchwey has passed on. He died at the age of 78.
The incident happened at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital on Saturday, November 19, 2022, where he was receiving treatment for an illness.
Prof. Botchwey is the longest-serving Finance Minister in Ghana having served in that position as Secretary for Finance during the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) military government from 1982 to January 6, 1993.
He was appointed by the late President Jerry John Rawlings to assist in stabilising Ghana’s collapsed economy from 1982 to 1993.
He continued as Finance Minister from January 7, 1993 when Ghana returned to democratic governance, and served till 1995 before his then deputy, Kwame Peprah took over from him.
Prior to his demise, he was a key member of the Council of Elders of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) having played an integral role in the evolution of the NDC, from its PNDC era.
Prof. Botchwey received his secondary school education at Presbyterian Boys’ Senior High School in Ghana.
He holds an LL.B from the University of Ghana, a LL.M from Yale Law School, and doctorate from the University of Michigan Law School.
He taught at the University of Zambia, the University of Dar es Salaam (Tanzania) and the University of Ghana.
The former government official was a Professor of Practice in Development Economics at The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy of Tufts University.
He was born on September 3, 1944.
Tribute
Former Minister of Finance under the erstwhile NDC government, Seth Terkper, described the passing of Prof. Kwesi Botchwey as another emotional moment.
According to him, the highest point of his relationship with the late former minister was a humble one.
He said the late Prof. Botchwey approved his postgraduate studies and never for once dreamt of stepping into his shoes as a finance minister under the government of John Dramani Mahama.
“RIP, Sir. Another emotional moment when a national and global tribute is also so personal. The HIGHEST point in our relationship was a HUMBLE one: approving my post-graduate studies. Never dreamt then that I will ever step in your oversized Minister shoes,” Seth Terkper tweeted.
Joe Jackson, a Business Executive and Consultant at Dalex Finance, eulogised the late former Minister of Finance.
According to him, the late Prof. Botchwey will be remembered as Ghana’s foremost Finance Minister who changed the country’s economic fortunes.
He noted that the untimely demise of Prof. Botchwey during the time that the country is going through some economic difficulties and seeking a bailout from the IMF, increases his nostalgia for his record term as Finance Minister.
Joe Jackson tweeted, “Dr. Kwesi Botchwey, Your passing, at this time of an economic crisis, increases my nostalgia for your record term as Finance Minister.”
Private legal practitioner, Gabby Otchere-Darko, joined the several people who paid tribute to the late former Minister of Finance.
In a tweet on Saturday, the NPP government official said the deceased NDC cadre did remarkably well at the helm of the Finance Ministry.
According to him, Prof. Botchwey’s deeds some decades ago, are still having impact currently.
“Former Finance Minister Kwesi Botchwey is dead – his leadership and commitment to the structural changes to our economy in the late 80s were critical and the impact is still with us today,” he said.
“May he rest in perpetual peace,” he added.
By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri