The late Daasebre Prof. Emeritus Oti Boateng
THE New Juaben Traditional Council in the Eastern Region has been thrown into a state of mourning following the kicking of the bucket of Omanhene Daasebre Prof. Emeritus Oti Boateng, who was a Statistician.
They are also mourning the Omanhene’s sub-chiefs; namely the Oyokohene Nana Kodua Kesse II who was Adontehene of the traditional area as well as Okogyeaman Ankomah Basapong who was the Suhyenhene and Mponuahene of the area.
The Omanhene, Daasebre Professor Emeritus Oti Boateng, 83, died about two weeks ago after a reported short illness.
The two sub-chiefs also died months apart this year and are all yet to be buried as customs demands.
The late Paramount Chief, known in private life as Professor Emeritus Prof. Oti Boateng, last public appearance was during a graduation ceremony by SDA College of Education at Koforidua Asokore on August 1, 2021, where he delivered a keynote address.
He was acknowledged as a global authority in statistics and was the recipient of many national and international awards, including recognition as one of the greatest minds of the 21st century by the American Biographical Institute.
He was enstooled as Omanhene in 1992 under the stool name Daasebre Dr. Oti Boateng.
He was a member of the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC) of the United Nations (Commissioner of the UN as of January 1, 2003, for a four-year term).
He holds a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in Economics from the University of Ghana, a Master of Science (MSc) degree in Statistics from the London School of Economics and Political Science, and a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in Statistics from the University of Liverpool, United Kingdom.
He had a distinguished service as Government Statistician and head of the Statistical Service for a record period of 17 and half years from 1982.
Daasebre Prof. Oti Boateng also worked for 14 years with the University of Ghana where he was promoted to the position of Senior Research Fellow and Director of Studies at the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER).
One of the key crusades he launched in recent times was the Root-Based Model (RBM), an innovative development model to reduce poverty and inequality in Ghana and on the African continent.
He wrote a book to support his internationally acclaimed and award-winning development model.
He was elected chairman of the United Nations Statistical Commission in 1987 and also elected chairman of the 15th International Conference of Labour Statisticians in Geneva in 1993.
For 16 years, Daasebre Prof. Oti Boateng was chairman of the sub-technical committee of the Tripartite Committee of Ghana which deals with technical issues connected with wages and compensation systems.
BY Daniel Bampoe