Ashanti NPP to honour Baffour Osei Akoto

The Ashanti regional branch of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) is to honour the late Chief Linguist of the Asantehene, Baffour Osei Akoto, with the naming of a new regional party office complex after him.

On Thursday, April 19 2018, the branch will take a major step towards the realisation of the project with the official sod-cutting for the construction of the ultra-modern office.

The project, being facilitated by the Regional Chairman of the party, Mr Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, aka Chairman Wontumi,  is under the distinguished patronage of the Nsimahene, Nana Nkansah Boadu Ayeboafo II.

History

 Speaking to the Daily Graphic on Monday, Mr Antwi-Boasiako said there was the need for the party to reflect on the contribution of the late Baffour Akoto.

He pointed out that the decision to honour Baffour Akoto was also motivated by the need to "honour personalities whose selfless contributions had brought their political tradition that far”.

Among the dignitaries to observe the occasion are the Second Lady, Mrs Samira Bawumia; the Chief of Staff, Madam Akosua Frema Opare Osei; the acting National Chairman, Mr Freddy Blay, the Majority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu; members of the Diplomatic Corps and the delegates for the upcoming regional elections of the NPP.

Family members of the late senior linguist will also grace the ceremony.

Baffour Akoto

Baffour  Akoto's struggles and sacrifices for the political tradition that gave birth to the NPP are well documented.

A politician, traditional ruler and an architect of the formation of the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC), Baffour  Akoto died on September 3, 2002 at the age of 98, leaving behind 31 children, including the current Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, 158 grandchildren and 220 great grandchildren.

He was a founder member of the National Liberation Movement (NLM) which agitated for a federal system of government for the country during the struggle for independence.

The NLM later merged with the Northern People’s Party to form the United Party (UP).

Baffour Akoto was a fierce critic of the first President of Ghana, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, and suffered detention under the Convention People’s Party (CPP) regime.

He was given a state burial upon his death.

Already, there is a lecture held every year by the Students’ Representative Council (SRC) of the Ghana School of Law dubbed: "Re: Akoto Memorial Lectures", in honour of a landmark case involving the late Baffour  Akoto and seven others in 1962 against their detention under the Preventive Detention Act of the CPP government.