Busia Foundation condemns looting of Busia’s tomb
The Busia Foundation International ( BFI) has condemned the recent attempt by a group of miscreants to loot the tomb of Dr Kofi Abrefa Busia, a Prime Minister of Ghana during the Second Republic, at Wenchi in the Brong Ahafo Region.
The grave looters vandalised a large section of the residence of the late Ghanaian leader by smashing the glass doors and windows in the building.
"The Busia Foundation International wishes to draw the Government’s attention to the neglect of the Busia Mausoleum since 2009. It is extremely worrying for an important national asset like the mausoleum of a former leader of the nation to remain unguarded such that criminals would have the effrontery to attempt defiling it", it said.
A statement issued to the Daily Graphic in Sunyani and signed by the Director of Public Affairs of the foundation, Mr Anane-Agyei, said considering Dr Busia’s immense services to Ghana and internationally as a politician and an academic, he was not only a statesman for Ghana but for Africa and the world at large.
It indicated that the criminals succeeded in what they did due to the neglect of the mausoleum, and added that any attempt to undermine his importance was a great dent on the image of Ghana and the entire African continent.
"It must be noted that Dr Busia was not only a politician and an academic; he was also a royal and heir apparent to the Ahwenekoko Stool (Sofoase Yefri) of Wenchi, hence, a defilement of his tomb in any way is an affront not only to the Stool of Wenchi but also to the chieftaincy institution", the statement said.
The statement assured Ghanaians and the world that the attempt by the criminals to loot the grave of Dr Busia had been foiled, but considerable damage was caused to the mausoleum and adjoining buildings.
The statement also said it was rather intriguing that the government had so far decided to be unconcerned about this important matter. “We think that the action and inaction of the government by not even issuing a statement of condemnation is a dangerous precedent, as security for the final resting place of all our leaders should be a priority”.
It indicated that ex-President J. A. Kufuor exhibited deep reverence for Fathia Nkrumah, the wife of President Nkrumah, before and after her death. That attitude must inspire us all to honour our past leaders, irrespective of the political traditions.
It would be recalled that the Daily Graphic, in its Tuesday, October 22, 2013 edition, had as it's banner headline: "Busia tomb vandalised. Two in police grip".
The story, which was on the third page of the paper, read "Two persons including a man said to be a pastor have been arrested for attempting to break into the tomb of Dr Kofi Abrefa Busia, Ghana's Prime Minister in the Second Republic, at Wenchi in the Brong Ahafo Region".
"The police say the two suspects were found naked on the tomb of the man who was Ghana's Premier between 1969 and 1972, early yesterday morning and were whisked into custody", the story stated.
The story gave the names of the suspects as Emmanuel Osei Sarpong, the alleged pastor, and Solomon Adu, both 34.
Daily Graphic/Ghana
