Parliament eulogises Awoonor
Parliament has eulogised the late Professor Kofi Nyidevu Awoonor, who was among the victims of the September 21, 2013 Westgate Mall terrorist attack in Kenya.
Born on March 13, 1935, Prof Awoonor was a distinguished poet, novelist, literary scholar, essayist, diplomat and political activist.
He also served as chairman of the Council of State in the Prof Atta Mills’s government.
Contributors to a statement made by the Member of Parliament for Ketu North, Mr James Klutse Avedzi, on Friday recognised the late professor’s contributions to the development of the country and called for the setting up of an institute that would pass on his works to this and future generations.
The Speaker of Parliament, in a brief comment after the various contributions, said he was yet to come to terms with Prof Awoonor’s death.
He explained that what happened to Prof. Awoonor could have happened to him, had he not left Kenya a week before the tragic incident.
"In fact, if I am alive now, it is by the grace of God," he said, and paid glowing tribute to the late Prof Awoonor for his contribution to academia and the development of the country.
Contributors to the statement
Contributors to the statement included Mr Frank Annoh Dompreh, Nsawam/Adoagyiri; Juliana Azumah-Mensah, Agotime/Ziope; Ms Hanna Tetteh, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Mr Rashid Pelpuo, Wa Central, among others.
For his part, the Minority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, said Prof Awoonor’s death came as a shock to him.
Commenting on the Professor’s literary works, he said they portrayed him as a warrior, although he (Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu) did not agree with him in his political writings.
"The circumstances surrounding his death are as opaque as his writings," he said to explain how it was difficult for him as a student to get copies of Prof Awoonor’s works for study.
The Majority Leader, Dr Benjamin Kunbuor, joined his colleagues to call for a fitting monument to be built in memory of Prof Awoonor.
Daily Graphic/Ghana
