No Honour For A Hero

Prof Kwapong
He served his nation outstandingly and touched the hearts of countless Ghanaians. His compatriots from all walks of life – and they were many – expectedly turned up to pay their last respects to a great son of this country prior to his interment recently.

Regrettably, the state did not find his exemplary achievements worthy of a tribute; we don't know why. That is the story of the late Prof Kwapong who has left behind epoch-making footprints in the sand of our history.

The closest the state came to doffing its hat for him was the presence of Vice President Amissah-Arthur and the laying of a wreath. His presence was, many think, because he too passed through the institution the man served well and helped build to its current status.

He was the first Ghanaian to head the University of Ghana, Legon – taking over from the last expatriate, O'Brien – in the early days of independence.

He took over the baton at a time when cynics wondered whether the Ghanaian could run as fast as the man he had succeeded. Those were the toddling days of a freshly independent Ghana. He performed so well that those who doubted him saw in his story a confirmation of Kwame Nkrumah's axiom that 'the black man is capable of managing his own affairs.'

In spite of these strides, the government neither offered him a tribute nor a state burial; as if he was not the man who strode the country's tertiary education management like a colossus.

Not even his chairmanship of the Council of State was acknowledged by the government.

Countries across the world with enviable histories have not failed to honour their great sons and daughters who made these landmarks.

Unfortunately, our country is not one of these. We have lost out in many realms of life, including honouring our illustrious sons and daughters, reserving the honours rather to those who do not deserve them.

By this unenviable feat, we stand the risk of losing contributions of citizens. They would not die a little for their motherland. Why should we strive to contribute towards the development of our country when at the end of the day our contributions would be interred with us when we are called by our maker?

We live in a country where out of partisan considerations, persons who do not come near the status of the late Prof Kwapong were given state burials when they passed away.

We wish to inform President John Mahama that this attitude is unbecoming and that one day when he breathes his last he too could suffer a similar fate at the hands of another Ghanaian at the helm. Posterity is waiting to visit a similar fate on those whose acts of commission or omission have denied illustrious Ghanaians state honours.

May the soul of Prof Kwapong rest in peace.