Tribute to Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu

We the members of NPP UK and Ireland have learnt with deep shock and the sudden death of Hon Kwadwo Baah Wiredu, MP and Finance Minister. Words cannot express the state of shock we find ourselves in from this great loss to Ghana the NPP and Asante Akim North, his constituency.

We in UK and Ireland of the Danquah-Busia fraternity recall with a sense of happiness the number of times that he visited us here in UK and visited our radio stations to explain economic policies and the open and candid nature in which he tackled seemingly difficult situations. We also recall with gratitude his services to the nation and the NPP administration in three tough sectors of the economy – Local Government, Education and Finance & Economic Planning. He was a great achiever and always modest about himself.

We mourn with our mother Party in Ghana the loss of a true defender of our tradition whose sense of patriotism stands tall for all to see. We mourn the loss of a true son of Ghana, a true political leader and a great inspirer. He was a good man.

Our thoughts and condolences go to his young family who undoubtedly has lost a father, a husband, a bread winner and indeed a pillar. Our thoughts also go to the leadership of our Party who worked closely with him and who will be in the forefront of arranging a befitting farewell for undoubtedly one of Ghana's finest finance ministers, if not the best.

Kwadwo as he was affectionately referred to by all his admirers displayed in his life a sense of humility which was beyond comparison. He was trustworthy, hardworking and indeed a God fearing gentleman who had positive influence on any one who came across him. He was so vey much respected across the political spectrum and worked tirelessly to deepen this respect.

Hon Baah Wiredu has left us a time when his dream of propelling the NPP in its quest to move Ghana forward in the forthcoming election was nearing fruition. He has been wickedly taken away from us at a time when the sound economic policies he helped to create under the leadership of President Kufuor are beginning to pay off. For us as a Party in government with the quest to succeed ourselves in order to transform the economy, modernize the society and deepen the democratic institutions of our country, the only way we can honour his name is to work even harder to realize the ideals he lived and fought for all his life by winning the forthcoming election.

Let us all use Baah Wiredu's untimely death as the rallying point to unite all factions in the Danquah-Busia family and use this unity to celebrate his life which we consider to be a gift from God.

We thank his family for sparing us the services of a son, a husband and a father in the name of Komfo Adu and thank God for blessing our nation with such a talent. We sincerely believe that history will judge him as a true son, a patriot, an honest politician and indeed great economic saviour of our nation in its in modern political history.

FAREWELL!! KWADWO NANTE YIE!'

By Hayford Atta-Krufi CHAIRMAN For and on behalf of NPP UK & EIRE