State Burial for Naa Abeifaa Karbo

Accra, Jan. 18, GNA - Naa Abeifaa Karbo II, Paramount Chief of the Lawra Traditional Area and representative of the Upper West Region on the Council of State, would be given a fitting State Burial.

President John Agyekum Kufuor, who announced this on Tuesday, said Ghanaians, who had distinguished themselves in the service of the country deserved fitting State Burial.

He was expressing his heartfelt condolences at the Castle, Osu when a family delegation officially informed the Government about the death of Naa Karbo, 78, who died at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital on December 11, 2004.

President Kufuor said Naa Karbo, who began life as a teacher and later ventured into politics, led a life of service to the country, resisted directives of the colonial rule and championed the cause of Ghana's independence.

"He was always in the forefront of service to the nation and fellow human beings", he said.

President Kufuor advised people in the Upper West Region to show pride in the Danquah-Busia Tradition and follow the footsteps of their forebears, who stood behind the tradition in the fight for true democracy in Ghana.

"You should be proud of that political tradition that your forebears initiated and nursed that had blossomed to form the Government of the day. You should feel that it is a duty to have people from the Region to follow the footsteps of such people as B.K. Adama, Jato Kaleo, Braimah, Abeifaa Karbo and many others."

Mr R.R. Amponsah, Chairman of the Council of Elders of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), said it was unity that Founders of the United Party (UP) and Danquah-Busia Tradition came together, therefore, the death of the Naa Karbo should galvanise members of the family to forge ahead in unity for the socio-economic development of the country. He said the Naa Karbo resolved to commit himself to the struggle for Ghana's independence with the hope and confidence that when they remained resolute the country's socio-economic development could be achieved.

Mr Rowland Anyere Karbo, a Spokesman for the Family, said customary rites and burial had been scheduled for 22 February to 28 February 2005.

Naa Karbo known in private life as Abu-Bakaral-Sadiq Abayifaa Karbo was born at Lawra on January 7, 1927 and attended the Lawra Native Authority Primary School from 1935 to 1939, Tamale Government Boys School from 1940 to 1943.

He continued at the Government Teacher Training College at Gambaga from 1944 to 1945 and 1947 to 1948, Ghana Law School 1960 to 1964 and the Faculty of Law, Legon 1964 to 1965.

Naa Karbo was called to the Ghana Bar on October 1, 1965 and enrolled as Solicitor and Barrister of the Supreme Court of Ghana and Member of Parliament for the Lawra-Nandom Constituency in July 1954 to June 1965.

He also served on some National Committees and Commissions; these were Commission to Enquire into the Assets of President Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah in 1966; Political Committee of the National Liberation Council (NLC) 1966 to 1968 and the Constitutional Commission from 1967 1969.

Others were the Constituent Assembly in 1969 and Director of Ashanti Goldfields Corporation 1969 to 1972; Member of the Public Services Commission April 1969 to 1970 and Chairman of the Public Services Commission from 1971 to 1980.

Naa Karbo was the Commissioner for Health from July 1977 to November 1978 and Commissioner for Special Duties from November 1978 to June 4, 1979 during the Supreme Military Council (SMC 1); Commissioner for Agriculture from June 4, 1979 to September 24, 1979 and elected President of the Upper West Regional House of Chiefs from 2003 to 2004. He ascended to the Lawra Naalu Skins after the death of his father Naa Jorbie Akodam Karbo in November 1967 but was permitted to continue in Public Service and formally outdoored on December 30, 1985.

Naa Karbo left behind 16 children.