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Press Release
NPP, November
18, 2012
TRIBUTE TO ALHAJI ALIU MAHAMA
BY NANA ADDO DANKWA AKUFO-ADDO,
NPP 2012 PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE ON SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2012
We met some twenty years ago in Tamale when I was busy helping
to organise the expansion of the Danquah Busia Memorial Club
in preparation for the formation of the New Patriotic Party.
He had an open house for all and sundry, especially for
adherents of our common tradition. He was a genial host,
courteous and generous.
I recognised, from the outset, his deep attachment to the
values and principles of the Danquah-Dombo-Busia political
tradition – the values of fairness and opportunity, respect
for individual freedom and human rights, respect for the rule
of law and the principles of democratic accountability, and
confidence in a dynamic market economy as the best vehicle for
generating prosperity for the mass of our people.
We struck up a good relationship in Opposition, a relationship
that grew in Government, where we were both members of the
Kufuor administration in which he held the number 2 position.
For him personally, the most disturbing incident in our period
of government was the tragic death of his good friend, the Ya-Na,
Ya-Na Yakubu Andani II. It shook him to his core and he worked
tirelessly to find a solution to the problems of peace and
reconciliation for his beloved Dagbon.
The cordial relations between us survived even our competition
for the leadership of the party, and lasted till the
unfortunate end.
It was in Tamale a few weeks ago, at the time of the IEA
debate, that I had my last conversation with Alhaji Aliu
Mahama. As was usual with him, he was refreshingly to the
point and uncomplicated. He gave me a precise brief on the
part of the campaign that he had been involved in and he was
his usual positive self. There was no indication that such a
tragedy would befall us less than a month later.
Unfortunately, however, on his return to Accra, he was
hospitalised at Korle Bu, a predicament from which he did not
recover. I visited him exactly a week ago today, but left his
unconscious side with a considerable sense of anxiety and
foreboding. My instincts have been tragically realised.
I felt a deep sense of loss at the passing of Aliu. For eight
years as Vice President to John Agyekum Kufuor, he was an
exemplar of what a Vice President should be – supportive,
encouraging and constantly watching out for pitfalls.
It is not often that the New Patriotic Party takes someone to
its collective heart so wholeheartedly, but our Vice President
managed to charm most people in the party. He made it one of
his tasks to woo Zongos to the NPP and the Nasara Clubs found
a ready champion in him.
Those who took his calm demeanour for weakness did so at their
own risk, because he was not easily moved from his strongly
held beliefs.
He did not shy from hard work, and, in this current campaign,
he has been as enthusiastic on the trail as he ever was. He
has been especially supportive of my running mate, Mahamudu
Bawumia, and has been generous with his time and resources.
Aliu and I have unfinished business; he wanted us to win over
the Zongos and he wanted peace to return to his beloved Dagbon.
I hope that on December 7 we shall have evidence that his work
with the Zongos has brought dividends and I pledge to him that
I will work to bring peace to Dagbon. If anything will ensure
that Aliu rests in peace, it will be the establishment of full
peace and reconciliation in Dagbon, and I pray that we all
work to achieve this. My deepest condolences go to Hajia
Ramatu, Aliu’s elegant and supportive wife, and to the
children, Farouk, Mohammed, Fayad, Selma and Halim.
Dagbon has lost its most illustrious son; the North has lost a
powerful advocate; the Moslem community has lost a devout
Moslem and its only Vice President in our history; the NPP has
lost a valued and hardworking activist; John Agyekum Kufuor
has lost his dependable and competent vice, who helped him
reinforce the unity of our country; and the Ghanaian nation
has lost a patriot and dignified public servant.
I feel a deep personal loss and I pledge that the NPP will
work to keep the Aliu flame alight. Let us pray for the repose
of his soul, and may the Almighty Allah grant him eternal
rest. Allah iji Keinshi
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