APPIAH-MINKAH GIVEN STATE BURIAL
A
State burial rite has been organized for the late astute industrialist and politician,
Akenten Appiah-Minkah in Kumasi in recognition of his contribution to national
development.
Among the large crowd of mourners and well-wishers at the rites
were President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, his Vice, Alhaji Dr. Mahamudu
Bawumia and former President, Mr. John Agyekum Kufuor.
Born
some 84 years ago the late Nana Kenten Appiah-Minkah, who hailed from Aboabogya
in the Afigya Kwabre district of Ashanti, was famous for his entrepreneurial
acumen, active partisanship, patriotism and statesmanship.
Born four months
after the death of his father, the late Nana Akenten Appiah-Minkah had his formal
education at the Aboabogya Methodist Primary school, Adisadel College in Cape
Coast and the Abuakwa State College in the Eastern region and later had his
Advanced Level Certificate at the North Western Polytechnic at Kentish Town in
the United Kingdom.
Afterwards, he had his law certificate from the University
of Manchester and called to the Lincolns Inn before returning to Ghana in 1960
to practice.
In Ghana, he established an Oil Palm Plantation at Adansi Akrofuom
and later in 1977, built the Appian-Minkah Complex at Ahinsan in Kumasi for the
production of the popular ‘Apino’ bar soap.
Between 1970 and 1979, Nana Akenten
Appiah-Minkah served as the Deputy Minister for Trade, Industry and Toursim and
also Deputy Minister for Justice and Attorney General.
He served was a member
of the Constitution Review Commission and in 2008, received the Companion of
the Order of the Volta among other national and international awards.
Before
his death, he was the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the Council of Elders of the
governing New Patriotic Party.
He died on 13th February this year
leaving behind a wife, Mrs. Rosemond Appiah-Minkah and 13 children.
The State Burial
At
the State burial rite were mourners and well-wishers from diverse backgrounds
including politicians, lawyers, government functionaries, NPP stalwarts, the
clergy, chiefs and family members. Prominent among them were President
Akufo-Addo, Vice President Alhaji Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, former President J.A.
Kufuor and some national Executive Officers of the NPP.
In
a tribute, the wife, Mrs. Rosemond Appiah-Minka, recalled with fond memories,
the happy periods of their marriage.
She
reminisced 'Ken, I miss hearing your voice calling out Rose or Maame Dufie
affectionately. Even when you were too frail to talk, somehow, you managed to
find the strength to call my name. Ken, I miss you. Losing you made me realize
how fortunate and blessed I was to have you as a husband.”
In
a sermon, the Kumasi Diocesan Bishop of the Methodist Church, Right Reverend
Nyarko Andam, said as stewards of various God’s creations including the
environment and also people in responsible positions, everyone is bound to give
account of his responsibility one day.
‘And one day, each one of us will be
called upon by God to give accounts of what he entrusted to us’, the Reverend
Minister stressed.
President
Akufo-Addo described the late Nana Akenten Appiah-Minkah as a model of
entrepreneurial spirit Ghana needs for her development.
President
Akufo-Addo said ‘Ghana has lost an outstanding industrialist,
distinguished statesman and a devoted patriot. It is fitting that the state
should so acknowledge him, by giving him a state burial as a mark of the highest
honour. He deserves it.’
Six
wreaths were laid on behalf of the Government and people of Ghana, the chiefs
and people of Asanteman, the widow, children family and the Methodist Church of
which he was a member. His final funeral rite will be held at the fore-court of
the Baba Yara Sports Stadium on Saturday, the 26th of this month.
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