Hon. Owusu Dr. Afriyie Akoto, the Minister of food and Agriculture has described late Baffour Osei Akoto who was a family man, Chief and a statesman, as man of strong personality Imbued with leadership qualities.
He said that, he was endowed with magnetic influence that drew people of diverse backgrounds in terms of social standing, education, ethnicity, religious persuasion etc.
Addressing a gathering on the 16th edition of Re-Akoto memorial lectures at KNUST, Hon. Afriyie Akoto said, although the former statesman did not have much formal education, he deployed his indigenous knowledge and wisdom so effectively that he was able to weave together a strong team of highly educated personalities from notable professions into a formidable political force to influence the direction of the country’s politics in the 1950s.
He said that, Baffour Akoto’s Political career was short but he made a great impact in the constitution.
“One of the notable laws he fought against was Parliament shall not have no power to enact a law establishing a one-party state.”
According to him, Baffour Akoto led enraged cocoa farmers to protest against the Dr. Nkrumah’s government after he promised the cocoa producers he will double the price of the cocoa to five pounds per ton. “But eventually the government pegged the price at 72 shillings.
Hon. Afriyie Akoto revealed that, one notable issue that underpinned the political life of the former Chief was his arrest and detention under the Preventive Detention Act (PDA) and which he sought intervention of the Supreme Court.
” He did not wait for any sophisticated weapons to accomplish all the legacies he achieved. What he possessed bravery, oratorical and rhetorical competence which underpin the importance of language in governance and cultural transmission.
Dr. Afriyie Akoto further eulogized his father that as a traditional ruler and the Senior Okyeame of the Asantehene, he played an instrumental role in helping to deepen chieftaincy and culture.
Taking his turn, the immediate past Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon. Prof. Aaron Mike Oquaye said his legacies must be highly embraced.
He said that, because of the protest of Akoto, 7 others and the work of Dr. J. B. Danquah, Ghana now has fundamental human rights.
“You cannot detent a Ghanaian beyond 48 hours because of Re-Akoto,” he said.
Prof. Mike Aaron Quaye stated that, the law that indicates President cannot not declare state of emergency rule by the Presidential fiat was done by Baffour Akoto.
“The independence of the judiciary and the capacity of the President of the 1st Republic to declare a verdict on the Supreme Court null and void and now you cannot do that today, we should remember Re-Akoto,” the barrister said.
He indicated that, it’s because of Re-Akoto no President can rule the country beyond 8 years.
