NPP Set To Honour Late Otumfuo Chief Linguist Baffour Osei Akoto



The iconic edifice is in the honour of the Late Chief Linguist of Asantehene, Baffour Osei Akoto, whose struggles and sacrifices were instrumental in the establishment of the NPP tradition.

The project, being facilitated by the Regional Chairman, Mr. Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, is under the distinguished Patronage of the Nzemahene, Nana Nkansah Boadu Ayeboafo II.

The Late Baffour Osei Akoto is the father of the current Minister of Food and Agriculture and leading member of the party, Hon. Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto who is championing the government's flagship Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) campaign.

The Ashanti Regional capital will be awash with the red, blue and white colours of the NPP as party gurus and government officials storm the city to grace the memorable occasion.

Notably amongst the dignitaries to observe the occasion will include the Second Lady, Mrs. Samira Bawumia, Chief of Staff, Mad. Frema Opare, the acting National Chairman, Mr. Freddy Blay, Majority Leader, Hon. Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu, Members of the Diplomatic Corps and delegates for the upcoming regional elections.

The First Vice National Chairman of the party, Mr. Frederick Fredua Antoh is scheduled to deliver the keynote address which will trace the historical contributions of leading party figures, particularly the Late Baffour Akoto in whose honour the office is being built.

The Most Special Guest of Honour will be the Second Lady, Mrs. Samira Bawumia. Family members of the Late Senior Linguist would also grace the important ceremony.

Other speakers will include the Chief of Staff and the Majority Leader.

The decision to name the edifice in honour of BaffourOsei Akoto has been hailed by many as a laudable one considering the invaluable contribution of the late popular traditionalist who became a sworn political enemy to the first President of Ghana, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.

Already, there is a lecture held every by the SRC Ghana School of Law dubbed "Re: Akoto Memorial Lectures" in honour of a landmark case involving the Late Baffour Osei Akoto and seven others in 1962 against their detention under the oppressive Preventive Detention Act of Nkrumah.

Many have commended Chairman Wontumi for his exemplary leadership, particularly having led the party to a successful elections in 2016.

The Regional Chairman, who is set to be reelected unopposed, led the party to achieve the highest percentage vote in Ashanti for the NPP (76%) since the second round vote in 2000(78%) with a valid votes of 1559, 846.

Speaking in an interview, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the party, Mr. Antwi Boasiako said there was the need to rewrite the history of the party to reflect the contribution of the late Baffour Akoto.

According to him, the decision was motivated by the need to "honour personalities whose selfless struggle and sacrifices eventually gave birth to the UP tradition"