Ghana Has Lost A Fine Gentleman; Prez Reacts To Kwesi Botchwey Passing

The President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has paid tribute to the late and former Finance Minister of the country, Professor Kwesi Botchwey.

The president took to his Facebook page to console the bereaved family and the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC)- of which Prof Botchwey was a member- for the loss.

He died on Saturday, November 19, 2022, at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital where he had been receiving medical attention for a while.

He died at age 78.

President Akufo-Addo says the loss goes against the whole of Ghana.

“Ghana has lost a fine gentleman and exceptional public servant.”

In his tribute, the president referred to Prof Botchwey as his good “friend” and recollected memories of him.

“The death of my good friend, Dr Kwesi Botchway, is a very sad development. My contemporary, in the mid-1960s, at the University of Ghana, Legon, Dr Botchway was a longstanding public servant, who discharged his duties thoughtfully and with dignity, and became Ghana’s longest-serving Minister for Finance and Economic Planning.”

On his part, the NDC Presidential aspirant hopeful, Kwabena Dufour described him as an “icon”, “selfless”, “diligent”, “widely respected”, “kind-hearted” and an embodiment of a strong sense of nationhood.

Kwabena Duffuor’s experience with him came during his tenure as Chief Economist and the Head of Research of the Ghana Commercial Bank.

In his tribute, he said, “I extend my sincerest condolences to his bereaved family and wish them strength in these difficult times. Rest well, Kwesi.”

Botchwey attended Presbyterian Boys’ Senior High School in Ghana.

He held an LL.B. from the University of Ghana, an LL.M from Yale Law School, and a doctorate from the University of Michigan Law School.

Botchwey was appointed Finance Minister and Economic Planning from 1982 to 1995 by former and late President Jerry John Rawlings.

Source: opemsuo.com/Hajara Fuseini