Nostalgia About Achuliwor Rocks Parliament

A chilling sensation ran through the spines of members of Parliament yesterday as tributes were paid by both sides of the House to the memory of the late John Achuliwor, member for Navorongo Central.

Even those who are imbued with parliamentary oratory became sober and appeared tamed by sadness and could hardly make any speech and the usual "point of order" that punctuated contributions was given a rest for once.

Captain (rtd) Effah-Dartey and Moses Dani Baah, members for Berekum and Sissala respectively, set the pace with a joint statement read by the latter to bid their departed colleague farewell.

"In bidding him goodbye, we want to see his death as a supreme sacrifice, to call for a greater degree of intensified highway patrol by our police, to check, not just highway crime but also speed on the roads.

John Achuliwor paid the supreme price of life by entering eternity in January 2003 through a fatal road accident while traveling home to attend an urgent constituency meeting.

The statement cautioned road users to exercise maximum care adding, "In mourning the exit of Hon. John Achuliwor, we want to call on all Ghanaians to remember that it is always better to be late to a programme than the late Mr. X."

While some members of the House described the late Achuliwor as a selfless man who will always be remembered for his principles others said the northern regions and the entire nation had lost a 'formidable' colleague who stood and died for the truth.

The leader of the House, Paapa Owusu Ankomah, said their demised friend was a colleague who did not do things in halves.

He said the life of a Member of Parliament (MP) is the life of total commitment to one's nation and urged members not to lose focus or hope as the representatives of the people but to continue to serve the nation faithfully.

Mr. Achuliwor who died at the prime age of 50 years first entered Parliament as an independent member for Navorongo Central 1995 but subsequently lost the seat during the 1996 general elections.

In the year 2000 he stood on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and re-entered the House.

His Excellency President John Agyekum Kufuor expressed confidence in his capabilities nominated him as a deputy minister of Communications and Technology until he met his death in January this year.

The late MP a Catholic by faith would be buried at Navrongo tomorrow.