Veep asks Dagombas to wage relentless war against poverty

Tamale, Dec. 10, GNA- The Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama at the weekend asked Dagombas to wage a relentless war against poverty, which, he said, had been the bane of development in the Northern Region. He said people in the Dagban traditional area should also transcend all factional conflicts and parochial interests, which had undermined peace, unity and socio-economic progress.

Alhaji Mahama made the call in Tamale, when he joined a large number of people to observe the funeral rites (Adua) of the late Alhaji Basit Abdulai Fuseini, 64, former Regional Minister, Diplomat and Educationist, who died on November 26, 2006.

He said Alhaji Fuseini used his entire life to fight for the interests of Northerners, hence the need for Dagombas to use his death as an occasion to forgive one another of all grievances and strive to promote their common destiny.

Alhaji Mahama said the late politician was instrumental in the formation of Real Tamale United football club and encouraged the promotion of sports.

He asked the youth to walk in his footprints. Dr Abdulai Salifu, Director of the Savannah Agricultural Research Institute, who read the tribute of the deceased's family said his death though real, was a big personal loss to his relatives of who: "He was the anchor to a boat needing direction to mutual cooperation, coherence and solidarity of its crew and members."

"Some of us loved to refer to him as master, because master he was, for he lived his profession with unparallel passion." He said in pursuance of his profession, he did not only teach and supervised, he also assisted greatly in creating an environment in which education flourished in Northern Ghana.

Dr Salifu said: " Alhaji B.A may have been short in stature, yet he stood tall in all pursuit. He inspired, he showed kindness and he extended hope and confidence to many without preconditions.=94 Alhaji Malik Alhassan, Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament, said Alhaji Fuseini, as an Educationist helped to nurture the education of members of parliament, such as Mr Moses Asaga, Mr John Mahama and Dr Yakubu Alhassan.

A number of tributes read on behalf of the wife and children of Alhaji Fuseini and representatives of the numerous management boards he served, described him as a loving personality who wished Dagbon was united when he was alive.

Alhaji Mahama born on December 14, 1942 at Sagnarigu, near Tamale, had his secondary education at Tamale Secondary School from 1958 to 1964 then proceeded to the University of Cape Coast where he obtained a Bachelor's degree in Science Education. Between 1970 and 1971, he obtained a Master's degree in Entomology from the University of Ghana, Legon.

He was appointed Headmaster of Ghana Secondary School GHANASCO), Tamale between 1972 and 1973.

Alhaji Fuseini served as Head of Financial Administration in the Budget Division of the Ghana Education Service and later became the Principal of Tamale Training College (TATCO). From TATCO, he became the acting Regional Director of Education and Metropolitan Director of Education between 1988 and 1993. He was elected as the National Democratic Congress MP for Gulkpegu-Sabongida in 1992.

While in Parliament, he became the Deputy Majority Leader from 1993 to 1997, appointed also a Minister of State and Ambassador to Libya and High Commissioner to Malta.

Until his death, Alhaji Fuseini was the Chairman of the Governing Council of Tamale Polytechnic, Northern Regional Health Committee and GHANASCO Board of Governors.

There were cash and other donations from individuals and organisations including the Vice President, the Regional Coordinating Council, Northern Caucus of Parliament and people from all walks of life worth over 50 million cedis.