Late B.A Fuseini lauded as development oriented

Accra, Nov.30, GNA- Mr Mustapha Sanah, Executive Director of Northern Aid, a non-governmental organisation, on Thursday lauded the late Alhaji Basit Abdulai Fuseini, as an educationist and politician, whose contribution towards the development of North Region was unblemished.

He said the late Alhaji Fuseini, affectionately called: "B.A", who was also a Divisional Chief in Tamale, became a household name in the Northern Region due to his achievements in sports and education.

Mr Sanah, who was speaking to the Ghana News Agency in Accra, said: "Education and sports received tremendous boost during his days as Headmaster and Director of Education in the Northern Region.

"As a staunch football enthusiast, many football fans in the Region shall remember his selfless contributions to the formation of Real Tamale United (RTU) in 1976 and his dedicated service as the maiden Secretary to the Football club."

Mr Sanah described Mr Fuseini as an impeccable character and personality, who was frank, eschewed dishonesty and was a star negotiator and man of few words.

"B.A Fuseini epitomised courage and dedication to work." He described Alhaji Fuseini as his mentor and a close associate whose students are spread in every facet of Ghana's national development.

"I shall forever refer to this great son of the North as torchlight, as far as education in Northern Ghana is concerned," Mr Sanah said Alhaji Fuseini was very effective Regional Minister who enjoyed cordial relations with all ethnic groups. "He supported many development projects in the region and was one of the few regional ministers who did not consider party colours during his political career".

Mr Sanah said as a Chief in Dagbon, he exhibited high level of maturity and respect for all regardless of ethnicity or chieftaincy divide.

Describing his death as a great loss to Dagbon, he said as a human being; Alhaji Fuseini had his shortcomings, yet his contributions outweighed his shortfalls.

Until his death last week at the Tamale Teaching Hospital, Alhaji Fuseini was Chairman of Tamale Polytechnic Governing Council and Member of the Development Committee of the University for Development Studies. He was also the Chairman of the Northern Regional Health Committee and chaired many other boards in the Region.

Alhaji Fuseini was born on December 14, 1942 in Tamale and completed his Middle School (Junior Secondary School) education at Kalpohin Middle School.

He moved on to pursue his Ordinary Level and Advanced level education at Tamale Secondary School (TAMASCO). In 1964 he gained admission into the University of Cape Coast, where he obtained a Bachelors of Arts degree in Education and clenched a Masters of Science Degree in Entomology at the University of Ghana, Legon.

In 1972, he started his working career at TAMASCO, his alma mater and by dint of hard work rose within a short time to become an Assistant Headmaster. In 1973 he was appointed the Headmaster of Ghana Secondary School, in Tamale.

He rose to a Divisional Director of Education, Ghana Education Service, after holding offices such as the Principal of Tamale Training College Metropolitan Education Director, Tamale, and Northern Regional Director of Education.

Alhaji Fuseini began his political life as staunch supporter of the Danquah-Busia tradition that gave birth to the ruling New Patriotic Party and later joined the National Democratic Congress.

He became the regional scribe of the defunct Popular Front Party and was appointed the Northern Regional Minister in 1994.

In 1992 Alhaji Fuseini was the Member of Parliament for Constituency and a Deputy Majority Leader between 1993-1997 and also became a Minister of State at the Office of the President. After losing his parliamentary seat in 1997, Alhaji Fuseini became Ghana's Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Libya, and High Commissioner to Malta.