President Kufuor attends Remembrance Service

Kumasi, Aug 10, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor on Sunday joined the large assembly of people from all walks of life who attended the Remembrance Service to mark the 25th anniversary of the death of Professor Kofi Abrefa Busia, a former Prime Minister of Ghana at the Wesley Methodist Cathedral in Kumasi.

The service formed part of activities lined up by the Busia Foundation to commemorate the life of the late Head of State between now and the end of the month.

The other planned activities include a dinner dance, a five-day exhibition, family gathering, wreath laying and tributes by political, academic and religious personalities as well as an inter-denominational thanksgiving service.

Delivering the sermon, the Very Reverend Dr Emmanuel Asante, Principal of the Trinity Seminary, Legon, said politics and Godliness should not be poles apart.

A true and authentic politician, he said, should be a servant of the people, who "promotes harmony between human beings and God". The Very Rev Dr Asante therefore, called on the country's political leaders to turn to God through faith and truthfulness. He told them to avoid pride, arrogance and wickedness, adding that, they should also not live on their own understanding, but to draw their strength from God.

The Very Rev Asante paid glowing tribute to the late Professor Busia for, what he said, his selfless life and demonstration of humanity, which brought relief to others.

Prof. Busia combined commitment to God, academic pursuit and service to his people through authentic politics.

He noted that the late Prime Minister was a wise man, not just because of his royal birth, intellectual and political acumen, but because, "he knew God and sought to honour him".

The Very Rev Asante was emphatic that "academic knowledge without God is nothing", adding, "the capacity to cheat, create confusion and visit misery on others is not wisdom".

The Busia Foundation, among other things, aims at preserving and disseminating the ideas and ideals of Dr Busia, promote human rights and civic education and provide grants, scholarships and bursaries to deserving scholars from Ghana and elsewhere.