TRIBUTE TO HON DR ANTHONY AKOTO OSEI BY OSEI KYEI-MENSAH-BONSU, MAJORITY LEADER & MINISTER FOR PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS
Dr Anthony Akoto Osei had every right to exist. This is in true recognition of a man of profound intellectual prowess that you want to root for until you cannot any longer as he rests today. No hero worship intended, but a masterclass performer when he purposed to perform either in committee or
plenary, exhibiting a picture of superior, incisive, thoughtful version of a debator several octaves higher than the pedestrianism that, unfortunately, is creeping into the corridors of the Legislature, noticeably observed by the spectacles of the baptised and confirmed but unrecognised but cheer leaders and yesmen and women.
The “Messianic Leader’s” regime was a real mess. Pretentiousness laminated it and Ghanaian citizens were all supposed to think that he was a great noble, misunderstood servant of God, and that was why he was “borne on the wings of angels to heaven in his spectacles” when he suddenly transitioned. Dr Akoto Osei straddled that period, and when he spoke he was perceived, simultaneously, as a villain by faithfuls of the regime, but as the voice for the downtrodden, by professionals.
I really encountered Akoto Osei in the lead up to the 2004 elections. At that time I was encumbering Old-Tafo-Suame Constituency which had been split up into Suame Constituency, which I appropriated, and Old Tafo, the otherwise weather-beaten turf which had suddenly become virgin, beckoning suitors. Mr Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, aka, “Sir John” and Dr Akoto Osei until then an Advisor to the Minister of Finance responded. Dr Musah was the contact person who arranged the first face-to-face meeting with the potential parliamentarian.
A difficult choice had to be made: Sir John was a childhood friend who had been persuaded by Papa Owusu Ankomah, his classmate, and I to abandon his sojourn in London. Akoto Osei was a quintessential
marksman. I elected to lean towards Dr Akoto Osei in order to strengthen the Caucus’s economics and finance department. That was to the chagrin of Sir John, quite expectedly, who thought it was a most unkind cut from a brother.
My ultimate consideration was, who would better serve the cause of the Party. January 7 2005, marked the beginning of the Third Parliament of the Fourth Republic and that was when the Hon Dr Anthony Akoto Osei was sworn in as a Legislator soon thereafter to be made a Minister of State at the
Finance Ministry to serve under Hon Kwadwo Baah Wiredu.
Dr Akoto Osei when the Party lost power in the 2008 Presidential and General elections was the obvious choice for the position of Ranking Member for the Finance Committee and that was where he blossomed: a very fine analytical brain who sieved every Financial Agreement with a comb, critiquing when issues that were unworthy surfaced and sifting wheat from chaff. In that regard, he was quick to acknowledge and recommend what in his considered opinion would serve national interest very much unlike the
“pummel-to-destroy-anything-that-comes-from-the-Executive” attitude that is being applauded lately.
Ghanaians contrasting the eventful days of Hon Dr Akoto Osei’s performance in Parliament, his debating skills are not persuaded by the half-baked analysis of recent days. That was why in his latter days he
was mad at the world. He felt increasing animosity to populism, rabble-rousing and double speak which had parted ways with substance.
Some three months ago, the Honourable Dr Akoto Osei had indicated to see me. When I made attempts to reach out to him I was told he was not available. The next time another invitation was extended to me through his “sister”, Doris, I could not respond immediately, but when I did, he was not in
his residence. Upon reaching him on his cell phone he told me he was in Kumasi and would be in Accra in four days’ time. That was the last time we spoke. A couple of days upon his return to Accra, death disengaged him from the world of mortals.
Over the past few months, especially, after the demise of his wife it became evident that Doc, as I used to call him, was quickening his strides to depart and it reflected in his physique and yet he bore his burden quietly with fortitude, the brave warrior that he was.
Hon Dr Akoto Osei, you have played your part as one of the very best Parliamentarians, the quality of whose contributions would continue to illuminate the Hansards and, indeed, the Parliament of Ghana.
Fare thee well, the soul that welcomed death with an embrace.
