Remembering Former Prominent NPP Members Who Led The Way For Nana Akufo Addo
2016 Ghana Elections: Meet some of the NPP (New Patriotic Party) patriotic citizens who paved the way for Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo
When an old man dies a library burns to the ground’ African proverb (Amadou Hampâté Bâ) En Afrique, quand un vieillard meurt, c’est une bibliothèque qui brûle.
Prominent lawyer and politician John Kwesi Bosu Spio, was born in Cape Coast on Sunday 24th June 1928 to the late Mr. George Kofi Spio and the Late Mrs. Mary Aba Jeffrey Spio. He was the third born of eight children.
Young John Kwesi Bosu Spio started his primary education at St Francis Cathedral School and went from there to Cape Coast Jubilee School. At the early age of 12 years his father passed away, being the eldest son he had to take up menial jobs after school to support his mother who was a petty trader. He attended St Augustine Secondary School. On his successful completion his profound love for God made him decide to become a catholic priest. Aged 19 he gained admission at the Cape Coast Ammisano Seminary. With the death of his father the family was faced with financial challenges; and his dream of attending College at Fouray Bay in Sierra Leona was also shattered. He was however still determination to see his siblings educated; this made him leave the seminary to commence full time work.
ADULT LIFE
At age 23, Mr. John Spio was appointed Head teacher of Bisease Ajumako Catholic School. He had a great passion for music and became the choir master and organist at Bisease Ajumako Catholic Church.
He left Bisease and was employed at Ghana Railway and Ports Authority, he worked so hard he was transferred to Tema and promoted to the position of Port Manager.
He was not only career minded but had a strong value for family life. Whilst working as a Port Manager he started his family. His busy work schedule did not prevent him from being a great father, his children meant the world to him and he was a role model to all of them.
Mr. Spio enrolled as a London University External student pursuing LLB degree. He later successfully completed his LLB degree at Cardiff University UK. He then pursued Master of Business Administration (MBA) at Syracuse University, U.S.A.
On returning to Ghana he attended University of Ghana Legon and completed his legal training after which he was enrolled as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Ghana.
Mr. Spio was the proverbial jack of all trades and had a great life, between the period of 1959 and 1995 when he retired, he was the Chairman of Elmina Motel now known as the Elmina Beach Resort, he also acted as the Director of Ceredec, Swan Business Consultants Ltd and then as Director of Central Regional Development Corporation. He also served as a Regional Manager at Management Development and Productivity Institute.
Mr. Spio also worked as the Director of Twifo Oil Palm Plantation Company (TOPP). He was also a Lecturer at U.C.C and later became the Head of the B.Com Dept. He was the Director of Catholic Mission Press, Cape Coast.
He was a Couterpart Consultant for R.R. Nathan Associates Ghana and the Planning Unit Director of CIDA Expert, Ministry of Transport and Communication.
Despite these numerous duties he still had the strength to practice effectively as a lawyer; in fact he was known as one of the best lawyers especially in Cape Coast. He served twice as the President of Central Region Bar Association.
Mr. Spio was a patriotic citizen and had an active political life; he was one time the Central Region Chairman of the New Patriotic Party and remained an active member till his death.
Apart from his local duties Mr. Spio was involved with various Overseas Projects; he was a Representative for Ports Administration and Operations Programmes in the Netherlands and Belgium, he was a Trainee Manager for Transportation Management and Operations in Western Germany, and a Manager for United Nations Ports and ShippingTraining Seminars in Nigeria. He spoke more than 7 different foreign languages and travelled all over the world.
His busy work schedule did not prevent him from being a great father, his children meant the world to him and he was a role model to all of them. It was his aim in life to educate them to the highest level attainable. He indeed succeeded in educating all his children in every aspect of life. This education has not only stayed with his children but has extended to his grandchildren and will linger on from generation to generation.
Mr. Spio had high standards which made him appear strict but he easily shared a joke with his great sense of humour, even in the most challenging of situations he would come up with a joke to lighten the situation. In his spare time he loved to read, take his children to the beach, teach them how to play the piano as well as telling them great folk stories. His love for music was great, as such wherever he fellowshipped he played the church organ and was the choir master.
Retirement
After his retirement from these jobs he worked as a consultant for various firms and took to travelling as well as concentrating on playing the organ and being a best friend and an adviser to his children.
Rest In Peace ! June 24, 1928 – July 09, 2008
Former President of Ghana John Kofi Agyekum Kufuor is a member of the Ashanti people, Kufuor is married to Theresa Kufuor (née Mensah), with whom he has had five children. Kufuor and his family belong to the Roman Catholic Church. He was born in Kumasi and educated at Osei Tutu Boarding School….
John Kufuor became the second President of the 4th Republic of Ghana, a very very good President we love him…
Mr Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, just like lawyer Kwesi Spio was also a very prominent lawyer and politician. The former Minister of Tourism/ Modernization of the Capital and Minister of Information Obetsebi-Lamptey, also served as Minister of Tourism and Diasporan Relations in the cabinet of President John Kofi Agyekum Kufuor from 2005 to July 2007. He later became the National Campaign Chairman for New Patriotic Party (NPP) in 2000 20 March 2016 70 year Obetsebi-Lamptey died at a hospital in London from leukemia
RIP: Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey (February 4, 1946 – March 20, 2016)
The current NPP flag bearer Nana Akufo-Addo was born on 29 March 1944…This is the third time the former Attorney general is standing for the presidential election. Nana Akufo-Addo ran for president of Ghana in 2008 and 2012 respectively.
”We want a new direction for our nation. John Dramani Mahama is the biggest threat to the future of our nation, and we have to work hard between now and December to kick him out of office.” ~Nana Akufo-Addo
