P. V. Obeng Served Ghana Well

Mr. Paul Victor Obeng, who passed away yesterday (17/05/2014),  died in harness. He served Ghana deligently till the very end of his life. Indeed, he participated in the recent national economic forum held at Akosombo -  which ended only a few days ago.

 A pragmatist, and an unfailingly courteous gentleman, he was a wise advisor who helped keep Ghana stable,  during the turbulent early years of the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC), the military regime that came to power after the overthrow of the People's National Party (PNP) administration of President Hilla Limman,  in December 1981.

 He was also a key member of President Rawlings' National Democratic Congress (NDC) regime, which held power for two consecutive four-year  terms, from 7th  January 1993 to 7th January 2001.

At the time of his death, he was the chairperson of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC). He was also on the boards of a number of private and public-sector entities.

He was a member of the board of Guinness Ghana Limited and chaired the board of Ghana Agro Food Company Limited (GAFCO). And he was also the chairperson of the university council of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).

P. V. Obeng's pragmatism and sense of humour enabled him to work well with all manner of persons, regardless of their political background. His calming influence  will be sorely missed by the Mahama administration. He was a steady and safe pair of hands.

The torch of leadership is passing from the generation of leaders whom he served with to the next generation of leaders in the NDC. For the sake of our nation, one hopes that there will be pragmatic and wise ones, in the  P. V. Obeng-mould, within that generation too.

We must all be grateful for the stewardship of wise and able political leaders like Mr. P. V. Obeng.

 It is their nonpartisan and commonsense approach that help lessen tensions and enables us maintain our nation's stability, whenever it is brought to the brink by ruthless and selfish politicians - either plotting their way to power, or seeking to hang on to it, regardless of the egregious nature of the effect their machinations have on the well-being of our nation and the welfare of its people.

One's  thoughts are with his family and close friends - who must be inconsolable at this tragic time. We all share in  their sense of loss - ocassioned by the sad passing away of Mr. P. V Obeng: their reported sufferings and lamentations since that sad news broke, wrought upon our feelings, too.

 Opanin P.V.,  dua eni amanihunu - you served Mother Ghana well indeed.  Rest in peace!