Baah-Wiredu’s Death Unites Nation

Baah-Wiredu’s Death Unites Nation
The announcement of the untimely demise of Hon. Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu in far away South Africa last Wednesday, September 24, came to us like a dagger renting into shreds the usual serenity that envelopes our work in Public Agenda. But for the words of encouragement that exuded from a staff member, work would have grinded to a halt as almost the entire staff was virtually thrown into a state of grief.
All those who came into contact with Hon. Baah-Wiredu, the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning as at the time of his death, attest without a tinge of doubt, he was by all standards a fine, humble, affable and altruistic gentleman of a politician, a rare breed on our current political terrain.
He endeared himself to all persons regardless of one’s political colour, and the elegies and tributes that have been paid him from all sections of the political divide lend incontestable credence to this assertion. Ex-President Jerry John Rawlings, Founder of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), eulogizes the late Baah-Wiredu as an embodiment of humility, a trait which to him was becoming almost become extinct among present politicians.
Hon. John Dramani Mahama, the NDC’s Vice Presidential Candidate, also showered praises on Hon. Baah-Wiredu describing him as a humble and hardworking Minister who juggle of figures was his forte. The standardbearer of the People’s National Convention, Dr. Edward Mahama, has also paid glowing tribute to the late Finance Minister saying he was an affable personality. Members of the ruling New Party Party , including Hon. Kwame Addo-Kufuor, Hon Stephen Asamoah Boateng and Hon. Prof. Mike Oquaye have equally lauded the exemplary life and work of their former colleague.
It is paradoxical and significant to note that the death of Hon Baah –Wiredu has united the entire nation. Similarly, it is ironical that it took an unwelcome incident such as death to defuse the simmering tension engulfing the nation following the political skirmishes during the voter registration exercise and the political violence in Tamale and Gushegu in the North.
Public Agenda wants to believe that these signs of bond of unity would not be a nine-day wonder but would be carried over into the elections and thereafter. We need not break our bones over the elections. All Ghanaians must, particularly the stakeholder political parties must resolve and commit themselves to peaceful elections so that we can come out as a strong united nation after the December 7 elections.
Hon. Baah-Wiredu’s life indeed sublimed and he has left footprints on the sands of time; footprints from which others will take inspiration and courage in their different human endeavours. His actions, works and career were indeed just and they will surely “smell sweet and blossom in the dust”.
Born on June 3, 1952 in Agogo, Baah-Wiredu started his secondary education at the Kumasi High School in 1967 and obtained the GCE (Ordinary Level) certificate in 1972.

He had his Sixth Form education at Prempeh College, also in Kumasi, and proceeded to the University of Ghana in 1974, obtaining a BSc degree in Administration (Accounting option).

He then did a four-year course with the Institute of Chartered Accountants, qualifying as a chartered accountant in 1985.
He worked in various positions with the now defunct Ghana Airways, the Volta River Authority and as senior consultant on computer systems and finance manager of Ananse Systems.

In addition, he was a partner in Asante Wiredu and Associates, an accounting firm, prior to becoming an MP.
Before he became a Finance Minister, he had held the Minister for Education and Local Government portfolios.