<<Print>>

A delegation from the family of the late Mr. Bernard Joao da Rocha, First National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), on Thursday called on the National Executive Committee of the party in Accra. Mr. Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, NPP National Chairman, observed that "the late da Rocha, Founding National Chairman of the NPP, set such a high standard that his shoes will be difficult to fill". A statement issued by the Party and signed by Mr. N. Adu Kwabena-Essem on behalf of the NPP General Secretary, said in brief eulogies, some of the high ranking members of the party stressed the overwhelming influence that the late da Rocha had on the party. Madam Amma Busia, youngest sister of the late Professor Kofi Abrefa Busia, Prime Minister in the Second Republic, said that da Rocha was originally antagonistic towards Prof. Busia and closer to the late Lieutenant Akwasi Amankwaa Afrifa, a former Head of State. However, when Prof. Busia persuaded him to become General Secretary of the Progress Party in 1969, da Roach became an unconditioned supporter and friend of Prof. Busia, and defended him against any attacks. Mr. C.K. Tedam, Acting Chairman of the Council of Elders, said "B.J." would be remembered by the party forever adding "We are celebrating a life, not mourning a death". He charged Mr. Obetsebi-Lamptey, the new NPP National Chairman, to emulate da Rocha, who made sure that "his office was everywhere and anywhere he happened to be." Mr. Tedam urged Mr. Obetsebi-Lamptey to fulfil the National Executive Committee's pledge to build a special "da Rocha Chair" to be the official chair of all NPP National Chairman during party meetings. Mr. Yaw Osafo-Maafo, former Minister of Finance and Economic Planning during the NPP Government, said B.J. really understood politics and very much loved the NPP. He said B.J.'s biggest concern in recent times was the fracturing of the party. Prof. Daniel Adzei-Bekoe, former Chairman of the Council of State, observed that, more than 10 years before the Inter Party Advisory Committee was formed, B.J. had warned that, unless the political parties made an effort to talk to one another, "we will be in very serious trouble in this country." He said da Rocha assembled a selection of political party representatives at Akosombo who came up with the "Akosombo Accord" to promote dialogue among the parties. The delegation led by Mr. Alex da Rocha, the eldest son and family spokesman, said as the Founding Chairman of the NPP, it was proper to communicate da Rocha's death to the NPP before formally announcing it the public. He called for guidance from the National Executive Committee to make his father's funeral the best that his status in the NPP demanded and promised that the party's advice would be given the serious attention it deserved. Arrangements for the final funeral rites will be announced by the family later. The late da Rocha was appointed in 1991 by a group of men and women of the Danquah-Dombo-Busia tradition to set up structures for a political party, That was when internal and external pressures forced the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) government to begin the process of returning Ghana to civilian rule. When the ban on party politics activities was lifted and the NPP was born, he was elected its first National Chairman and took the party into the elections in 1992. As a result of alleged widespread electoral malpractices by the PNDC in favour of the National Democratic Congress, which it had created, the NPP wrote the "Stolen Verdict".