Okudzeto Ablakwa, Haruna Iddrisu, Others Remember Nelson Mandela

Members of Parliament on Wednesday paid tribute to the late former President Nelson Mandela of South Africa describing him as an embodiment of reconciliation and a role model for many world leaders. The members expressed their sympathies and condolences on the floor of the House following the passing of Mandela on Thursday December 5. Dr Benjamin Kuubuor, Majority Leader and Minister for Government Business, expressed condolences to the people of South Africa and the family of the late President. He said �I saw national reconciliation as the primary task of his presidency when he presided over the transition from apartheid minority rule to a multicultural democracy,� and added that he worked to reassure South Africa�s white population that they were protected and were part of the �Rainbow Nation.� Dr Kuubuor said even in death the spirit of Mandela continued to reunite foes urging them towards reconciliation. �On Tuesday at Soweto, South Africa, President Barack Obama was seen by millions around the world on live television shaking hands with President Raul Castro, leader of America�s Cold war foe Cuba in a rare gesture at the memorial service in South Africa for Nelson Mandela.� He said the world was mourning Former President Mandela because of his sacrifices saying Mandela was an embodiment of man of struggle for success and urged Ghanaians, political leaders, civil servants, students and everyone to make sacrifices to achieve the dreams of the founders of the nation. Mr Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu, Minority Leader, said the gathering of world leaders for the funeral should tell �us he was the greatest liberator through selflessness who demonstrated leadership by example not mere rhetoric�. Mr Haruna Iddrisu, Member of Parliament for Tamale South and Minister of Trade and Industry, said vengeance and vindictiveness was not part of Mandela�s character. Mr Rashid Pelpuo, Member of Parliament for Wa Central said Mandela fought and liberated the world; Mr David Assimeng Tetteh, Member of Parliament for Shai-Osudoku said that it was time for the politicians to rethink about the winner takes all politics. Dr Owusu Akoto Afriyie, MP for Kwadaso, described former President Mandela as the greatest hero Africa has ever produced. Mr Samuel Ablakwa Okudzeto, MP for North Tongu and Deputy Minister of Education, said Mandela defeated long held stereotypical views about Africa. He therefore urged �world leaders and Africans to remember that there is an unfinished business still to be embraced as there is still segregation of black and white children with regards to the schools in South Africa.