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The 2016 presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has paid glowing tribute to one of the leading figures of the Danquah-Dombo-Busia tradition, the late Alhaji Alhassan Bin Salih, describing him as a man of honesty and integrity, and one who played “an extraordinary role in the development of our tradition and country.”

At an event of homage at Wa, on Tuesday, January 19, 2016, Nana Akufo-Addo, in the presence of Maulvi Mohammed Bin Salih, younger brother of the late Alhaji Bin Salih, and Ameer and Missionary-in-Charge of the Ahmadiya Muslim Community in Ghana; Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu, cousin to the late Alhaji Bin Salih, former PNDC Secretary for Defence and a former Member of the Council of State; NPP party stalwarts and sympathisers in Wa, indicated that Alhaji Bin Salih, who passed away on October, 27 2015, was a source of good counsel and unfailing inspiration to the younger adherents of the Danquah-Dombo-Busia tradition, adding that “I will never forget the constant encouragement he gave me in my political career.” 

The late Alhaji Bin Salih was one of the first persons of the then Northern Territories in the Gold Coast to receive formal education, and was the first Northerner to rise to the position of a Principal Secretary in the Civil Service. 

As an early member of one of the ‘mother’ parties, the Northern Peoples’ Party, founded by great political personalities of Ghanaian history such as S.D Dombo, Mumuni Bawumia, J.A. Braimah, Yakubu Tali, Abaayifa Karbo, Imoro Salifu and C.K. Tedam, Nana Akufo-Addo stated that Alhaji Bin Salih never wavered in his adherence and loyalty to the NPP’s tradition, which was, for him, the noblest tradition in Ghanaian politics.

“Throughout the various mutations of the tradition – Northern Peoples’ Party, United Party, Progress Party, Popular Front Party and New Patriotic Party – he was ever present like a rock. His association with the Progress Party got him into trouble when he was sued in the Tamale High Court for helping the party’s candidate, Catherine Tedam, to win the Chiana Paga seat during a by-election,” he said.

Before his passing, Alhaji Bin Salih was a permanent feature of the leadership of the New Patriotic Party since its inception– from the National Executive Committee, through to the National Council, and at the regional level a member of the Upper West Regional Council of Elders.

With Ghana currently being buffeted by the bastardization of our public affairs, the cutting of corners with laid down regulations and laws under the Mahama-led NDC administration, the NPP flagbearer noted that “we need a Bin Salih to insist on things being done properly.”

He continued, “When sole sourcing becomes the mode of procurement in the public sector in brazen defiance of the public procurement law, we need a Bin Salih, and when corruption becomes the by-word for our nation, we certainly need a Bin Salih.”

As a Member of the Council of State under President Kufuor, Nana Akufo-Addo noted that Alhaji Bin Salih “excelled in the Council’s deliberations, and brought to bear his vast experience, both in public administration and in politics, in the work of the Council”, adding that “the Council, during that era, earned a well-deserved reputation for providing good advice to President Kufuor.”

The NPP flagbearer recounted Alhaji Bin Salih’s joy, in 2008, at the decision taken to set up a Northern Development Authority (NDA), if the NPP won the election of that year.

“His excitement stemmed from the fact that the NDA, envisaged  to lead the process of economic transformation of the North and help bridge the development gap between the North and the South, was an idea mooted by the Northern Peoples’ Party to the colonial Legislative Assembly through a ‘Resolution on Constitutional Reform’ on 27th February, 1953. Yes, the idea of the NDA is older than Ghana,” he stressed.

Nana Akufo-Addo added that “even though the idea did not have universal enthusiastic support within our party in 2008, Alhaji Bin Salih urged me to remain resolute and push it forward. The commitment to its establishment was made an essential part of our 2008 and 2012 manifestoes. Despite its current abuse and corruption in the guise of the so-called SADA, it will be an essential part of our 2016 manifesto.”

An NPP victory, God willing, in the November 2016 election, according to the NPP leader, will ensure that the NDA is brought into being to fulfil its true historic purpose, in memory of Alhassan Bin Salih.

On behalf of the New Patriotic Party, he donated GH¢1,000 to the Ahmadiya Mission to continue to pray for the soul of Alhaji Bin Salih and GH¢5,000 to his family.

Others present at the event were Alhaji Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, running mate to Nana Akufo-Addo; Mr. Freddie Blay, Acting NPP National Chairman; John Boadu, Acting NPP General Secretary; Otiko Afisa Djaba, NPP National Women’s Organiser; Hon. Dominic Nitiwul, Deputy Minority Leader and MP for Bimbilla; Hon. Dan Botwe, Minority Chief Whip, MP for Okere and Campaign Strategist for the 2016 election; C.K Tedam, Chairman of the NPP Council of Elders; Hon. Sheikh I.C. Quaye, former Greater Accra Regional Minister and member of the NPP Council of Elders; Nii Adjiri Blankson, former Mayor of Accra and member of the NPP Council of Elders; Alhaji Suleman Yiremia, member of the NPP Council of Elders; Alhaji Aminu Amadu, member of the NPP Council of Elders;

Alhaji Mogtari Sahanun, former Upper West Regional Minister and former Ambassador to Burkina Faso; Alhaji Abubakar Rahaman, NPP Upper West Regional Chairman; Daniel Burgi Nabu, NPP Northern Regional Chairman; Kinston Akomeng Kissi, NPP Eastern Regional Chairman; Bernard Antwi Boasiako, NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman; Murtala Mohammed, NPP Upper East Regional Chairman; Hon. Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, MP for Kwadaso; Hon. Francis Addai Nimo, former presidential aspirant and MP for Mampong; Hon. Stephen Asamoah Boateng, former presidential aspirant and former Minister of Information; Hon. Ambrose Dery, former Upper West Regional Minister and former MP for Lawra Nandom; Sheikh T.B. Damba, former 2nd National Vice Chairman of the NPP; Hon. Rashid Bawa, former Ambassador to Saudi Arabia; Kadiri Issah, Upper West Regional President of the Ahmadiya Mission; Maulvi Masroor Muzafir, Regional Missionary of the Ahmadiya Muslim Community; Mallam Suleman Yakubu, Leader of the Jujeidayiri community; Guli Naa Seidu Braimah, Member of the Council of State; and Malik Issahak, former NDC Regional Chairman; amongst others.