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NPP Break 8: Old Tafo Chairman Retires From Active Politics, Calls For Unity In The Party ahead of 2024 polls.
The Old Tafo-Pankrono NPP Constituency and the long serving Chairman in the Ashanti region, Hon chairman Moses K. Donkor has officially announced to retire from active politics.
Explaining the rationale behind his retirement in a press conference held at the constituency party office at Tafo on Wednesday, Chairman Donkor disclosed that, there comes a time when the old must give way to the new and in such times, the most appropriate thing for the old to do is to share their experiences with the hope that the new will not necessarily reinvent the wheel, but will use the history shared and the lessons learned as a solid foundation to build a prosperous future for the new generation.
Chairman Moses Kwame Donkor who has been nicknamed the “veteran politician” by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the President said about him the “Veteran of our struggles” due to his much experience, commitment and dedication to the New Patriotic Party, He thanked President Akufo-Addo, former President Kuffour, the Members of Parliament and Chief Executives under whom he has served, forebears, Leaders and entire NPP fraternity for giving him the support and opportunity to serve the party since 1959 until now.
He also acknowledged the Chiefs and people in Tafo-Pankrono communities for their immense support to achieve these attributes.
He mentioned some developmental projects that through the MPs and chief executives he has achieved for Npp and Tafo-Pankrono communities.
The Veteran Politician Chairman Donkor therefore used the opportunity to call on party members to unit in order to break the 8 year rule jinx agenda by the New Patriotic Party ahead of the 2024.
Many of the party faithfuls including the executives and polling station officers stormed the party office and rallied behind the peace and pacesetter politician.
Meanwhile the Acting Chairperson, Hon Nana Afia Konadu Yiadom aka Iron Lady and Council of Elders’ chairman Mr. Albert Kingsley Ata Yeboah spoke on behalf of the entire NPP fraternity in the constituency and commended the experienced chairman Donkor for his good leadership style and service to the party.
According to them, they have learnt so much from him which they are of the hope that it will go a long way to improve and equip their political and social lifestyle and also urged up-comers to emulate.
READ THE FULL SPEECH.
STATEMENT ISSUED BY HON. CHAIRMAN MOSES KWAME DONKOR.
POLITICAL HISTORY OF A VETERAN POLITICIAN,HON. CHAIRMAN. MOSES KWAME DONKOR
As the Great Book says to whom much is given, from him much will be required (Luke 12:48).
Today, I am thankful that the Lord Almighty who blessed me with humility, love for service, and wisdom also caused me to live by these attributes.
There comes a time when the old must give way to the new.
In such times, the most appropriate thing for the old to do is to share their experiences with the hope that the new will not necessarily reinvent the wheel.
But will use the history shared and the lessons learned as a solid foundation to build a prosperous future for the new generation.
My job today is to do what is right and that is to share my life story of service to mother Ghana, my community and my Party, the New Patriotic Party, which I believe will serve as a source of inspiration to many.
Permit me to borrow the words of a renowned Pakistani politician who said, referring to his political party, “The PPP is not just a political party. This is our life.” Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.
In my own words, the New Patriotic Party is not just a political party, this party of freedom and development that has the fortitude to continuously transform the destiny of this country is our way of life.
Let’s start from the beginning by sharing the story of the NPP which is my way of life.
BIRTH AND EARLY DAYS IN POLITICS
Chairman Moses Kwame Donkor was born at Old Tafo in the year 1937 to Opanin Kwame Senti of Old Tafo and Madam Afia Manu of Pankrono.
His early education started at Tafo Methodist Primary.
From there, he proceeded to Wesley College Practice Middle School currently called Wesley College Demonstration also at Tafo.
Being iconic and very instrumental in Ghana’s politics Mr. Donkor has come at the back of long service to the Danquah-Dombo-Busia Tradition.
He entered politics in the year 1959 with then opposition United Party (UP), as a polling station agent at the age of 23. This was six years after completing elementary education in 1953.
Later, he was elected as the treasurer at the Tafo Branch under the Manhyia constituency in 1964 until in 1966 political activities were banned after the overthrow of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah’s CPP government.
In 1968, Chairman Moses Kwame Donkor became secretary to the Tafo-Pankrono branch of the Progress Party (PP) in the Manhyia constituency, the Party on whose ticket Dr. Kofi Abrefa Busia was elected as prime minister and head of state in the country’s general elections and Justice Edward Akufo-Addo as president in 1969.
In 1972 the Dr. Busia led Progress Party government was toppled by Col. I. K Acheampong and political persuit was once again stalled. A parish coup against Col. I K. Acheampong in 1979 by a suprem military council led by Lt. Gen. Akuffo was ready to return the country to democratic rule.
As a result a number of political parties were formed including the Popular Front Party (PFP), People’s National Party (PNP), among others. Chairman Donkor was elected as Chairman of Ward 20 for the Popular Front Party (PFP) in the Manhyia Constituency.
It was here that he first obtained the Chairmanship title. Dr. Hilla Limann won the general election for the People’s National Party (PNP) and was sworn in as the third President of the Republic.
Due to then political instability in Ghana, Dr. Limann’s government was bullied in a military coup by Ft. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings in 1981.
After several years, political affairs were however awakened and the New Patriotic Party (NPP), National Democratic Congress (NDC), among several other political parties were formed in 1990 after a long rule by the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC).
The NPP held constituency executives’ elections and Mr. Donkor was elected the first constituency chairman of Suame-Tafo now Suame constituency after it was carved from Manhyia constituency by the Electoral Commission of Ghana.
In the years 1992 and 1993, after the New Patriotic Party had boycotted the general election, then thirty-three (33) constituency chairmen of the Ashanti Region met at late Nana Appiah Menkah’s residence at the Kumasi Sports Stadium and mandated a 6-member committee to steer the affairs of the party in the region following a misunderstanding that erupted among the executives at the party’s regional headquarters and some constituencies in the Ashanti Region.
The membership of the committee earned the name the “Big Six” in the Ashanti Region for their work and service to the party throughout the years.
The chairmanship of the committee was chaired by the then Manhyia constituency chairman, Late Nana Osei Mensah.
Other members of the committee included Nana Adu Asabere, the former chairman for Asante Akyem South constituency, Mr. Yaw Bretwum of Subin constituency and Mr. D. K. Kusi then Afigya Kwabre constituency chairman (all of blessed memories) the only two surviving are the former chairman for Kumawu constituency, Mr. D. K. Adusei and the still serving chairman Mr. Moses Donkor of then Suame-Tafo constituency now Old-Tafo constituency chairman.
The committee settled all scores in the Party ahead of the 1996 Presidential and Parliamentary polls.
The New Patriotic Party whose candidate was Professor Albert Adu-Boahen however lost the election to the National Democratic Congress but the big six chairmen remained and took charge of the party’s businesses in the region.
In 1998, the NPP held a national delegates congress at Sunyani and elected former President John Agyekum Kufuor as their flag bearer.
A year later in 1999, chairman Donkor lost his Suame-Tafo chairmanship position to Mr. Badu Adu-Boahen during the party’s constituency executives’ elections, an event for which posterity has judged him fairly on.
Due to his instrumental role, he was not let go by the committee and was appointed as Director of operations by the committee to assist the former regional chairman and secretary, Mr. F. F. Anto and late Mr. Sam Cudjoe respectively at the party’s regional headquarters in Kumasi.
The NPP won the 2000 general elections and after a successful and peaceful poll, former President J. A. Kufuor in consultation and with the support from the region and the Suame-Tafo constituency executives made Mr. Donkor a government appointee at the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly KMA, from 2001 to 2009.
During that period, he served on several committees including Finance and Administration and also recieved Honourable title.
The Ghana Electoral Commission, in 2004, carved Tafo from the Suame-Tafo and made the latter its own constituency which is currently known as Old Tafo-Pankrono constituency.
In the process, various political parties in the area were to elect and form their executives.
However, members of the elephant fraternity met and made Mr. Donkor the first constituency chairman by popular acclamation due to his outstanding performance, selfless leadership, hard work, commitment, humility, love, dynamic work ethic, and dedication to the party and its folks.
In 2013, after the supreme court verdict of the 2012 presidential election petition by the NPP and their then flagbearer, Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo, Hon. Moses Donkor was the only constituency chairman in the Ashanti Region who was selected among the Ashanti Region MPs caucus at the True Vine Hotel at Ahodwo in Kumasi to make peace in Kumawu, Asante Akyem and some other constituencies where there was misunderstanding and unrest.
The MPs included the former Deputy Ashanti Regional Minister and a former member of parliament for Oforikrom, Hon Elizabeth Agyemang aka People’s Mother, member of parliament for Manhyia South, and Minister for Energy, Hon. Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh aka Napo, a former Effiduase-Asokore member of parliament, Hon. Agyen.
It is worthy of mention that Chairman Moses Donkor is the only constituency chairman for the New Patriotic Party in Old Tafo-Pankrono and the current longest-serving chairman in the Ashanti Region.
With this much experience as far as politics is concerned, he has been nicknamed the “veteran politician” by the President of the Republic, His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. The president said of him “a veteran of our struggle” as a Party in Ghana.
POLITICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Not by might and power, but by the grace of God and with support from Patriots and experience acquired in politics, chairman Moses Donkor was the only person who represented “NO” for ‘UNIGOV” election during the era of Col. I K Acheampong.
He is proud to have nurtured and produced not only prominent but brilliant legislators in Ghana’s Parliament.
Most of those he nurtured have attained ministerial positions. Among them are as follows;
1. Hon. Dr. Sarfo Adu former MP for Manhyia Constituency, former and first Minister for Agriculture in Dr. Busia’s government.
2. Hon. Charles Amankwah former MP for Manhyia.
3. Hon. Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu (Suame-Tafo now Suame MP), current Majority Leader and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs.
4. Former Minister of State for Finance, former Minister for Monitoring & Evaluation, and former MP for Old Tafo-Pankrono, Hon. Dr. Anthony Akoto Osei.
5. Hon. Vincent Ekow Assafuah, the current Member of Parliament for Old Tafo-Pankrono.
With Hon. Moses Donkor’s integrity, great work ethic, hard work, commitment, dedication, and great effort in his jurisdiction as the constituency chairman, he played a critical role in the elections of former President J. A. Kufuor and the current President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and the NPP to attain power.
His welcoming personality has brought many to the party and it is important to add that he has trained a lot of people in the party and in politics.
Apart from Veteran’s achievements mentioned above, with his corporation, good rapport, and great interpersonal relationship with MPs, Chief Executives, and Party bigwigs, he has brought so many people to the limelight through job employment opportunities, scholarships, senior high school admissions, nursing training admissions, teacher training college admissions, polytechnic and university admissions irrespective of their political aspirations within and outside the constituency.
He also assisted lots of people with peculiar cases and in diverse ways. By the grace of God, he has made himself and this family a people of service to humanity and the community.
As the Chairman of the Tafo-Pankrono constituency, he has worked together with MPs and executives to spearhead many developmental projects in the constituency. It is necessary to mention but a few;
1. Pankrono water buster project.
2. Pankrono community center project.
3. Pankrono health center is now the old Tafo Municipal Health Directorate.
4. Pankrono Roman Catholic school complex project.
5. Osei Kyeretwie Senior High School (OKESS) Dormitory blocks project.
6. Tafo-Pankrono town roads project.
7. Tafo-Pankrono Divisional Police Headquarters complex.8. Wealth Creation and Vocational Institute, now Akoto Osei training center.
EDUCATION AND OCCUPATION
In 1955, Mr. Moses Donkor was employed at the Ministry of Agriculture at the Calvary Hall in Kumasi.
Later, he was sent to Konongo Agric Directorate in the same Ministry as Field Learner where he was selected to embark on a 3-month training course at Bonsu in the Eastern Region.
After graduation, he was posted to Dormaa Ahenkro as Field Assistant and later transferred to take charge of the cocoa spraying scheme at Bechem in the Ahafo region in 1957.
In 1958 the Veteran Politician resigned from the Agric Ministry and furthered his studies at Kwadwo Afriyie Auto Engineering where he learned to become an Auto Electrician a year after. In 1962 he joined the R. T. Brysco company limited, a motor mechanic company as Electrical Improver, and within a year’s from there got an appointment at the Edward Nassar groups of companies as the head of Auto Electricals Department until 1975 when he was promoted to Transport Manager (TM).The Edward Nassar company was liquidated in 1988.
A year after he received an appointment from Interbeton construction groups of company popularly known as B. V as Transport Officer (TO) where he took charge of all earth moving equipment.
Throughout his career, integrity and hard work have been his hallmark. These virtues have distinguished him creditably to the admiration and testimony of all wherever he worked. He has assiduously combined working at various companies with working for his Party, being there for his family, community and country. He was able to combine his occupation and political activities with ease until he retired into full and active politics in 1995.
FAMILY
Chairman Moses Donkor is blessed with 12 children.
Ten are alive with many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
CONCLUSION
Distinguished Media, Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to thank the New Patriotic Party for giving me the opportunity to serve, President Akufo-Addo for still lifting the values of the NPP high through service and patriotism, Former President Kufuor, for his legacy, Hon Akoto Osei for working and bringing development to Tafo-Pankrono, the current member of parliament, Hon Vincent Ekow Assafuah for his support and cooperation, I say thank you.
I also thank our forebears, leaders, both former and present at the national, regional levels, my constituency executives, zonal coordinators and gallant polling station executives for their love and support.
I also thank paramount chief of Tafo, Nana Agyen Frimpong Ababio Okogyeadwa and Tafoman, the chief and odikro of Atafoa and Pankrono, Nana Kwado Arhin II and Nana Boakye respectively and Pankronoman.
I gracefully hand over the baton to the next generation of Patriots. It is my firm belief that we will continue blazing this trail of progress for national development.
God bless us all.
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reporting for heroesghnews, Rexkin Ohene Boateng hello fm Kumasi.
