Parliament pays tribute to Ala Adjetey

Centre spread, July 16, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
MEMBERS of Parliament (MPs) from both sides of the House yesterday paid tribute to the immediate past Speaker of Parliament, Mr Peter Ala Adjetey, who died at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital earlier in the day.
The MPs were united in their submissions that the Speaker lived by principles, equity and fair play in the handling of affairs of the House.
That, they noted, was vividly shown by his even handedness on the floor of the House during his tenure of office.
The MPs were speaking to the Daily Graphic on the death of Mr Adjetey, who was the second Speaker of the Fourth Republic.
The nation woke up yesterday to hear about the death of Mr Adjetey at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital after a short illness.
Although nothing was said about his death on the floor of the House, MPs were seen in groups discussing the issue before and after sitting.
The mood in the House depicted nothing about the death of the former Speaker as the day’s business went on as usual but the MPs who offered to speak to the press outside the floor were sad and devastated about that sudden occurrence.
Staff of the Parliamentary Service, most of whom preferred referred to Mr Adjetey as “Mr Order” because of the deep baritone voice with which he used to call the House to order, also joined the MPs in expressing shock at the news of the former Speaker’s death.
“It is unfortunate that the country cannot currently boast of a living former Speaker,” one of them was heard saying.
The Deputy Majority Leader and MP for Suame, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, described Mr Adjetey as a diligent lawyer who was very meticulous, adding that “he was a strict disciplinarian who attached much value to his time”.
He said Mr Adjetey brought his convictions to bear on the running of the House and in the end stood tall as one of the finest brains that the country could boast of.
“Both the Majority and Minority can testify that he was an impartial arbiter who distinguished himself during his tenure of office,” he said.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said although the late former Speaker was strict, he gave room for his subordinates to explain their line of thoughts in order to convince him to toe their line.
The immediate past Majority Leader, Mr Felix Owusu-Adjapong, said Ghana, the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) and Parliament had lost a “great pillar of democracy”.
“He has paid his due to the country, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and parliamentary democracy. His death is a great loss to the country,” he said, adding that followers of the NPP would have wished that he lived to witness the outcome of the December elections.
The Deputy Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mr Kwame Osei-Prempeh, said he saw Mr Adjetey as a statesman who always insisted on excellence and never compromised with mediocrity.
“Wherever he found himself, he brought his experience to bear to ensure excellence in that institution,” he said, adding that “he never feared to call truth by its name, no matter the consequences”.
The MP for Asuogyaman, Mr Kofi Osei-Ameyaw, stated that Mr Adjetey was an astute lawyer who made his mark, both in his chosen profession and on the country’s political front.
He said by so doing, the former Speaker had left footprints for the present and future generations to follow.
The Minority Leader, Mr Alban Bagbin, said he admired Mr Adjetey’s effort at ensuring the independence of Parliament.
“I saw him as a hardworking and dedicated lawyer and politician who used his energy and knowledge in the service of his country, leaving an indelible mark in the process,” he added.
“He will be remembered for his honesty, truthfulness and the principled stance he took on a number of national issues,” he said.
The MP for Ho, Mrs Juliana Azumah-Mensah, said although he did not know much about the late Speaker, she admired the way he had conducted the affairs of Parliament.
For his part, the MP for Keta, Mr Dan Abodakpi, stated that Mr Adjetey contributed a lot to parliamentary democracy through his impartiality during his tenure as the Speaker of the House.
The Convention People’s Party (CPP) presidential aspirant and MP for Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abirem, Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom, said the country had lost a leader who was committed to change.
He said Mr Adjetey advocated the election of district chief executives and expressed the hope that that aspiration would be fulfilled even after his death.
Mr Adjetey was the Speaker of Parliament from January 7, 2001 to January 6, 2005. He succeeded Mr Daniel Francis Annan and was succeeded by the current Speaker, Mr Ebenezer Begyina Sekyi Hughes.
He was born on August 11, 1931 and obtained his basic education at St Paul's School at La, a suburb of Accra, and the Accra Bishop Boys' School. He had his secondary education was at Accra Academy, before he proceeded to the University College of the Gold Coast (now the University of Ghana), where he obtained the University of London intermediate Bachelor of Arts degree in 1954.
He then proceeded to the United Kingdom, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Law degree from the University of Nottingham in 1958.
Mr Adjetey was called to the Bar at the Middle Temple in London in 1959 and returned to Ghana in the same year when he was called to the Ghana Bar.
From 1959 to 1962, Mr Adjetey worked as a Law Officer at the Attorney-Generals' Department. He was also a part-time lecturer at the Institute of Adult Education, University of Ghana, between 1960 and 1962 and a part-time lecturer at the Ghana School of Law between 1964 and 1968.
He also served on numerous boards at various times, including membership of the Judicial Council of Ghana from 1984 to 1989. He was the President of the Ghana Bar Association between 1985 and 1989.
Mr Adjetey was the MP for Kpeshie during the Third Republic and served as the leader of the United National Convention (UNC) Parliamentary group during that period.
In 1995, he became the National Chairman of the NPP, a position he held until 1998, after which he was appointed the President of the African Bar Association in 2000.