A Surprise On Dr. Obed Asamoah
Dr. Obed Asamoah is a political heavyweight. The news had gone silent on him for a very long time until this visit. He is the longest-serving foreign minister of Ghana lasting between 1982 and 1997, and becoming the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice from 1998 to 2001, across the 19 years Rawlings ruled Ghana.
He is a former chairman of the National Democratic Congress and there is no secret about his role as one of the party’s kingmakers. Former President Jerry Rawlings, Captain Kojo Tsikata, and Dr. Obed Asamoah had been involved in major decisions, including appointments to key positions, taken by the party some time ago.
When you take Captain Tsikata out, and add the former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings to make it another set of three, it is the modified group that took the decision to invite the current flagbearer and leader of the NDC, John Dramani Mahama to the party to contest the parliamentaries in 1996.
Prior to his membership in the PNDC/NDC government, Dr. Obed Asamoah was a law lecturer at the University of Ghana and is believed to have taught the profession’s luminaries as Mr Tsatsu Tsikata and Prof. John Atta Mills.
He was also a member of Ghana’s parliament (1969-1972) representing the Biakoye constituency during the Second Republic of Ghana in which Dr. Kofi Abrefa Busia was the Prime Minister. Dr Asamoah who became politically active after the overthrow of Dr Kwame Nkrumah in 1966, also served as the General Secretary of the United Convention Party, UNC, led by Dr William Ofori Atta ”Paa Willie” prior to the 1979 elections. The UNC placed third.
After Dr. Hilla Limann was elected as the President of the third republic, the UNC, and the second-placed party, the Popular Front Party, PFP led by Mr. Victor Owusu merged under the name All Peoples Party in 1981 retaining Dr Obed Asamoah as the General Secretary.
In his quietude, at his Accra home on 23 November 2023, Dr. Obed Asamoah received unexpectedly, a visit from the association of former Greater Accra Constituency chairmen of the opposition National Democratic Congress, NDC, which now operates as a welfare club.
In all, 33 former constituency chairmen led by their Interim Charman, Mr Harry Zakkour made the visit. Dr. Obed Asamoah urged them to do everything possible to turn the party’s political fortunes. The group described Dr Asamoah as looking younger than his age and full of knowledge and wisdom. The kernel of the discussions that took place is hidden.