Prof Saaka to be buried Sept 13

Page 14, September 10/2008

Story: Charles Benoni Okine

THE late Professor Yakubu Saaka, a former Presidential aspirant of the People’s National Convention (PNC), is to be buried on September 13, this year, in Oberlin, Ohio, United States of America (USA).
The family of Professor Saaka, led by Kanzanwura Yahaya, a chief in the Bole/Bamboi Traditional Area, announced this when they met with the Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, in Accra yesterday, to formally inform the government about the death and funeral arrangements for the 61-year old Ghanaian politician and scholar.
He said the family was yet to fix a date for another funeral in Ghana.
He said the death of Professor Saaka was a blow to the family in view of his contribution to the welfare of the family and the people around him.
In his response, the Vice President said the government and people of Ghana were saddened by the death of one of the illustrious sons of the country.
He said the late Professor was his classmate and a friend, who was affable and humorous.
Alhaji Mahama said Professor Saaka was also one of the elite citizens of the north who brought his wealth and knowledge to bear on well-being of the people, adding that “he was one of the icons of our land and many perceived him a role model”.
He expressed the condolence of the government and people of the country to the family members and wished them well in what he described as these trying times when they and the nation had lost a true patriot.
Born on November 6, 1945, the former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Third Republic under the leadership of Dr Hilla Limann, died in South Africa on August 31, 2008. He was also the chairman of the African American Studies Programme at Oberlin College.
He taught political science at the Oberlin College at Ohio in the USA. He was survived by a wife and four children; two boys and two girls.