State Burial For Salia

By Edmund Mingle
Monday, 02 March 2009

The President has acceded to a request by Parliament for the government to honour the late Edward Salia, Member of Parliament for Jirapa, with a state burial.
“He served and sacrificed for his country, and we believe the least we can do is to accord him a befitting burial,” President Mills said of the deceased.
President Mills was responding to a request for a state burial for the late MP by the Majority Leader, Alban Bagbin, who accompanied a delegation of the bereaved family to formally inform the President about the death and invite him to the funeral slated for March 20, at Jirapa in the Upper West Region.
The President paid glowing tribute to Mr Salia describing him as “a hero who contributed immensely to national development. A nation that does not honour its heroes is not worth dying for, he noted.
He said the government was saddened by the passing away of Mr. Salia who, he said, contributed a lot to the electoral victory of the National Democratic Congress , but did not live long enough to enjoy the victory.
He recalled that Mr. Salia actively participated in rallies in the Upper West Region. Even in his frail state of health, he generally gave off his best for the motherland.
President Mills traced his relationship with Mr. Salia to the 1970s when he taught the late MP at the University of Ghana , and revealed that he was one of the people on his mind for consideration as running mate for the 2000 election.
He consoled the bereaved family, especially the widow and children, and urged them to take heart since the Lord knew why He called their loved one to eternity.
Vice President John Mahama, described the late Salia as “the father of the deregulation of the telecom industry in Ghana”, saying that Mr Salia’s work in the telecommunication sector laid the foundation for its expansion across the country.
He also consoled the family and said Mr. Salia battled his illness bravely and would be remembered for the various sacrifices he made for the country.
Mr. Bagbin, making the request for a state burial, informed the President that the Majority and Minority sides jointly agreed, with the consent of the Speaker, to request for state support to honour their departed colleague with a befitting burial.
He acknowledged Mr Salia’s contribution to the enhancement of the work of the House, adding that even in ill health, he declined requests from colleagues to take a break from the House, maintaining that he was prepared to die working.
Prof Bruce Yakubu, the family spokesman, described Mr. Salia as a diligent and resourceful person of whom the family was proud.
The delegation, which was led by Alhaji Dauda, head of family, consisted of the widow, Mrs. Mary Asunta Salia, the children, family elders and some chiefs from Jirapa traditional area.