TRIBUTE BY DR GODFRED SEIDU JASAW, MP FOR WA EAST CONSTITUENCY IN HONOUR OF THE LATE ALHAJI ISSAKU SALIAH, FORMER MP FOR THE WA EAST CONSTITUENCY

Mr Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I bring to you the sad news of the passing of Alhaji Issaku Saliah, the former Hon Member of Parliament (MP) for Wa East Constituency. He died on Tuesday, 4th October, 2022, at the 37 Military Hospital after he suffered from a short illness. He is survived by his kind-hearted wife, Hajia Fati Issaku Saliah, and his four children. His remains were flown to Wa, and has since been buried in accordance with Islam.

Mr Speaker, the late Alhaji Issaku Saliah was born on 15th June, 1952 in Manwe in the Upper West Region of Ghana. He attended the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) where he pursued a Diploma in Public Administration. He was also awarded a Bachelor of Science Degree in Political Science at the University of Ghana, Legon.

Alhaji Issaku Saliah served successfully in a number of administrative and management roles for a long period. From 1979 to 1981, he worked as an administrator for the Navrongo District Assembly. Between 1981 and 1985, he served in the Coordinating Council of the then Upper Region, and soon after, worked as the Managing Director of Upper Quarry Ltd from 1985-1991.

Mr Speaker, Alhaji Saliah ventured into politics, and participated in the 1992 parliamentary elections. He was successful and became the MP in the First, Second and Third Parliaments under the Fourth Republic of Ghana. To the best of his ability, he well represented the good people of the Wa East Constituency from January 1993 to January 2005. While in Parliament, he served as the Chairperson of the Committee on Transportation and Communication, and the Committee on Food, Agriculture, and Cocoa Affairs from 1997 to 2001.

He also served as a member of some other Committees which included: the Committee on Roads and Highways; the Committee on Environment, Science, and Technology; the Committee on Trade, Industry and Tourism, and the Committee on Local Government and Rural Development. Mr Speaker, as an experienced lawmaker, and a father figure with a calm demeanour, the late Alhaji Saliah was appointed to the notable position of Upper West Regional Minister in 2010 during the Mills-Mahama Administration.

Alhaji Saliah was a devoted Muslim who openly professed his faith and practised Islam in all his endeavours. He was the Chairman of the Hajj Board from 1993 to 2001, and it was during his tenure on the Board that most of the foundational management protocols were put in place which resulted in the many successes recorded and still being recorded in the organisation of the annual pilgrimage to Mecca.

Mr Speaker, in honouring the late Hon Alhaji Issaku Saliah, permit me to itemise some of his key values and competences. One key value that characterised him was his altruistic streak, and peaceful nature which was evident in his stand for unity in this multi-cultural, and multi-religious environment. He was a great democrat and a nationalist who devoted his life to serving his country. His intelligence and deep knowledge in governance can be seen in some of his contributions on the floor of the House.

He was so passionate about decentralisation and about making transport available to the people at the local or community levels. Thus, in contributing to the Sessional Address on 27th January, 1995, he said, and I quote:
“… So we have to advocate decentralisation of government transport organisations such as the City Express and the O.S.A. It would lead to improvement in management if the decentralisation is done for the District Assemblies and Municipal and Metropolitan Assemblies to operate these services. This could also serve as a revenue base for the Assemblies and bring increased returns on the government investments because these are loans that are guaranteed by Government or are moneys that are lent by Government to these organisations which have to be repaid. They can operate in such a way as to be able to repay these loans…” [Col. 453 of the Hansard of 27th January, 1995]

The late Hon MP was very concerned about road safety. His passion about the welfare of the citizenry could be seen in his speech when he supported the Motion on the Road Traffic (Amendment) Regulations, 1995. On the day of the debate, he had this to say:
“My other observation is that re-registration of vehicles will enable us to eradicate the wanton conversion of vehicles for purposes other than those for which they were originally registered. For example, the mini buses which we popularly call “Urvan” come in as vans for carting goods but they are converted and used to carry passengers. These vehicles are not normally reinforced especially for the carrying of passengers but eventually they are used for that purpose and when accidents occur the impact is so great that we have deaths and very serious injuries resulting from those accidents… We still have a lot of obsolete regulations pertaining to, for example, pedestrian safety which we think that the Ministry should come out with a legislative instrument to address” [Col. 1997 and 1998 of the Hansard of 24th March, 1995] Mr Speaker, this is as relevant today as it was in his days here in Parliament.
Indeed, we have lost a legend whose memory will leave a mark in the good annals of Ghana, especially, for the people of the Wa East Consistency, and the Upper West Region as a whole.
Mr Speaker, the 40-day adua for our beloved former legislator is slated for Sunday, 20th November, 2022, and all Hon Members are invited to join in praying for his departed soul.
May Allah subhanahu wa ta’la Allah grant him Jannah tul Firdaus!
Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity.