The doors of death are always open, so the adage says. But hardly did anyone dream or imagine that Honourable Kwadwo Baah Wiredu would enter that fatal door without the faintest sign. At 56 , Mr. Baah Wiredu had showed no decline of energy nor declension in stamina. He was indeed at his workaholic best as usual. So when news of his death broke from South Africa on September 24, it spread like bush fire and seared our hearts like a sharp knife.
That was the day the whole Ghana stood still in utter shock and disbelief. It was just incredible that such a priceless gem and one of the finest and ablest Minister ever to serve the nation was gone.
Mr. Baah Wiredu was one of the few Ministers who first made the grade in the Kufuor administration. And ever since his inclusion in 2001, he never suffered any exclusion. He poured all his soul into his work and survived all Cabinet reshuffles along the way. He was principle-centred and result-oriented. Mr. Baah Wiredu will indeed be remembered for his distinct servant leadership style.
In all the three Ministries he served, he carefully developed and constantly maintained a scope of sympathetic circle for the needy, the deprived and neglected. At the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development where he first shot into prominence, Mr. Baah Wiredu was always on the move to provide or activate grassroot governance structures and to give attentive hearing to the vulnerable.
Here, he made a top class mark which gained him promotion to the Ministry of Education and Sports. Driven by his anathema for the sedentary Ministerial style, Mr. Baah Wiredu would frequent deprived schools, finding quick-fix solutions to problems which escaped the attention of office, air-conditioned addicted Ministers. At the same Ministry, neglected sports stars were his friends as he was instrumental in their rehabilitation as well as the re-naming of sports stadia.
And on his last job as Finance and Economic Planning Minister, his wizardry with statistics was in full glow. No wonder Mr. President called him Mr. Figures. Mr. Baah Wiredu’s dealings with financial giants and policy gurus did not obscure his attention for ordinary workers and struggling pensioners who got prompt assistance from him. He fully employed his extra-ordinary relational skills and down to earth mannerisms which endeared him to all fences of the political spectrum.
To the media, especially Ghana Braodcasting Corporation (GBC), Mr. Baah-Wiredu would forever remain an irreplaceable companion and helper and a veritable source of timely news and interviews. He was indeed a symbol of humility, an example of gentility and an epitome of civility in a turbulent political discourse such as ours.
While these attributes serve as benchmark for public service, the circumstances surrounding his death should strike a useful note of caution for all. We must be mindful of the work monster and place extra value on the sanctity of the human body. Rest we must, and remember that, vacation or recreation is not slothfulness or a squandering of precious time.
Mr. Baah-Wiredu’s demise should stir the working population particularly, those who are wedded to their jobs to address the fraught question of how to achieve a healthy work-life balance. We should live a well-rounded healthy life. Do what needs to be done at work while making quality time for our God, our families and our friends. It will also not be out of place to institute compulsory check-ups for all workers many of whom may not find time to see the doctor.
Mr. Baah-Wiredu is catching an early flight to eternity at this crucial time of global economic downswing. We however take solace in Wrick Warren’s philosophy that the quality of life is not determined by its duration but its contribution to humanity. During his nearly eight years-tenure as Minister and Parliamentarian, Mr. Baah-Wiredu has paid his dues fully to humanity in general and Ghanaians in particular as one of the best public servants. May his soul rest in perfect peace.
BY: AFFAIL MONNEY, A JOURNALIST
