Accra, Aug. 2, GNA – Vice President John Mahama has described the late Mr Dan Lartey, founder of the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP), as a versatile politician who believed in the ingenuity of Ghanaians to achieve self-sufficiency.

He said even though Mr Lartey did not win any election, his idea of “Domestication” largely won the day.

Vice President Mahama said this in a speech for him by Mr Alhassan Anzong, a Minister of State at the Presidency responsible for the Public Sector at a memorial lecture in honour of Mr Lartey.

The lecture organized by GCPP and the Lartey family was on theme: “Domestication: A Sustainable Way Forward for Ghana and Africa.”

The lecture has been institutionalized to be an annual event where people from the academia and civil society would be invited to speak on the ideals and vision of the late politician, especially in relation to his “Domestication” philosophy.

Vice President Mahama said during the 2008 general election political parties had different programmes for their campaigns. However, there was one thing they had in common - the country should be self-sufficient – and this easily tied into the domestication idea of Mr Lartey.

He said Mr Lartey would be remembered for his strong belief in the African for taking his destiny into his hands.

Former President John Agyekum Kufuor, whose speech was read by his Spokesmant, Mr Frank Agyekum, also described Mr Lartey as a politician who had a strong view and could not be easily swayed from what he believed in.

He said Mr Lartey believed that his domestication idea was the only means by which the nation could move forward and become independent in its development.

Former President Kufuor said even though Mr Lartey’s domestication idea might not be entirely different from the development agenda of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) the means to achieve that was where they might differ.

He called on the GCPP and the family of Mr Lartey to put in place a policy to ensure that the domestication idea became an enduring legacy for the future generation.

Mr Kwesi Pratt Jnr., the Managing Editor of the Insight Newspaper, who worked with Mr Lartey and others to oppose the military regimes of General Ignatius Acheampong and Flight Lieutenant Jerry Rawlings, depicted him as an extraordinary man who was committed to his principles.

He said during those days in Ghana where many politicians were afraid to speak and fight military dictators Mr Lartey was one of the few people who could summon courage to join the few political movements around to fight for the restoration of democracy in Ghana.

Mr Pratt said another thing that made Mr Lartey stand out was his realization that the Blackman was not inferior to the Whiteman and that “we should be able to achieve self-sufficiency in all aspects of our national development.”

Mr Fiifi Banson, a radio presenter at Peace FM, called on the government to name a public edifice after the veteran politician to serve as a memorial for him.

He said Mr Lartey contributed immensely to the political development of the country and deserved to be honoured by the nation.