The Eastern Regional Minister of the Republic of Ghana, Honorable Samuel Ofosu Ampofo has paid a glowing tribute to the late Senior Senator of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to the United States Senate, Sir Edward (Ted) Moore Kennedy, who was popularly referred to as the “lion of the Senate”. The Minister whose private visit to the United States of America coincided with the burial and funeral celebrations of the Senator, used the occasion to extend the deepest condolences of the President of Ghana, His Excellency Professor John Evans Atta Mills, on behalf of the government and people of Ghana, to the family of the Senator, the government and people of Massachusetts in particular, and Americans in general.

During an extemporaneous speech at the Massachusetts State House, Honorable Ofosu Ampofo stated that the democratic values and principles which were so passionately espoused by Senator Ted Kennedy throughout his adult life are very much akin to the social democratic values and principles of the National Democratic Congress. The Honorable Minister mentioned that both the Democratic Party led by President Barrack Obama and the NDC led by President Atta Mills have several similarities in terms of philosophy, policy, and delivery. Referring to the NDC of Ghana, and the DNC of the United States, the Minister stated that “the core of our human centered policies are to better the lives of our people by first changing the status quo of political elitism and replacing it with the process which ensures that the ordinary people are not just giving the opportunity to be part of decision making process, but more importantly, they become equal beneficiaries of transparent, productive, and accountable governance”.

The Honorable Minister who paid a courtesy visit to the Executive Office of the Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts at the Beacon Hill, in Boston on Friday August 28, 2009 also had fruitful interactions with senior executive members of staff for Governor Deval Patrick and Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray during which issues of mutual benefits for the people of Ghana and that of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts were discussed.

Ms Robyn Kennedy, a Deputy Chief of Staff of the Patrick Administration, who was the spokesperson during the meeting, also expressed appreciations and thanks to the government, and people of Ghana for showing care and affection towards the family of Senator Ted Kennedy and the people of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as the whole United States morn the passing of one of her illustrious sons. She also expressed the hope that the Minister’s visit will facilitate future mutual interactions between the Minister and the Governor and their respective administrations for the benefits of Ghana and the Commonwealth. After the meeting, the Lt. Governor and the Minister exchanged souvenirs.

In related developments, Honorable Ofosu Ampofo interacted with the Ghanaian communities in Boston and Worcester, Massachusetts. He also met with members of NDC in Massachusetts and had a close door discussions with them. The Minister attended a church service at Church of Pentecost in Brighton, Massachusetts. He also attended a social function organized by the Ghanaian community in Providence, Rhode Island and shared some socio-economic and developmental thoughts with them. According to a source close to the Minister, Honorable Ofosu Ampofo will proceed to Canada and attend to some pressing issues before he gets back home to Ghana.