Adieu PV Obeng

If we had the power indeed we would not spare it to bring back to life this illustrious son of Mother Ghana who bowed out on that fateful Saturday 17^th May 2014. A time has come to finally lay to rest Sir. Ing. Dr. Paul Victor Obeng a distinguished statesman par excellence as he goes back to the Almighty God.

‘Once the winds of impermanence have blown, our eyes are instantly closed and our breaths stops forever then our radiant faces changes its colour, loved ones will gather and grief but all to no avail, Oh how fleeting is a lifetime’. Now we look for PV Obeng in rainbows way up in the sky when we can no more behold his bright shiny eyes turning around in their sockets as he shares words of wisdom and knowledge. PV is far away gone into the silent land.

As Ghanaians we cannot pay   our tributes enough to this great son of the land if we forget soon   some of the ideals he stood for.  His admonishing at the National Economic Forum on the eve of his departure for all well meaning Ghanaians to be nationalistic in our  quest for sustainable national development should not in the least be toyed with . As somebody with a heart for Ghana he worked towards rallying the nation behind a nationally owned and shared vision by creating the opportunity for a broad spectrum of Ghanaians to frame a long term vision for national development.  He was  of the opinion  that  if there is any time that   Ghana needs a long term outlook to development planning, it is now when Ghana has become an oil exporting state with an experience of a strong growth  warranting the need for a fair and objective approach towards harnessing these potentials.

Paul Victor Obeng did not only preach these virtues of hardwork and commitment to duty but he lived by them till his last breath. No longer had H.E President John Dramani Mahama described him as a tireless public servant, a shoulder that can be reliably leaned on for advice, guidance and support.

When he was appointed the Chairman of the National Development Planning Commission in June 3^rd 2010, he set to work to achieve   a transformation of the work of the commission that reflected the views and aspirations of all shades of political opinions.

He indeed believed that as Ghana is in transition to a full middle income status there is the need to explore ways of achieving the long held goals of the founding fathers which is a free just and prosperous society where all citizens enjoy a decent ways of living,

PV Obeng was an advocate and promoter of Public, Private Partnership. It was his initiative that led to the setting up of an Enabling Environment Subcommittee at the NDPC to examine issues of patriotism and civic rights and responsibilities in the Country. He had keen attention on the development of a National Infrastructure Plan whose preparation has reached an advanced stage but alas had to bow out before its implementation.   

He can be described best as a man with many parts. A mechanical Engineer, politician and until his death the Senior Advisor to the President and Chairman of the National Development Planning Commission.

He was the chief consultant and Chairman of OB Associates, a public and private sector consulting firm and chairman of Ghana Agro and Food Company (GAFCO)

Proud son of Opoku Ware Secondary school and the  Kwame Nkrumah University Of Science and Technology  At a tender age  even before entering into politics  he had worked and excelled  in organizations such as United Africa Motors as a management trainee and later appointed to the position of Assistant Workshop Manager, Makoadze Fisheries, Ningo Salt limited among others. In addition he was one time Director and managing Consultant OB Associates

One cannot forget  P.V. Obeng service to Ghana as the chairman of Committee of Secretaries under the Provisional National Defense Council regime from 1986–1992  and Presidential Adviser on Governmental Affairs under the National Democratic Congress (NDC ) from 1992- 1997. To many he   was the prime Minister of Ghana at the time

Very recently the Late President Mills could not avoid tapping from PVs rich experience when he made him the Chairman of the Transitional committee of his Government and later one of his senior advisers.

It is important to note that he paid his dues not just in Ghana alone but externally.  He was one time a member of the two man Commonwealth secretariat team that helped the new Government of President Yowari Mousaveni of Uganda to stabilize his government by developing  cooperation between his guerilla fighters and the public servants in 1998

In addition he once chaired a Pakistani government workshop on privatisation on the invitation of the World Bank

He also participated in the review of the structure and policies of the first president of Post –Apartheid South Africa as part of the World Bank in1994

In 1995 Mr PV Obeng facilitated a workshop organized for the Government of Sierra Leonne to help manage the transition between the newly democratically elected government and the departing military regime

Mr PV Obeng was also a member of a multi party Ghanaian team that mediated in the postelection conflicts in Sierra Leone immediately after the general elections in 2007

Locally Mr PV Obeng also served as Chairman of the Ghana Investment Promotion Council (G.I.P.C.) FROM 1986- 2007. P.V and until his death serving as director on the Board of Guinness Ghana Limited.

Before his demise Mr PV Obeng was   a member of private boards such as Guinness Ghana Ltd Board of Ghana Agro Foods co ltd (GAFCO), Fidelity Bank ltd among others.

In the area of sports he proved to be the thumb one cannot do without if one is to successfully tie a knot, he was one time Chairman of the Board of Asante Kotoko Football club.

While working in the public sector Mr PV Obeng played a key role in activities relating to improvement of the National investment environment and promotion of private sector in the national economy.

The only way to pay glowing tribute  to this statesman  is for all well meaning Ghanaians is  to help consolidate his development efforts and address the weakness identified in our  development process by holding in high esteem the ‘Ghana first’ attitude above all other interests.

That PV Obeng has paid his dues well enough is an understatement. He has indeed registered his name in the list of gallant ancestors who are referred to in the National Pledge as having sacrificed for mother Ghana with their toil and blood. Let us all as Ghanaians not allow his toil to be in vain by inculcating in us this long term nationalist attitude towards national development. For this is a sure way of joining the developed economies.

PV. OBENG, PROUD SON OF ASANTEMAN, PROUD SON OF AKROKERRI, PROUD SON OF GHANA, PROUD SON OF AFRICA AYEKOOO FARE THEE WELL!!!!!!