06/05/2026
*REMEMBRANCE DAY - _John Akparibo Ndebugre Esquire_*
_By Ing. Francis Mbawini Zakari_
*May 06, 2026*
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Today, May 06, 2026, marks the fourth anniversary of the demise of a Kusasi icon, *John Akparibo Ndebugre Esquire (alias John Nde).*
Between 1982 and 1984, John Nde led the Kusasi youth to successfully seek justice from the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) for his tribe after seventeen years of raw injustice and despair, which were foisted on the indigenous Kusaas of the Kusaug Kingdom by the reckless institution of National Liberation Council (NLC) LAW 112, 1966 by Generals Ankra and Kwasi Afrifa's military Government. Since that facade, efforts made by Kusaas to succeeding Governments to reverse this injustice fell on hard rocks.
Working through Captain (rtd) Kojo Tsikata and Lawyer Martin Alamisi Amidu, John Nde secured the PNDC LAW 75 that effectively restored the Bawku Chieftaincy in 1984 to the indigenous Kusaas. That landmark Law (PNDC LAW 75) was the final restitution that permanently handed back dignity and a self-determination mandate to the Kusaug, having earlier been ruled and dominated by an alien tribe - the Mamprusis - for a total of 42 agonizing years starting from 1932. John Nde had the knack and desire to help Kusaas to develop themselves and the Kusaug Kingdom. Testimonies of assistance delivered by John Nde to Kusaas are abound in many Districts of Kusaug.
At the National level, John Nde played his roles diligently and honestly as the PNDC Secretaries for Northern Region, Upper Region, and Ministry of Agriculture between 1982 and 1986. He was one of the pioneers that advocated to Government for Upper West Region to be created by the PNDC. His leadership acumen at the Ministry of Agriculture, for example, led to Ghana's Agricultural sector growing from -1.4% in 1983 to 4.6% in 1985. It was a period Ghana wriggled herself out of natural disasters- (drought and bushfires) - driven agriculture to a flowery agricultural export country. John Nde instituted the National Farmers' Day in Ghana for rewarding excellence in agricultural production and productivity, as well as for delivering technical and extension services. The Farmers' Day is still being held in Ghana on the first Friday of December each year.
John Nde deserves a standard monument to be named after him in Kusaug.
On this day, May 06, 2026, Ghanaians, and in particular Kusaas, commiserate with the family of John Nde on his passing. May his soul continue to rest in the bossom of his Lord. Ameen.
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