Parliament eulogises Professor Allotey

Parliament has eulogised the Late Professor Kofi Ampenyin Allotey for his invaluable contribution to academia in Ghana, Africa and beyond, which is outstanding and virtually unparalleled.

The Legislature said the renowned Ghanaian Mathematician and Scientist, who peacefully but sadly joined his ancestors recently, had a great success story.

Mr Frank Annor-Dompreh, the Chairman of the Select Committee on Foreign Affairs, who presented a statement on the floor of Parliament to praise the late Prof. Allotey, indicated that his love for science and mathematics, deep insight and ability to bring high quality people together, had always been some of his hallmarks and something Ghanaians would miss.

“It is clear from the remembrances that we all feel the tremendous loss of such an esteem thinker, mentor and friend. He had a seemingly infinite amount of patience as well as infectious enthusiasm for science,” he said.    

Prof. Allotey started his education at the Roman Catholic Elementary School, Saltpond, and continued to the Ghana National College, Cape Coast, then to the Tutorial College, London.

He also schooled at the Borough Polytechnic, now University of South Bank, London, the Imperial College of Science and Technology, London and Princeton University in the United States.

By dint of handwork, he was appointed lecturer at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and rose through the ranks to become the first Ghanaian Full Professor in Mathematics and Head of the Department of Mathematics in 1973.

While at KNUST, he held a number of positions such as Dean of the Faculty of Science, Founding Director of the Computer Science Centre in Ghana, Pro-Vice Chancellor and member of the KNUST University Council.

Prof Allotey also held several other local and international appointments such his appointment by the UN Secretary-General to be among a group of 12 international experts commissioned to advice the UN on Nuclear Weapon.

Mr Annor-Dompreh stated that the Science and Mathematics Community had lost a rare hero, inspirational leader and visionary, who had been, and continue to be an incredible role model.

He said his demise was really shocking and terribly distasteful news for all Ghanaians and may take long for people to come to grips with it.

“My immediate prayers are with Prof Allotey’s family and close allies, we offer them our condolences. Indeed, Ghana has lost a gem and he will forever be remembered,” he said.

Source: GNA