Biography Of The Late H E Alhaji R. I Alhassan
Written By Mariama and Family
Rowland Issifu Alhassan was born in Gbulun near Tamale when his father was Gbulunlana Alhassan. He later moved to Kumbungu where his father had been enskinned and at school he was known as Issifu Kumbungu. He attended the only primary school in Dagbon which was situated in Yendi where the term lasted for 11 months so he only came home for a month a year.
The journey to Yendi took all day and every time the vehicle approached an incline everybody had to get out and push! He was then selected to attend the Government Middle School in Tamale which later became Tamale Secondary School (TAMASCO). He trained as a teacher at the Bagabaga Training College and after his training taught at Savelugu and Bagabaga Primary School which was then known as the Practice School which was attached to the Training College. He taught many notable people including Alhaji Ibrahim Mahama, Dr Sam Nantogma (Chief of Bouno) and Mr Yakubu Kasuli.
After a few years of teaching he was encouraged by Dr Hilla Limann (President of the 3rd Republic of Ghana) to join him in the UK following two unsuccessful attempts to take up offers for secondary education at Wesley College, Kumasi headed by Dr K.A. Busia and Adisadel College, Cape Coast. This was due to limitations placed on persons from the Northern Territories by the colonial government to gain secondary education.
Prior to his departure, Dr Kwame Nkrumah wanted to appoint him as an MP but his father preferred him to study abroad. He proceeded to the UK and studied law at London University (Kings College) and was called to the Bar (Grays Inn) in 1961. He returned to Ghana the same year as the FIRST Northern Lawyer and joined Agip, now Ghana Oil Company (GOIL) where he established and headed it's legal department.
His fiancée Jane Webber joined him in 1962 and they got married later that year at Holy Trinity Cathedral in Accra.
Dr Kwame Nkrumah finally made him an MP of Chereponi in the northern region in 1965 which he remained until the coup d'état in 1966.
In 1967, he moved to Tamale with his family and started his law practice called Gbewaa Chambers working with his partner Lawyer Salifu Dy-Yakah. He joined the Progress Party which was led by the late Dr K.A. Busia and was an active member of the party until the Busia government was overthrown in 1974 by another coup d'état this time led by Lt.General I.K. Acheampong.
Due to the ban placed on political parties after the coup d'état he continued with his law practice and took up rice farming. In 1978, the late Lt. General I.K. Acheampong proposed a system of government in which the military and the police were to join civilian government. He vehemently opposed this system of government which he viewed as a threat to democracy. He was arrested and detained for his opposition to this system. He was never afraid to speak his mind.
Further to the lifting of the ban on party politics in the late 70's he joined the Popular Front Party led by Victor Owusu and stood as MP in Tolon in 1979 and was duly elected member of parliament. He was the Leader of the Opposition at the time of the coup d'état in 1981.
In the early 90's he invited the members of the then banned Busia Danquah group to meet in his house to discuss party politics which was part of the beginnings of the New Patriotic Party.
In 1992, he was selected as the Vice Presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party led by Professor Adu Boahen. After their election defeat he participated in the compilation of the Stolen Verdict, a protest publication of the NPP following what the party considered flawed polls in 1992.
At last his beloved NPP was victorious in 2000 under the leadership of President J.A. Kuffour and he was appointed as Ghana's Ambassador to Germany from 2001 to 2006. In Germany he was highly respected in the diplomatic community and especially among the French speaking African countries. He united the Ghanaian groups in the various cities in Germany to form one union.
After his service as Ambassador, he took a great interest in his wife's school which is named Alhassan Gbanzaba Memorial School after Dr Edmund Alhassan also known as Alhassan Gbanzaba who studied at Cambridge University and was the FIRST graduate from the North of Ghana.
He remained active in politics and was appointed as Regional Campaign Chairman in the north at the 2008 elections. He was also the Chairman of the Council of Elders for the Northern Region. Even during his illness he was consulted and resolved many party issues.
He was passionate about many things but mainly the development of the country and the unity of the Dagbon State.
It was for these reasons he entered politics. He worked endlessly with Lawyer E.O. Appiah to heal the rift between the two factions which were holding back the progress of the Dagbon State. In 2007, he was awarded the Order of the Volta by President J.A Kuffour recognising his hard work, honesty and his contribution to national development.
He passed away after a short illness during which he was looked after tenderly by Dr Abass, Dr Afoko and Dr Anaba. He was most grateful to His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama for arranging his care at the 37 Military Hospital in Accra. He felt highly honoured by this gesture.
He is survived by his wife affectionately known as Auntie Jane, 6 children,15 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.