President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of Ghana paid his respects to the late former Ivorian leader Henri Konan Bédié by signing the Book of Condolences at the Embassy of Cote d’Ivoire in Accra. Henri Konan Bédié, a significant political figure in Cote d’Ivoire for over fifty years, passed away on August 1, 2023, in Abidjan at the age of 89.
President Akufo-Addo expressed his sorrow upon hearing the news of Mr. Bédié’s passing. He hailed Bédié as a prominent and dedicated servant of the Ivorian people, attributing his contributions to the country’s economic prosperity. Akufo-Addo acknowledged Bédié’s early role as the Minister of Finance for Cote d’Ivoire, where he played a crucial part in the nation’s development during the 1960s and 1970s, which led to its impressive economic growth.
The Ghanaian President also highlighted Bédié’s strong ties to Ghana and his ancestral connections. He described their good relations and Bédié’s deep friendship with Ghana. President Akufo-Addo conveyed Ghana’s sincere condolences on behalf of both the government and the people, commemorating Bédié’s legacy as an illustrious public servant of Cote d’Ivoire.
Henri Konan Bédié ruled Cote d’Ivoire for six years until his deposition in 1999. Despite his departure from the presidency, Bédié remained a significant influence in Ivorian politics, serving as the chairperson of the Democratic Party of Ivory Coast-African Democratic Rally for the past two decades. Alassane Ouattara, the current President of Cote d’Ivoire and a long-standing rival of Bédié, declared a period of national mourning lasting for ten days to honor the late leader’s memory.
