The National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Wednesday, expressed shock at the death of Mr Bernard Joao Da Rocha, a former National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
It said the NDC shared in the grief of the bereaved family and the Danquah/Busia/Dombo tradition for the loss.
A statement issued in Accra and signed by Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketia, General Secretary of the NDC, expressed its heartfelt condolences to the NPP
and the family of the late Mr Rocha.
It said the late Mr da Rocha, apart from his immense and long years of contribution to the body politic of Ghana, also distinguished himself in
other facets of public service to mankind.
"We especially remember that he was the first Ghanaian Director of the Ghana School of Law."
It noted that the late Mr da Rocha was a principled and independent minded person who aired his views strongly and publicly on issues
irrespective of whether they hurt the political party he belonged to or not.
It said it would be recalled that in 2004 when additional constituencies were being created, he pointed out to the government of President John Kufuor that it was unconstitutional for those new
constituencies to be used in the impending elections.
However unpopular his view on the matter was with some of his political compatriots, he remained true to his position.
"As a participating party in the Ghana Political Partners Programme under the auspices of the Institute of Economic Affairs, we have benefited greatly from the contributions of Honourable da Rocha towards the success of the programme."
It said that the NDC sincerely shared in the loss as they were convinced that Ghana as a nation had lost a man of immense political stature.