The year 2023 has been a year of numerous memories.
While it brought a lot of happiness to many Ghanaians, it also had its fair share of sadness.
Many influential Ghanaian personalities died, leaving their families and the nation heartbroken.
From politics and business to the entertainment industry, several deaths left Ghanaians in shock, with many questioning God.
From the young to the old, the icy hands of death did not spare the lives of these icons.
As we embrace 2024 with joyous celebrations, The Ghana Report remembers the souls that departed, praying that their legacies continue to inspire generations and that their impact on the nation will forever be remembered.
Philip Basoah
Philip Basoah was a Ghanaian politician and member of the Seventh Parliament of the Fourth Republic of Ghana for the Kumawu Constituency in the Ashanti Region on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
According to a family source, he died in the early morning of Tuesday, March 28, 2023.
He died at the age of 53 at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.
Christian Atsu
Ghanaian footballer Christian Atsu Twasam tragically lost his life in the recent earthquake in Turkey.
The lifeless body of Atsu was recovered from the rubble of the collapsed apartment he was living in on February 18, 2023.
Atsu was 31 years old at the time of his death.
He is survived by his wife and three children.
Sydney Casely Hayford
The renowned financial analyst Sydney Casely-Hayford was reported dead on Friday, December 1.
Casely-Hayford was a member of the pressure group Occupy Ghana and was widely recognised for his outspoken and candid perspectives on social and economic matters in Ghana.
Reports indicate that he died after a long battle with kidney disease.
Akwaboah-Snr.
Veteran highlife musician Kwadwo Akwaboah, popularly known as “Akwaboah Senior”, also passed on in the wee hours of Tuesday, May 16, 2023, at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi after a short illness.
His death was announced by his son Akwaboah Jnr.
He was buried on September 30 at Trede, his hometown in the Ashanti Region.
Cynthia Quarcoo
Cynthia Quarcoo, a prominent legal practitioner, passed away on June 21, 2023, after battling a long illness. She served as the CEO of Africa 1 Media, an agency specialising in talent and public relations for Ghanaian musicians.
She represented numerous Ghanaian musicians, including Sarkodie and was known for her contributions to the entertainment industry.
Daniel Okyem Aboagye
Daniel Okyem Aboagye, a former Member of Parliament for the Bantama constituency and CEO of 2M Express transport service, passed away on September 23, 2023, after a brief illness.
He served as a spokesperson for the New Patriotic Party, focusing on economic matters, and was a member of the Economic Committee during his time in parliament.
Sherry Ayittey
Sherry Ayittey was a Ghanaian biochemist, politician, and women’s activist who passed away on July 22, 2023, after a short illness.
Sherry Hanny Ayittey passed away at age 75.
The Ayittey family lost a giant; the NDC wept over losing a founding member; and the 31st December Women’s’ Movement sang praises for a staunch member who played a vital role in the organisation.
Sherry was one of few women who held many positions and ministerial roles, blazing the trail for other female politicians.
She served as a Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development.
Again, she was the Minister for Health from February 2013 to June 2014.
Her contribution to the party did not end there, as she also held the Minister for Environment, Science, and Technology portfolio from 2009 to 2012.
Theresa Kuffour
The former First Lady, Theresa Aba Kufuor, died at her home in Peduase after a short illness on Sunday, October 1, at the age of 87.
Mrs. Theresa Aba Kufuor is survived by her husband, H.E. John Agyekum Kufuor (former President of the Republic of Ghana), and five children: J. Addo Kufuor, Nana Ama Gyamfi, Saah Kufuor, Agyekum Kufuor, and Owusu Afriyie Kufuor.
Kufuor and his late wife are also blessed with 14 grandchildren.
Ama Busia
Ama Busia was the former first vice chair of the New Patriotic Party and sister of the late Kofi Abrefa Busia, who also served as Ghana’s prime minister in the Second Republic.
Madam Ama Busia passed away on Tuesday, December 12, 2023, after a short illness.
ET Mensah
Enoch Teye Mensah, commonly known as E. T. Mensah, was a Ghanaian politician.
He was a Minister for Education and a Member of Parliament in Ghana from January 1997 until January 2017.
E.T. Mensah was married with seven children.
He died in South Africa on October 1, 2023, at 77.
Anthony Akoto Ampaw
Anthony Akoto Ampaw, also known as Sheey Sheey, was a Ghanaian lawyer and human rights activist.
He was the head of the legal team defending President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s’ win in the 2020 presidential elections at the Supreme Court of Ghana.
Lawyer Akoto Ampaw died at the University of Ghana Medical Center (UGMC) on October 20, 2023.
Apostle Michael Kwabena Ntumy
Apostle Michael Kwabena Ntumy was a Ghanaian Pentecostal televangelist and the fourth Chairman of the Church of Pentecost (COP) from 1998 to 2008.
Apostle Ntumy passed away in the early hours of December 27, 2023.
He died at age 65.
Major Rtd Kojo Boakye-Djan
Major retired Kojo Boakye-Djan was a Ghanaian military officer and politician.
He was known to have planned the coup that brought Flight Lieutenant Jerry John Rawlings to power in Ghana with other junior officers on June 4, 1979.
He died on August 30, 2023, at the 37 Military Hospital at age 81.
Lieutenant General Joseph Henry Smith
Lieutenant General Joseph Henry Smith was Ghana’s ambassador to the United States.
Smith was the Minister for Defence of Ghana during President John Atta Mills” term of office from 2009 to 2013. He was also Chief of Army Staff of the Ghana Army.
He died on the morning of Tuesday, December 19.
He died at age 78 after a brief illness.
Reverend Anthony Boakye
Reverend Anthony Kwadwo Boakye was a popular pastor and founder of the Resurrection Power New Generation Church.
He died at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital on Tuesday, February 21, 2023, at the age of 65 years.
Many expected Reverend Boakye’s funeral to be solemn and peaceful, but it was engulfed in controversy.
As the family made preparations for the burial, the widow of the late clergyman was rather in court to secure an injunction against the burial.
After several weeks of tussle between family and widow, he was laid to rest on
Mrs Gertrude Quashigah
Mrs. Gertrude Quashigah was the National Coordinator of the School Feed Programme and the wife of the late Major Courage E. K. Quashigah (Rtd), a former Minister in the erstwhile Kufuor administration.
She died on Sunday, November 12, 2023, at age 63.
Valerie Anne Sackey
Mrs. Valerie Anne Sackey was the Director of the Castle Information Bureau during the administration of the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) from 1982 to 1992 and of the Public Affairs Secretariat in the office of President J.J. Rawlings from 1992 to 2001.
She was the late former President Rawlings’ speech writer.
Mrs. Sackey passed away on December 31, 2023, at age 88.