A year of COVID-19: Those Ghana lost …Gone but not forgotten

On March 12, 2020, a pandemic that seemed so far, finally hit home, as Ghana recorded its first two cases of the deadly Coronavirus, COVID-19.

The two individuals had returned to Ghana from Norway and Turkey.

The government was forced to enforce some restrictions which included the closure of schools, ban on social gatherings such as funerals and parties.

A year on, as the pandemic rages, businesses were badly hit and life has not been the same ever since the virus crossed the borders into Ghana.

Families have lost bread winners, friends have lost their loved ones, and businesses have lost their leaders.

Exactly a year after Ghana recorded its first two cases on March 12, 2020, data from the Ghana Health Service (GHS) shows that the country’s cumulative case count stands at 86,737.

Out of this, a total of 656 people have died, some of whom were politicians, business leaders, children and parents.

Undoubtedly, this pandemic will not be forgotten anytime soon because of its extraordinary havoc on families and economies.

While the majority of the fatalities from the disease in Ghana are unknown, there is a long list of victims whose names are public.

Theghanareport.com pays tribute to the men and women, mainly of Ghanaian ancestry, who have succumbed to the virus both home and abroad.

First published on September 17, 2020, theghanareport.com has updated the list to reflect current events.

Bob Pixel

Known in real life as Emmanuel Bobbie, the celebrated photographer succumbed to the deadly virus on February 25, 2021.

Bob Pixel, as he was affectionately called in his profession was known for documenting events such as funerals and festivals.

He went on tours across Ghana to also document some traditional events and monuments.

 

 

 

 

Bob Pixel’s works were loved from across the country. After his demise, many Ghanaians have shared some of his popular works which included children diving into a river at Nzulezu and the famous coconut seller who held high the flag of Ghana.

Bob was a leading light in modern photography. He was also a Graphic Designer.

Betty Mirabelle Odonkor

Madam Betty Mirabelle Odonkor was the step-mother to Ghanaian celebrity, Nadia Buari.

Affectionately called Aunty Betty, she died on February 5, 2021, after reportedly battling COVID-19.

She was 61 years. Aunty Betty was previously married to former President of the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) Alhaji Sidiku Buari.

Nanabanyin Pratt 

Nanabanyin Pratt is reported to have died from COVID-19 complications on January 17, 2021.

He was a Public Relations expert and lecturer at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA).

Nanabayin Pratt was the younger brother of political commentator and Managing Editor of the Insight newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr.

Joshua Kyeremeh

Joshua Kyeremeh was the National Security Boss.

He is reported to have died from kidney complications while receiving treatment for COVID-19.

He died on the dawn of Monday, January 18, 2021, at the Ga East Municipal Hospital, where he was receiving treatment.

President Akufo-Addo in 2017 appointed Mr. Kyeremeh as the National Security Coordinator.

Alhaji Mustapha Oti Boateng

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Chocho Industries, Alhaji Mustapha Oti Boateng reportedly succumbed to COVID-19 last week.

He was a businessman and a philanthropist whose support to the poor and needy cut across Ghana.

His company has won several awards, including Cosmetics and Personal Care Product of the Year, 2013.

In 2014, his skincare products also won Toiletries and Cosmetics of the Year.

All these awards were received from the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI).

Ben Arthur

He was the Executive Secretary of the Coalition of NGOs in Water and Sanitation (CONIWAS).

Mr. Arthur, according to reports, died while receiving COVID-19 treatment.

Frances Awua-Kyerematen

She was the Associate Director of Students Life and Engagement at Ashesi University.

The 40-year-old’s untimely death occurred on the afternoon of January 15, 2021, after battling Covid-19. This was a few days after celebrating her 40th birthday.

Mrs. Awua-Kyerematen worked in Coaching, Counselling, and Advising. She was “The Coach” to many students on campus.

Throughout her time on campus, the wellbeing, growth, and success of students in the University was her priority.

Many have described her as a true definition of someone who exemplified the power of living in the moment and maintaining a positive spirit.

Leonard Gikunu

The business community suffered another loss during the pandemic. This time, in the banking sector.

The Head of Corporate Finance at Fidelity Bank, Leonard Gikunu, reportedly gave up the ghost after battling COVID-19 for days.

Leonard, who was a financial expert, designed the ESLA Bond financing programme from scratch to finance the BDC indebtedness to the banks.

Dora Baah

Dora Baah, a junior school teacher, at Ghana International School (GIS) died over the weekend after battling COVID-19.

Her death was announced to the learning community by the Principal of the school, Dr. Mary Ashun.

Madam Dora has been described as an affable teacher who left “a very enviable legacy of being a teacher’s teacher”.

Tarek Minkara

He was the first known victim of COVID-19 in Ghana. The 61-year-old, Kumasi resident, died on March 21. He was a spare part dealer and a popular figure in Kumasi. He left behind a child and a wife.

He died at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital at Kumasi in the Ashanti Region.

Kwabena Manu

The Denmark-based executive member of the New Patriotic Party died in a Danish Hospital on March 19, 2020.

According to reports, he suffered a brain haemorrhage in December 2019 and had been in and out of a coma at an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of a hospital in Denmark.

Nana Osei Boansi Kuffour

The head of the Oyoko Clan in Juaso and the father of a former Musician Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) President, Bice Osei Kufuor (Obour), died at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital on March 26, 2020, after testing positive for coronavirus.

Samuel Bediako Waterbeg

The 41-year-old, who holds Ghanaian and Dutch citizenship died at the Ga East Municipal Hospital in Accra on March 27, 2020.

He lived in the Netherlands for 22 years before returning to Ghana in 2011.

Freda Ocran

The US-based Ghanaian nurse died at the Lincoln Medical Center in New York on March 24, after contracting the virus and showing deteriorating health.

The 50-year old nurse was the former head nurse of Jacobi Medical Center’s psychiatric unit and had been agitating about poor precautionary measures in hospitals in the fight against coronavirus.

Prof Jacob Plange-Rhule

The Rector of the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons died on April 10, 2020. This was in spite of a desperate last-minute effort by the Presidency to get him a life-saving medication from Kenya.

He was one of the frontline doctors in the fight against COVID-19, who succumbed to the disease on April 10. 

He died at the University of Ghana Medical Centre in Accra.  Prof Plange-Rhule was 63. He was survived by a wife and two daughters.

Mary Agyeiwa

A heavily pregnant 28-year-old nurse, Mary Agyeiwaa Agyapong, died shortly after testing positive for coronavirus in the United Kingdom.

Agyeiwaa delivered her baby in an emergency c-section but tragically died soon after on April 12.

Doreen Tay

The 43-year-old nurse who was working in the United States died from coronavirus after she contracted the disease while on admission at the hospital.

Doreen Tay, a product of the St Mary’s Senior High School at Korle Gonno in Accra, died on April 21, 2020.

Dr Harry Owusu Boateng

The 48-year old Medical Superintendent of the Kwadaso SDA Hospital died at home on Saturday, June 13, 2020, after complaining of being unwell.

Dr. Richard Kisser, passed on at the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC) where, coincidentally, a consultant physician and former Rector of the Physicians and Surgeons College, Prof. Jacob Plange-Rhule, died.

Dr Kisser, a respected consultant surgeon at the Trust Hospital, died on July 12, 2020.

 Anthony K.K. Sam

The Chief Executive of the Sekondi Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly, Anthony Kobina Kurentsir Sam, died from COVID-19 at the UGMC in Accra on June 12, 2020.

Kwabena Boateng

Before Dr Harry Boateng’s family recovered from his shocking death, his young brother, Kwame Boateng, reportedly collapsed and was rushed to a private hospital in the Ashanti Region where he was pronounced dead on arrival on June 21.

Ironically, the family was at the one-week funeral celebration of Dr Boateng when news of his brother who is also the first Presiding Member for Oforikrom Municipal hit the family. He died before his test result came coronavirus positive.

Daniel Okley Mensah

The former Managing Director of the Bulk Oil Storage and Transport (BOST) Company Limited, George Okley Mensah, passed on at the 37 Military Hospital on June 22, 2020.

Sir John

Ghanaians cut short the commemoration of Ghana’s Republic Day to mourn the death of the Chief Executive of the Forestry Commission, Kwadwo Owusu-Afriyie, who died at the Intensive Care Unit of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital on July 1.

He was 63.

Mr Owusu-Afriyie, who was also a leading member of the ruling party had served as its General Secretary from 2010 to 2014.

John Kumi Amankwah

The laboratory technician died of coronavirus, leaving behind a wife and a two-month-old baby.

The health professional, who worked at Weija-Gbawe Municipal hospital in the Greater Accra Region, died on  June 22, 2020, at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in the Ashanti Region.

Sophia Addo

A 54-year old nurse with the Ghana Manganese Company Hospital in Tarkwa Nsuta was reported dead after contracting the novel coronavirus.

She took ill on May 6, 2020, after which her condition worsened the very next day with signs of COVID-19.

Dr Emmanuel Twagirayesu

Dr Emmanuel Twagirayesu, a retired Orthopedic Surgeon, also died of the virus in July.