7 Ghanaian statesmen who passed away in 2018

The year 2018 may be one that Ghanaians will not forget counting the number of deaths of some prominent personalities.

Amissah-Arthur

On the 28 June 2018, former Vice President Paa Kwesi Amissah-Arthur passed on.

He is reported to have collapsed at the Air Force Gym early Friday and was rushed to the 37 Military Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Born on April 29, 1951, the economist, academic and politician was the sixth Vice-President of Ghana, in office from August 6, 2012 until January 7, 2017, under President John Mahama.

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He previously served as the Governor of the Bank of Ghana from 2009 to 2012.

He was laid to rest Thursday, July 26 at the foyer of the Accra International Conference Centre.

His mortal remains are buried at the Military Cemetery, Burma Camp.

Kofi Annan

The death of the former United Nations (UN) Secretary-General, Kofi Annan came as a shock to the world.

Kofi Annan who served as the seventh secretary-general of the United Nations, died at the age of 80.

Born in Ghana in 1938, he was the first leader of the United Nations elected from the organization's staff. Trained as an economist, he began his work at the U.N. in 1962 as a World Health Organization budget officer.

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His tenure included the beginning of the war on terror, which came with deep divisions over the Iraq War.

His legacy is tied to these military and political crises, though he had little to no control over the U.N. Security Council, which handles such matters.

Annan was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2001 for combatting terrorism, prioritizing human rights, and helping to establish the Global AIDS and Health Fund.

On September 13, he was laid to rest.

Annan's widow, Nane Maria, led hundreds of mourners, including world leaders past and present, traditional rulers and global royalty, and called her husband an "extraordinary" person who had a "joy of life".

VCRAC Crabbe

The former Supreme Court Judge of Ghana, Justice V.C.R.A.C. Crabbe died at age 95.

He died at the hospital in Accra after a short illness.

Justice Crabbe was born on October 29, 1923 at Ussher town in Accra and had his early education at the Government Junior and Senior Boys Schools in Accra.

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His mortal remains was laid to rest in Accra on Thursday October 4, 2018.

He left behind six children.

JH Mensah

Veteran politician Joseph Henry Mensah died aged 89.

J.H Mensah, a Gold Coaster born in October 1928 is a founding member of the governing New Patriotic Party and served in three different ministerial positions under the John Agyekum Kufuor administration.

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He was a former Minority leader and a Majority leader and held his last top government position in 2005 when he was appointed Senior minister by President Kufuor.

His working experience dates back to 1953 when he was appointed as an Assistant Inspector of Taxes by the colonial administration.

He also served as a member of the African Advisory Council of the African Development Bank (ADB) between 1993 and 1997.

Emmanuel Boakye Agyarko

The Member of Parliament for Ayawaso West Wuogon in the Greater Accra region, Emmanuel Kwabena Kyeremateng Agyarko, has died at the age of 60.

He died after a short illness for which he had undergone corrective surgery.

Brother of the late MP has opened up about the circumstances under which his younger brother died at the Yale University Hospital in the United States.

He disclosed that his brother has been battling with the disease for the past three months and had to be flown outside the country due to the deteriorating health conditions.

He recounted how medical officers at Yale University tried to treat his condition to no avail.

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Born on December 10, 1957, the soft-spoken Kyeremateng Agyarko, was formerly Chief Executive Officer of the Food and Drugs Board (2001 – 2009).

He was a pharmacist and hailed from Odumase Krobo in the Eastern Region and Jamasi in Ashanti.

K.B Asante

Kwaku Baprui Asante was a Ghanaian diplomat, writer and politician.

He was the Secretary to Ghana's First President Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.

He served under most Heads of States in Ghana, starting from Nkrumah, and also served as the Principal Secretary at African Affairs Secretariat from 1960 to 1966.

He died on 22 January 2018 at the age of 93.

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Prof. Atukwei Okai

Prof. Atukwei Okai is a renowned Ghanaian poet, scholar, cultural activist and author.

He died in Accra, aged 77.

He died at the Korle Bu Teaching hospital on Friday following a short illness.

Until his death Prof. Atukwei Okai was the Secretary-General of the Pan African Writers Association of Ghana.

Prof Atukwei Okai won a great number of honours both locally and internationally during his illustrious career, and was in June 2007, awarded the national award of Member of the Order of the Volta.

He was survived by his wife, Beatrice, and five daughters.