Nanabeyin Pratt, Leonard Gikunu, Frances Awua-Kyerematen and Joshua Kyeremeh
The novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to wreak havoc as more prominent people are dying from it.
The latest big shot to suffer the brunt of the pandemic is National Security Coordinator, Joshua Kyeremeh.
He reportedly died yesterday morning following a short illness at the Ga East Municipal Hospital in Accra.
Unconfirmed sources at the National Security claimed that he died of kidney complications at the hospital as he was receiving treatment for COVID-19.
Mr. Kyeremeh was one of President Akufo-Addo’s first appointees in 2017 during his first term and had been holding the position of National Security Coordinator until his sad passing.
Mr. Kyeremeh was a product of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and a former Director of the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), now known as National Intelligence Bureau (NIB).
He worked at the BNI for about 22 years, where he served at command levels in the Northern, Upper East, Ashanti and Greater Accra regions.
He also served as head of the Investigations Unit of the Bureau and rose to become the Deputy Director BNI and ultimately, the Director BNI from 2005 to 2009 during the Kufuor NPP administration.
Mr. Kyeremeh was part of the transition team after the December 7, 2020 elections.
Pratt Family
Also, Nanabeyin Pratt, a former Managing Director of ‘New Times Corporation (NTC)’, publishers of state-owned newspaper, ‘Ghanaian Times’, has reportedly died as a result of COVID-19.
Mr. Pratt who is a direct junior brother of veteran journalist and political commentator, Kwesi Pratt Jnr., reportedly passed on last Sunday.
He was a public relations expert and lecturer at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA).
Fidelity Casualty
It has also been reported that the Head of Corporate Finance at Fidelity Bank, Leornard Gikunu, has died of COVID-19.
The sad occurrence was disclosed through a Facebook post made by one Gbeetsatsu Abbey over the weekend.
The post said Mr. Gikunu designed the ESLA Bond financing program from scratch and also built the same petroleum finance loan book used by Fidelity Bank.
He is also said to be a Chevening Scholar with a first-class BSc in Administration from the University of Ghana.
The facebook post, which described the chartered accountant as a “brilliant chap”, used his death to caution people about the COVID-19 menace and the need to adhere to safety protocols as outlined by the Ghana Health Service (GHS) through the government.
“This COVID-19 is very real and taking lives so let’s all be mindful and observe the protocols. Not to be afraid but to acquire the knowledge needed to live with it. It’s a COVID-19 world we live in right now so let’s beware. I am really sad,” the post read.
Ashesi Official
It was also reported that the Associate Director of Students Life and Engagement at Ashesi University, Frances Awua-Kyerematen, passed away due to alleged COVID-19 complications.
The sudden death occurred on Friday, January 15, few days after celebrating her birthday.
Mrs. Awua-Kyerematen worked in Coaching, Counselling and Advising and was regarded as “The Coach” to many students on campus.
GIS Teacher
A teacher at Ghana International School (GIS), Dora Baah, also reportedly died of Covid-19 over the weekend and the school’s authorities have since confirmed the sad news.
“We have lost Mrs. Dora Baah, Junior School Teacher (and former AVP) after a short battle with COVID-19,” Dr Mary Ashun, Principal of GIS, broke the news to the community, adding “Dora was life itself. Everyone who knew her will attest to this. Her energy at school assemblies, her rib-crushing hugs, her jokes and… her everything. Dora was GIS.”
“The last time I saw her was when myself and the rest of the management team did our Christmas walkabout to deliver gifts to staff. Dora walked out of her room and met us with dancing as we sang ‘Oye’. I’m now clinging to that memory like a drowning person clinging to a floating raft, because memories are all we now have. Dora taught EVERYBODY and leaves a very enviable legacy of being a teacher’s teacher, what we are all meant to do in our chosen vocation of teaching.”
More Cases
Last Saturday, the Executive Secretary of Coalition of NGOs in Water and Sanitation (CONIWAS), Ben Arthur, also lost his life to Covid-19.
The sad event occurred at the Nyaho Medical Centre in Accra, where according to sources, he was being treated for Covid-19.
Also, Alhaji Mustapha Oti Boateng, the Chief Executive Officer of Chocho Industries Company Limited, plant medicine and herbal-based cosmetics production company based at Suhum-44 in the Eastern Region, died.
He reportedly died from COVID- 19 after battling with the virus at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, a source disclosed.
Last year, prominent people like Prof. Jacob Plange-Rhule, the Rector of the Ghana Physicians and Surgeons College and former New Patriotic Party (NPP) General Secretary, Kwadwo Owusu-Afriyie, together with a respected consultant surgeon at the Trust Hospital, Dr. Richard Kisser, all died from the disease.
By Melvin Tarlue