Mr. Samuel Ntim Darkwa
The Parliament of Ghana and the broader governance community are mourning the passing of Mr. Samuel Ntim Darkwa, a revered parliamentary figure whose service to the nation spanned nearly four decades.
Mr. Darkwa’s rich experience covered a period during which he rose from the position of Assistant Clerk to become the Clerk of Parliament of the Republic of Ghana. He was Assistant Clerk to the 1968 Constituent Assembly and Clerk to the 1992 Consultative Assembly.
Uniquely, Mr. Darkwa holds the distinction of having served in all Parliaments and Constituent Assemblies of Ghana from 1961 to 1997, a period marked by constitutional reforms, political transitions, and institutional growth.
Mr. Darkwa’s expertise in parliamentary practices and procedures, especially in the inner workings of the House and its Committees, had been acknowledged by his peers not only in Ghana but indeed throughout the British Commonwealth.
He was a regular contributor to “The Parliamentarian”, the leading journal for Commonwealth Parliaments.
When he retired in 1997, he was a consultant to Ghana’s Centre for Democratic Development (CDD) and, with others, produced work on Parliament and democratic governance in Ghana’s Fourth Republic.
Mr. Darkwa’s lasting legacy to the Parliament of Ghana is the two books he co-authored with the late K. B. Ayensu, the first Ghanaian Clerk at the time of independence (1955-1966); “How Our Parliament Functions: An Introduction to the Law, Practice and Procedure of the Parliament of Ghana” and “The Evolution of Parliament in Ghana”.
In honour of his extraordinary life, the final rites for Mr. Samuel Ntim Darkwa will be held at Parliament House, a fitting venue for a man who gave so much to the institution.
Pre-Burial Service and File Past: Saturday, May 3, 2025, from 7:30am to 8:30am at the Forecourt of Parliament House.
Burial Service: Same venue, from 8:30am to 10:30am.
Internment: Private.
Final Funeral Rites: Immediately following the burial service at the Forecourt of Parliament House.
Thanksgiving Service: Sunday, May 4, 2025 at Ridge Church, beginning at 10:00am.
Attire: White.
Mr. Samuel Ntim Darkwa leaves behind a legacy of integrity, quiet resilience, and unwavering service to the Republic of Ghana.