John Kumah’s family with President Akufo-Addo
It was an emotional moment when the family of the late Deputy Minister of Finance and Member of Parliament (MP) for Ejisu Constituency, John Kumah, called on President Akufo-Addo at the Jubilee House on Wednesday evening.
The delegation was led by the General Secretary of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Justin Kodua Frimpong, to officially inform the President about John Kumah’s passing and to also brief him on plans for his funeral.
President Akufo-Addo said he was saddened about his death, describing the late 45-year-old budding politician as one of the vibrant, hardworking and truthful young men of the NPP who had a bright political future.
“I realised that judging from the way he speaks, comports himself and his truthfulness, he had a very bright future in Ghanaian politics,” he said, literally putting tears in the eyes of the family members and government officials present.
Apart from his many contributions to the party both in opposition and in power, the President said he realised the hard work, true dedication and commitment of the late John Kumah to the party and government when he (Akufo-Addo) became the leader of the party, and eventually President of Ghana, saying, “John Kumah helped me a lot.”
He spoke about his work as the Chief Executive Officer of the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP) to create job opportunities and support for the youth in the private sector, and indicated that, “He did it to my utmost satisfaction, so in my second term I decided to promote him to the position of Deputy Minister of Finance.”
He said information he received from the constituency was that he constantly interacted with the electorate and worked hard for them while exhibiting a great sense of respect for the elders of the community.
The President described the death of the late Deputy Minister as “difficult to understand” even though he said God’s ways are not the ways of man, neither will men understand the things he do.
He, therefore, noted that John Kumah’s death was a great loss to the wife and children, the family, the party and country.
Painful and bitter as his death was and may be, he said, “But our faith is still in God who understands all the happenings,” with an advice in tow, he added, “We should also understand that just as Kumah is gone, that is how God will call all of us at the appointed time.”
President Akufo-Addo however assured that the government will give him a befitting burial. He expressed his condolences and that of the government to the family and promised to be at the one-week observance scheduled for March 28, 2024.
The Executive Secretary to the President, Nana Asante Bediatuo, recounted how John Kumah walked to his legal chambers to request to do his internship as a law student and how he worked with him after he had completed school. He therefore spoke of how his death has affected him.
Spokesperson for the family, Kwasi Owusu Twumasi, presented drinks as part of tradition to inform the President about the death, and promised to keep him and the government updated on plans for his burial and funeral rites.
By Charles Takyi-Boadu, Presidential Correspondent