The Late Emmanuel Kyeremateng Agyarko
The Member of Parliament (MP) for the Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency, Emmanuel Kyeremateng Agyarko, died on Wednesday in the United States (US) at age 60.
The deceased was the brother of the former Energy Minister, Boakye Agyarko. The sketchy story about his death confused many, as their names sound similar.
He died at the Yale University Hospital in the US, where he had visited over the weekend for gall bladder infections.
Family members and sympathizers were dumbfounded about his death and freely shed tears.
He was born on December 10, 1957, and left behind a wife and seven children.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) MP succeeded Frema Akosua Osei-Opare, Chief of Staff.
For many who heard about the transition of the long-standing MP for Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency, they were surprised because news about his affliction with cancer was not known until he gave up the ghost while being treated in the US.
President Akufo-Addo, yesterday, visited the bereaved family at the deceased’s residence to commiserate with them.
Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia expressed shock at the death of the MP.
The Vice President, in a Facebook post, said “I have learnt with grief and shock, the sudden death of Hon. Emmanuel Kyeremateng Agyarko, MP for Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency, popularly known as ‘3da ho plain,” Dr. Bawumia said on Facebook.
He described him as ‘a true patriot, a friend and brother’ who would be missed.
The deceased hails from Krobo-Odumasi in the Eastern Region and Jamasi in the Ashanti Region and was a pharmacist, having served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Food and Drugs Authority under the Kufuor administration from 2001 to 2009; he was a fellow of the Ghana College of Pharmacists.
Mr Kyeremanteng Agyarko was Chairperson of the Environment, Science and Technology Committee in Parliament, having earlier served on Government Assurance and Health Committees.
The Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the NPP, Divine Otoo Agorhom, has described the deceased as a hero ‘who had a passion for life and positively impacted the lives of many people. Our outfit shall forever remain grateful for his kindness shown to us in numerous ways, notably his donation of the office we currently occupy.’
He recalled some words of the deceased thus “I am asking myself, what are we and what are we doing here? The Psalmist said in Psalm 90 v 12, Lord teach me to number my days that I may apply my heart unto wisdom. This life, my brothers, enfa yen nkosi hweeeeeeee.”
Ras Mubarak has suggested to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and other political parties not to put up a candidate for the Ayawaso West Wuogon seat.
The NDC MP for Kumbungu Constituency in the Northern Region wrote on his Facebook wall: “We should have an agreement amongst ourselves that if a sitting MP dies, the party from which he was an MP should select a candidate to serve his remaining term.”
By A.R. Gomda