Former Bantama MP Dead

Former Member of Parliament for the Bantama constituency in the Ashanti Region, Daniel Okyem Aboagye, has died at the age of 49.

Okyem Aboagye passed away at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi last Saturday (23 September) after a short illness.

He was the MP from 2017 to 2021 after beating Dr Henry Kwabena Kokofu in the NPP primaries in 2015.

He served as a member of the Finance Committee in the Seventh Parliament of the Fourth Republic.

He was, however, defeated by Francis Asenso-Boakye ahead of the 2020 elections in a fiercely contested primary that saw Dr Kokofu backing the current Minister of Works and Housing.

Profile

Mr Okyem Aboagye was the CEO of the popular transport company 2M Express.

Okyem Aboagye studied at the University of Ghana where he received a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. He graduated in 2002 with an MBA and MIS in Accounting from Troy University, Alabama, USA. Okyem Aboagye was certified in 2003 as a public accountant at the Certified Public Accountant of USA.

Okyem Aboagye started his career as the branch manager of SINAPI ABA TRUST in 1998. He later became the project manager of Opportunity International in 2003–2006. Okyem Aboagye was the financial controller of Globe Union in the US and CEO of MGI Microfinance in 2008–2012.

Painful

Majority Leader and MP for Suame, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, reacting to the death of his late colleague described it as “painful exit”.

In a statement, Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu described Okyem Aboagye as an “unblemished patriot” and a “joy to know and work with.”

He praised Okyem Aboagye’s debating skills and his contributions to the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

“I have received with utter shock the unheralded transition of a brother, former colleague Parliamentarian, and an unblemished patriot in the Elephant family, Mr. Daniel Okyem Aboagye.

“Humans recognize death as a sacred invitation to eternity by our Creator. Notwithstanding its inevitability, the call often leaves a trail of anguish and teeth gnashing moments. Especially in instances of recognisable truncation of a flourishing mission as the case of Okyem Aboagye is” part of his statement reads.

He concluded, “Okyem, you were a man of many parts, a joy to know and work with, especially, in matters of finance and economics. You left traces of astonishing debating instincts during your tenure in Parliament as MP for the good people of Bantama.

“Painful, devastating, shattering, and unbearable are understatements to the family, both nuclear and extended. For this reason we crave the Almighty to provide comfort, in this inauspicious moment, to your departed Soul. Daniel, may your departing soul continue to be with us and strengthen us in the hallowed enterprise of retaining power to rebuild, and reposition, Ghana. Fare thee well, brave warrior who has conquered death with an embrace!!”