Outspoken Ghanaian politician and founder of URP Kofi Wayo dies

Outspoken Ghanaian politician and founder of URP Kofi Wayo dies

Ghanaian politician and businessman Charles Eric Kofi Wayo, popularly known as Kofi Wayo, has reportedly died at the Nyaho Medical Centre in Accra.

He is said to have passed away in the early hours of Saturday, November 7, bringing to a close the life of one of Ghana's most outspoken and unconventional political figures.

Widely known as ‘Chuck’ Wayo, he earned a reputation for his blunt criticism of successive governments, particularly on issues of corruption, governance and economic management. His views made him a prominent figure in Ghana's political and media discussions, especially during the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Kofi Wayo first attracted national attention through his outspoken opposition to the administration of former President Jerry John Rawlings. He later became associated with the New Patriotic Party (NPP), emerging as an active supporter and contesting the Ayawaso East parliamentary seat in the 2000 general elections.

Although he failed to secure the seat, he remained a vocal critic of the then-governing National Democratic Congress (NDC).

His relationship with the NPP, however, deteriorated after the party won power under former President John Agyekum Kufuor. He subsequently became critical of the government, accusing its leaders of failing to fulfil their promises and expressing dissatisfaction with the country's political leadership.

He eventually left the NPP and joined the People's National Convention (PNC) before establishing his own political movement, the United Renaissance Party (URP), in 2007.

Through the URP, Kofi Wayo sought to challenge the political dominance of the NPP and NDC by offering Ghanaians an alternative political platform. His agenda focused on governance reforms, economic transformation, job creation and greater accountability in public office.

He continued to participate in national political discussions, advocating policies he believed would improve living conditions, particularly for ordinary citizens and rural communities.

Despite his ambitions, the URP struggled to gain a significant foothold in electoral politics, and his involvement in mainstream party activities gradually declined.

In March 2017, Kofi Wayo announced his withdrawal from active politics, citing disappointment with the country's political system. He said he intended to devote his attention to agriculture and support farmers in rural communities.

His plans included providing farmers with agricultural equipment and other logistical assistance to improve production.

He had consistently criticised successive governments for what he considered their failure to address the practical challenges confronting farmers, arguing that the agricultural sector required tangible interventions rather than political promises.