Daily Guide Loses Staff
Sam Mark Essien, a veteran journalist and the Western regional editor of the DAILY GUIDE died on Thursday after a short illness. He was 58.
The prominent journalist who was also the Western Regional secretary of the Ghana Journalists' Association (GJA) passed on at the Kwesimintsim Hospital near Takoradi around 12 midnight on Thursday.
The deceased who was undergoing treatment at the Kwesimintsim Hospital for an alleged heart ailment was later referred to the Cardiothoracic Centre at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra for regular check-up.
According to the wife of the deceased, Madam Hannah Essien, at about 11:00pm on Wednesday, while at home the deceased complained that he was not feeling well so he asked the children to pray for him. She noted that few minutes later her husband insisted that he should be sent to the hospital.
'When we got to the hospital he was put on oxygen. Then he started saying God, save me, God save me and died in the process,' the wife said amid uncontrollable tears.
Members of the Regional GJA and staff of the Regional office of DAILY GUIDE visited the house of the deceased yesterday to mourn with the bereaved family and extend their condolences to them.
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Western Region GJA members at Mark Essien's house yesterday
Most of the journalists described the deceased as an exceptional writer, adding that his death had come as a shock to the journalism community.
'His enthusiasm, diligence and deep knowledge of his field will remain an example to all of us journalists,' one of them remarked.
The Regional Chairman of the GJA, Moses Aklorbotu, noted that the association recognized the late Essien's invaluable contribution to the field of journalism in the region, saying, 'He was an excellent journalist who will be missed in the media environment'.
“Our condolences go to his family, friends, colleagues and staff of Western Publications. He was an inspiration to many aspirant journalists and will be missed by all the members', Mr. Aklorbotu told this reporter.