Notable deaths in 2018

We are drawing the curtains on 2018 but it is impossible to do that without remembering the notable names that will not make it into 2019 with us.

Take a look at some of the famous faces we will no longer be seeing.

Ebony Reigns

The popular dancehall artiste died in a gruesome road accident on the Sunyani-Kumasi road. She was returning from a visit to her mother when the incident occurred. The death of the 20-year-old singer left many in tears.

She was at the peak of her career and had been tipped to win Artiste of the Year at the Ghana Music Awards before death painfully snatched her away. Even in death, she made history by being the first female to win the Artiste of the Year although posthumous.

Kofi Annan

Ghana also lost one of its illustrious sons in 2018. Kofi Annan, the former United Nations Secretary-General died at a hospital in Switzerland after a short illness.

Mr Annan served as the 70th Secretary-General of the United Nations from January 1997 to December 2006.

The Nobel Prize laureate was 80.

Amissah Arthur

Perhaps one of the most shocking deaths is that of former Vice President Kwesi Amissah Arthur. The 67-year-old former Governor of the Bank of Ghana was not known to be ill.

He collapsed at the Air Force Gym where he had gone to have his normal exercise routine. He was pronounced dead at the 37 Military Hospital.

J.H Mensah

Ghana also lost one of its veteran politician Joseph Henry Mensah, aged 89. Mr Mensah a Gold Coaster born in October 1928 was a founding member of the governing New Patriotic Party and served in three different ministerial positions under the John Agyekum Kufuor administration.

He was both Majority and Minority Leader and held his last top government position in 2005 when he was appointed Senior minister by president Kufuor.

V.C.R.A.C. Crabbe

The former Supreme Court Judge of Ghana, Justice Vincent Cyril Richard Arthur Charles died at a hospital in Accra after a short illness.

He was the first Ghanaian to chair the Electoral Commission.

Alhaji Bature

Political commentator and founder and Editor of the Al-Hajj newspaper, Alhaji Iddrisu Bature died in May.

The senior journalist died at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital Friday where he had been on admission after suffering a stroke.

K.B. Asante

Senior citizen and retired diplomat Kwaku Baprui Asante also left us suddenly. The family of the 93-year old statesman has confirmed his passing but gives no further details as to what caused the death.

Mr. Asante was secretary to Ghana's first President Kwame Nkrumah and served in the civil service for more than 20 years.

He entered politics after quitting the civil service in 1978. The statesman kept a column ‘Voice From Afar’ published in the Daily Graphic for many decades.

Prof Atukwei Okai

Ghana’s iconic poet Prof Atukwei Okai also dropped his pen in 2018.

The Secretary-General of the Pan African Writers Association of Ghana died at the Korle-Bu Teaching hospital, Friday after a short illness.

Prof Okai, 77, was known for his excellent poetry recitation and is believed to be one of the first real poetry performers to have emerged in Africa.

Super OD

The Ghanaian movie industry also lost one of their favourites. Asonaba Kwaku Darko, popularly known as Super OD died in February at the Swedru Government Hospital in the Central Region.

The 84-year-old veteran actor had been out of the public’s eye for some time due to his illness and had been living in Agona Swedru.

C.K. Mann

One of the music industry’s veterans Charles Kofi Amankwa Mann, best known on stage as C. K. Mann also dropped his microphone.

The legendary musician passed away on March 20 at the Ghapoha Hospital in the Western Region.

He was 83.

Emmanuel Agyarko

Member of Parliament for Ayawaso West Wuogon in the Greater Accra Region, Emmanuel Agyarko also passed on in 2018. The legislator passed on at a hospital in the United States in November.

He had gone to the United States to seek medical care after an undisclosed medical condition was stabilised at the Ridge Hospital in Accra.

Mac Jordan Amartey

Sadly, legendary actor, Mac Jordan Amartey is also no longer with us.

A family friend, Kwesi Ansah, said the veteran actor who has been unwell for some time, died at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.

His family had taken him to the hospital after struggling to get him to eat solid food. He had since been on admission until his death.

Danfo B.A

Ghanaian movie producer, Kweku Boakye, popularly known as Danfo B.A. also laid down his tools.

He died in October at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra. He was 50. According to a family source, Danfo BA had been sick for almost a year before his death.

Yusif Abubakar

Yusif Abubakar, the former Aduana Stars coach also died at 60. He passed away in November at the KNUST Hospital in Kumasi after a short illness.

He was buried same day in accordance with Islamic customs.

Nana Turkson

Popular showbiz pundit on Joy FM’s Showbiz A-Z, Bertrand Nana Turkson died suddenly in August.

Nana Turkson was rushed to the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital one Tuesday morning after he complained of poor physical condition. He was arguably one of Ghana’s finest entertainment analyst.

---Myjoyonline