The immediate past General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party, Mr. Joseph Agyenim Boateng is dead. He died on Friday evening after a short illness at the age of 64.
Mr. Agyenim is said to have reported well and fit for work that day as usual. On his return home after the close of work, he complained of chest pains and later had difficulty in breathing. He was rushed to the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.
Mr. Boateng was one of the most dedicated and loyal functionaries of the Danquah-Busia Tradition from which the NPP was formed. He commenced his political career with the Progress Party (PP) when he worked as the personal assistant to Mr. J.B. da Rocha who was then the General Secretary of the PP.
He went into exile after the PP government was overthrown in January 1972 and returned after the restoration of constitutional rule. He was one time deputy General Secretary of the Popular Front Party (PFP). He took an active part in the re-organisation of the NPP in the run-up to the restoration of constitutional rule in 1992. He was subsequently elected General Secretary in 1992 and was re-elected in 1995 when the party went to congress.
He was instrumental in the formation of the Great Alliance of the NPP and the People’s Convention Party, the first ever-political merger of the Nkrumahists and Danquah-Busia tradition. He however lost the position to Dan Botwe in 1998 but continued to participate in the affairs of the party until his untimely death.
