Jake’s death: March is a sad month – Mahama

The month of March 2016 will forever remain one of the saddest in the minds of Ghanaians, having claimed the lives of some high profile personalities, the latest being a former national chairman of the NPP Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey.

According to President John Dramani Mahama, “March has taken a great toll” on Ghana because four personalities from the West African country have already passed on.

“Sad month,” Mahama tweeted following the death of Obetsebi-Lamptey in London, Sunday dawn.

Obetsebi-Lamptey, who led the NPP into power in 2000, died aged 70. The former Minister of Tourism died in London following a protracted illness

The ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) has described the passing of the former chief of staff as a major loss to Ghana.

“The sad news of the passing away of Jake Otanka Obetsebi Lamptey has hit the National Democratic Congress (NDC) very hard in the heart and we send out our heartfelt condolences to the immediate and extended families of the late former Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP),” its General Secretary Johnson Asiedu Nketiah said.

The NPP has directed that all party flags should fly at half-mast.

Biography

From 2005 to July 2007, Obetsebi-Lamptey served as Minister of Tourism and Diasporan Relations in the cabinet of President John Kufuor. Previously Obetsebi-Lamptey was Minister of Tourism and Modernization of the Capital (2002–05) and Minister of Information (2001–02).

He was the National Campaign Manager of the victorious New Patriotic Party (NPP) during the 2000 Presidential elections, which saw the first constitutional (civilian-to-civilian) transition of power in that country.

He resigned his posts in July 2007 to campaign for the NPP nomination for the 2008 Presidential elections. As of February 2010, he is the National Chairman of the NPP.

Obetsebi-Lamptey has several publications to his credit, covering topics from family planning to AIDS prevention in Africa.

See president Mahama´s tweet below..

Sad month. March has taken a great toll. MoD Chief Dir A. Fuseini, B Okala, DCOP Awuni & now J. Obetsebi Lamptey. Deepest condolences.

— John Dramani Mahama (@JDMahama) 20 March 2016