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Former General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie affectionately called Sir John has been confirmed dead.
The unfortunate incident happened on Wednesday evening at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital where he has been on admission for some weeks.
Reports suggest Sir John died at the Intensive Care Unit of the hospital whilst receiving treatment after he contracted the novel coronavirus.
Sir John was appointed the Chief Executive of the Forestry Commission by the Akufo-Addo-led government in 2017 when the NPP regained power, a post he held until his demise.
The Director of Communications at the Presidency, Eugene Arhin has confirmed his death on Facebook.
A senior member of the governing NPP, Gabby Asare Otchere was among a number of people who have expressed shock at Sir John’s death.
“Only this afternoon I called to wish him speedy recovery… This is truly shattering! Tough to swallow… Sleep easy, Sir John.” he posted on Facebook.
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Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie was born in the Ashanti Region.
He attended Seventh Day Adventist Secondary School in Bekwai from where he obtained his GCE Ordinary level certificate.
He then proceeded to obtain his GCE Advanced level certificate from Konongo Odumase Secondary School in Konongo.
Mr Owusu Afriyie was admitted to study political science at the University of Ghana after which he enrolled at the Ghana School of Law where he graduated with Bachelor of Laws (LLB).
He was then admitted as a solicitor and counsel for the Supreme Court of Ghana.
Sir John entered into private law practice in 1981.
During the John Agyekum Kufuor administration, he was appointed head of legal services at the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC).
He was later made to act as the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the corporation.
While managing his firm, Afriyie was also actively engaged in Ghanaian politics.
He served as the General Secretary of the NPP from 2010 to 2014. He lost his bid to secure a second term to Kwabena Agyei Agyapong.
