Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia has eulogised the late former deputy minister in the John Agyekum Kufuor administration, Dr Anthony Akoto Osei.
The late public servant who once represented Old Tafo Constituency in the Ashanti Region was confirmed dead on Monday, March 20, 2023, at the University of Ghana Medical Centre.
The announcement of his death which was first published on the official Facebook page of the Parliament of Ghana on Monday read, “Former Old Tafo MP, Hon. Dr Anthony Osei Akoto passes away. May he rest in peace.”
Dr. Bawumia who shared what he described as shocking news on his wall Facebook said the dedication to serving Ghana by the late was unquestionable.
“I have heard with shock the passing of Hon. Dr. Anthony Akoto Osei, former MP and Minister of the Republic. Dr. was a very good friend and one of the people I worked closely with as a Deputy Governor and Vice President of the Republic.
His dedication to serving mother Ghana was unpaired and his fidelity to the country’s development was unquestionable,” he eulogised.
In Dr. Bawumia’s view, since it is the Lord who gives and takes away one’s life, he remains happy to have had a brother in the deceased following their close working relationship.
“I paid him a visit just a few weeks ago and was happy that he was doing much better. The news of his passing has therefore come as a complete shock. The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. I am happy to have had a brother in you and to have worked with you. Rest in peace, my brother,” Bawumia added.
Also, presidential hopeful, who was the immediate past trade and industry minister Alan Kyerematen expressed shock over the news.
“I have received with deep sadness and shock, the passing into glory of my friend and brother, patriot, Hon. Anthony Akoto Osei, who served as Member of Parliament for the Old Tafo Constituency in the Ashanti Region, and Minister of State for Finance and Economic Planning in the cabinet of President John Agyekum Kufuor.
“The late Dr. Osei, also served as Minister for Monitoring and Evaluation in the current administration of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. My sympathy goes out to his family and the entire NPP fraternity. May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace,” Alan Kyerematen added.
Biography of the late Anthony Akoto Osei
Anthony Akoto Osei was born in Sunyani to a distinguished statesman on 18 April 1953.
He served as the MP for Old Tafo in the Ashanti Region. During his time in Parliament, he was Ranking Member on the Finance Committee and a member of the Committee on Interior and Defence.
Osei obtained a Master of Arts Degree in Applied Economics from the American University in 1980 and a PhD from Howard University in 1987. He had earlier obtained a Bachelor of Arts Degree in economics from Oberlin College in Ohio in 1978.
He attended Achimota and Opoku Ware Secondary Schools, where he obtained his GCE Advanced and Ordinary level certificates, respectively.
Dr Akoto Osei was in the cabinet of President John Agyekum Kufuor as Minister of State for Finance and Economic Planning and later appointed a Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Finance in 2003.
He was elevated to substantive Minister for Finance and Economic Planning, after the death of the then Minister Kwadwo Baah Wiredu, a position he held until the NPP party lost power in December 2008.
Dr. Anthony Osei, was in February 2017, was sworn in as Minister of Monitoring and Evaluation in President Akufo-Addo government after the sector was a newly created one to evaluate, monitor and plan review summits and forums in fulfillment of the government’s policies on evaluating the progress of its own ministries.
