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Breaking News: Ghana loses Finance Minister


Finance Minister, Honourable Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu has been reported dead.

Sketchy information indicates he died on Wednesday in a South African hospital where he was rushed for medical attention late last week.

Government officials have been mute over the shocking news of the passing of the affable minister.

Government’s Spokesperson on Finance, Kwaku Kwarteng told Myjoyonline that he had heard the sad news and was seeking confirmation, while Deputy Information Minister, Frank Agyekum also told Myjoyonline that he was unable to confirm the information and that if there was any such development, the government would issue a statement.

Radio stations are already announcing the Minister’s passage.

Born in 1952 at Asante Akyem Agogo in the Ashanti Region, Baah-Wiredu, a product of Kumasi High School from 1967 to 1972 where he obtained his ‘O’ Level Certificate and Prempeh College from 1972 to 1974 for the ‘A’ Level, also attended the University of Ghana where he obtained a degree in administration (accounting option).

He also qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1985 after a four-year course at the Institute of Chartered Accountants.

He has since January 1997, represented Asante Akyem North as Member of Parliament on the ticket of the ruling New Patriotic Party after winning parliamentary elections in 1996, 2000 and 2004.

Baah-Wiredu became a minister in President J.A. Kufuor’s government in 2001 after being appointed Local Government and Rural Development Minister (2001-2003) where he endeared himself to all and sundry with his down-to-earth approach to issues. He was also Education, Youth and Sports Minister (2003-2005) before replacing Yaw Osafo Maafo as Minister for Finance and Economic Planning in 2005 until his death.

SOURCE: myjoyonline.com

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