Corona Virus Kills Top Guns

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The corona virus pandemic is wreaking serious havoc in Ghana by claiming the lives of some top brass in society.

Within the past few days, some prominent Ghanaians have succumbed due to the corona virus disease also known as COVID-19. 

As at the time of going to press it was reported that Joshua Kyeremeh, the National Security Coordinator, had died in Accra as a result of the corona virus.

Disclosing the news of the death to Asaaseradio.com, a leading member of the National Security Secretariat said that he died at the Ga East Municipal Hospital.

According to the report, checks by the station at the hospital indicated that Kyeremeh died from kidney complications on the morning of Monday, yesterday, where he was receiving treatment for COVID-19.

Joshua Kyeremeh was appointed by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in 2017, as part of the president’s first set of appointees in his first term.

A product of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, and a former Director of the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB), formerly known as the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), the consummate intelligence professional had, until his death, been National Security Coordinator.

For 22 years, Joshua Kyeremeh worked at the NIB, serving at command levels in the Northern, Upper East, Ashanti, and the Greater Accra regions.

He also served as the head of the Investigations Unit of the Bureau, rising to become the Deputy Director and ultimately, the Director from 2005 to 2009.

His last official duties were with the transition team after December 7, 2020, elections composed by the president.

Another prominent Ghanaian to succumb to COVID-19 is Nanabanyin Pratt, brother of renowned journalist, political commentator and Managing Editor of the Insight newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr.

Nanabanyin Pratt, a Public Relations expert and lecturer at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), reportedly died from Coronavirus complications on Sunday, January 17, 2021. Prior to these high profile cases, ex-president Jerry John Rawlings and the Chief Executive of the Forestry Commission Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie popularly known as ‘Sir John’ were also reported to have died last year as a result of Corona virus infection.

With the latest passing of Nanabanyin Pratt and a host of others, Ghana’s current death statistics and rising active case figures are due to rise.

Nanabanyin Pratt is a past executive of the Institute of Public Relations and a former Managing Director of the New Times Corporation.