General News of Friday, 7 January 2022
Source: www.ghanaweb.com
2022-01-07
The late Ishmael Ashitey, a former Greater Accra Regional Minister
Ishmael Ashitey was a stalwart of the ruling NPP
He served as MP for Tema East and as Greater Accra Regional Minister
He was in line to contest for national executive position
Ishmael Ashitey, a former Greater Accra Regional Minister is dead, Citi News reports.
Ashitey, a stalwart of the governing New Patriotic Party, NPP, died at the Tema General Hospital today, Friday, January 7, 2022, after a short illness.
The Citi News report cited party sources who confirmed that the 68-year-old recently returned from the United States where he was seeking medical attention for an undisclosed illness.
Aside serving as Regional Minister, he also served as Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the governing NPP.
Speaking to the media following what could be described as “seeming pressure” from party faithful for him to lead the party in the 2024 elections as chairman, Ishmael Ashitey, said, the decision to contest the national chairman position for the NPP “is a long old project” aimed at breaking the 8 years jinx.
According to him, even though he is still consulting party elders including President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and some big shots, his neutrality and openness with regards to leadership, will help the party go into the 2024 elections with a united front irrespective of who becomes the party’s flagbearer.
He said his past record as Regional Chairman of the NPP which saw the party move from 9 parliamentary seats to 21 seats under his reign, speaks volumes of his leadership abilities.