Former Deputy Minister for Finance Dr. John Ampontuah Kumah was laid to rest at his hometown in Ejisu on Saturday.
John Kumah who died in March at age 45 after a short illness.
Hundreds of mourners were in Ejisu to pay their last respect to the former lawmaker who was the Member of Parliament for Ejisu Constituency.
A government delegation led by Vice President and flagbearer of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and Chief of Staff Akosua Frema Osei-Opare joined the family for the final funeral rites.
In a tribute, Vice President Bawumia said the news of Kumah’s death was devastating.
He said the late Kumah played a crucial role in his decision to run for president.
According to Dr Bawumia, Kumah was among the first party leaders to publicly urge him to run for the highest office and pledged his unwavering support, describing his demise as a personal blow.
He said that the late MP was part of his campaign team and was with him moving across the country, demonstrating his commitment to Bawumia’s presidential ambition.
“John’s contributions to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) were invaluable. He was not only a driving force but also a fervent advocate for advancing NPP agenda.
“His sudden death in March has been a personal blow. Long before I decided to run for president, John Kumah was among the few party leaders and legislators to have publicly urged me to run and pledged his unending support. Through his public pledge, John supported me strongly, campaigning with me everywhere in the country,” Dr. Bawumia reiterated.
Colleagues at Finance Ministry remembered Dr Kumah as an exemplary deputy minister and a caring man, a father of six who was beloved by those who worked alongside him.
“At our first meeting with the IMF mission in Accra, Dr John Kumah proved to be an indispensable member of the Ghana team.”
“He provided a lot of technical support and chaired key meetings. His efforts contributed to the Ministry achieving a staff level agreement in record time,”, a tribute by Abena Osei-Asare, Minister of State at the Finance Ministry noted.
