Hot!
Prof. Kwesi Botchwey goes home
Ghana’s longest-serving Finance Minister, Professor Kwesi Botchwey, has been laid to rest.
A state funeral service was held for the late National Democratic Congress stalwart at the State House on Thursday, December 22, 2022, after which a private burial service was organised for him.
Several dignitaries including President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, former President John Dramani Mahama, former Speaker of Parliament, Prof. Aaron Mike Oquaye, National Chairman of the NDC, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, a host of other NDC officials among others.
Prof. Botchwey died on November 19, 2022, at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, where he was seeking medical care.
He passed on a month after celebrating his 80th birthday.
Reading a tribute on behalf of the NDC at the funeral service, NDC Chairman, Asiedu Nketiah said in spite of Prof. Botchwey’s many achievements and accomplishments, he remained humble, affable, gentle, patient to a fault and an arbiter at all levels for his Party, the NDC.
“We treasure the legacy he left behind, notwithstanding the grief and pains his family, friends and political colleagues are going through. We mourn our late brother, friend and comrade-in-arms, for he meant a lot to the umbrella family.
“Prof Kwesi Botchwey’s loyalty, selfless commitment, devotion to duty and unparalleled hard work will always remain a beacon for us to cherish and to aspire to. We take consolation in the fact that our late comrade had a purposeful and fulfilled life on earth.”
Also reading a tribute at the funeral service, Senior Presidential Advisor, Yaw Osafo-Maafo, said the late Finance Minister contributed immensely to the growth of Ghana’s economy.
“As someone with in-depth knowledge of economics, he contributed immensely to Ghana’s economy. The late Prof. Kwesi Botchwey’s dedication to his work gained him international recognition, and he served in many international organizations. Prof. Kwesi Botchwey was a blessing to the nation Ghana, to Africa, and to the world at large, he played a major role in enhancing the economy of Ghana and Africa. His death is a very big loss to us,” he added.
Professor Kwesi Botchwey was born on September 13, 1942, in Tamale in the Northern Region.
He was appointed by the late Jerry John Rawlings to assist in stabilising Ghana’s collapsed economy from 1982 to 1993.
He continued as Finance Minister from January 7, 1993, when Ghana returned to democratic governance and served till 1995 before his then deputy, Kwame Peprah took over from him.
The former government official was a Professor of Practice in Development Economics at The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy of Tufts University.
He received his secondary school education at the Presbyterian Boys’ Senior High School in Ghana.
Prof Botchwey held an LL.B. from the University of Ghana, LL.M from Yale Law School, and a doctorate from the University of Michigan Law School.
He taught at the University of Zambia, the University of Dar es Salaam (Tanzania) and the University of Ghana.
He was on September 3, 1944, and was a member of the Council of Elders of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Source: Citi Newsroom
Entertainment
Breaking News: Daddy Lumba is dead – Family announces
Ghanaian music legend Charles Kojo Fosu, popularly known as Daddy Lumba, has died.
His family confirmed the sad news in a press release issued on Saturday, saying the 60-year-old passed away earlier in the day after a short illness.
“It is with profound sorrow and deep grief that the Fosu family announces the passing of Ghana’s beloved musical icon,” the statement read.
Daddy Lumba was one of Ghana’s most celebrated highlife musicians. With a career spanning more than three decades, his songs touched millions, telling stories of love, pain, joy, and hope.
He was known for his powerful voice, emotional lyrics, and unique style that made him a household name across the country and beyond.
“His soulful voice provided the soundtrack to our love stories, and his poignant lyrics captured the poetry of our struggles, dreams, and resilience,” the family said.
The family has asked for privacy as they mourn their loss and promised to announce funeral arrangements in the coming days.
The statement was signed by Fati Ali Yallah, a lawyer from Baba Jamal & Associates, on behalf of the Fosu family.
Fans, fellow musicians, and Ghanaians across the country have started pouring out tributes on social media, remembering Daddy Lumba’s unmatched contribution to Ghanaian music.
Entertainment
Edem’s debut album gets praise from Sarkodie
Ghanaian rap star Sarkodie has celebrated fellow artiste Edem for his groundbreaking debut album “The Volta Regime”, calling it one of the greatest albums in Ghana’s music history.
In a heartfelt social media post, Sarkodie, whose real name is Michael Owusu Addo, reflected on the first time he heard Edem rap.
He said he was instantly impressed and knew Edem would have a serious impact on the music scene.
“I remember when I first encountered my brother Edem, I came back home to tell one of my hommies that this guy will have a serious impact on the music scene,”
“He was like naa because of the language barrier. I said I don’t hear language, I hear greatness. Big up my brother, you are still on my favourite emcee list.” Sarkodie wrote.
Edem, born Denning Edem Hotor, released The Volta Regime in 2009. The album boldly embraced the Ewe language and featured collaborations with top Ghanaian artists including Tinny, Kwabena Kwabena, and Jeremie Van-Garshong.
Despite initial doubts about how well Ewe rap would perform commercially, the album proved to be a major success and introduced a new wave of local-language hip-hop.
Songs like Bra Fre Me, Nyorvuviade, and the powerful Intro helped establish Edem’s lyrical prowess and cemented his place as a unique voice in the Ghanaian music industry.
At a time when the local scene was dominated by Twi and Ga-speaking rappers, Edem’s success broke barriers and made it clear that talent speaks louder than language.
His impact opened doors for more linguistic diversity in hiplife and hip-hop music across the country.
Sarkodie’s tribute is especially meaningful because both artists emerged around the same period. Sarkodie’s own debut album Makye also dropped in 2009, and the two have long shown mutual respect for each other’s craft.
Today, over 15 years after its release, The Volta Regime continues to inspire fans and artists alike. It remains a symbol of bold originality and cultural pride.
Edem has since released several projects and remains an active voice in Ghanaian music and youth advocacy. His legacy is a reminder that true greatness is not limited by language.
