By Sarah Baafi
2025 has been a year of profound loss for Ghana, claiming the lives of distinguished politicians, musicians, traditional leaders, and military heroes most tragically marked by the tragic August 6 helicopter crash that took eight lives en route to Obuasi. From highlife legends like Daddy Lumba to political pioneers like Akua Donkor and the revered Asantehemaa, these prominent figures left indelible legacies across public service, entertainment, innovation, and culture.
Below is a comprehensive list of notable Ghanaians who passed away this year.
1. Charles Kojo Fosu (Daddy Lumba) (died July 26, 2025, aged 60)
On July 26, 2025, the highlife icon, considered amongst Ghana’s most distinguished musical talents, succumbed to a brief illness aged 60. His enduring compositions, including Aben Wo Ha and Theresa, shaped the musical sensibilities of multiple generations. Continental tributes flooded in following his passing, whilst his December funeral attracted enormous attendance despite familial disagreements.
2. Dada K.D. (Died May 16, 2025)
Ghanaian highlife artiste Dada Kwaku Dua, popularly known as Dada KD. Renowned for his soulful love songs, Dada KD earned multiple accolades, including the Best Male Vocal Artist award at the 2004 Ghana Music Awards UK. His legacy as a gifted vocalist and composer continues to inspire generations of musicians.
3. Apostle Dr. Kwadwo Safo Kantanka (died September 11, 2025)
Safo Kantanka was a celebrated preacher, technologist, philanthropist, agriculturalist, and industrialist, Apostle Dr. Kwadwo Safo, popularly known as Kantanka, the African Star, passed away on Thursday, September 11, 2025. In a statement signed by his daughter, Sarah Adwoa Safo (former MP for Dome Kwabenya), the family described him as a “gallant son” whose life was defined by innovation and excellence. A founder of Kantanka Automobile and the Kristo Asafo Mission Church, Apostle Safo’s contributions to local manufacturing and technological advancement made him a national treasure.
4. Mawuli Semevo (died February 20, 2025, aged 68)
Mawuli Semevo died on February 20, 2025, aged 68, from complications arising after sustaining critical burns in a residential fire incident. Recognised for his contributions to productions such as A Stab in the Dark and the television programme YOLO, his departure represented a significant loss to Ghana’s theatrical and cinematic communities.
5. Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings (died October 23, 2025, aged 76)
The former First Lady of Ghana, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, passed away on October 23, 2025, at the Ridge Hospital in Accra, aged 76. Reports indicate that she had been unwell for some time and was under close medical supervision before her passing. She was the wife of the late former President Jerry John Rawlings and a towering figure in Ghanaian politics. As the leader of the 31st December Women’s Movement, she championed women’s rights, youth empowerment, and community development for decades.
6. Nana Konadu Boakye Yiadom III (died August 11, 2025, aged 98)
The Asantehemaa, Nana Konadu Yiadom III, passed away on August 11, 2025, at the age of 98, after reigning for eight years. Her death was confirmed to the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, by the Oyoko family at an emergency Asanteman Traditional Council meeting. Born Nana Ama Konadu, she was the 14th Asantehemaa and the biological sister of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.
7. Dr. Edward Omane Boamah
Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, the former Minister of Defence, was a distinguished Ghanaian physician, public servant, and politician who served as Ghana’s Minister of Defence from February 2025 until his tragic death in a military helicopter crash on August 6, 2025. A stalwart member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), he previously held several key roles including Minister for Communications, Deputy Minister for Environment, Science and Technology, Deputy Minister for Youth and Sports, and Spokesperson to President John Mahama. Dr. Boamah attended Pope John Senior High School and trained as a medical doctor at the University of Ghana Medical School, later earning a Master’s in Health Policy Planning and Financing from both the London School of Economics and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. As a student, he was President of the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) and actively involved in youth leadership. He was said to have been set to release a book on the late President John Atta Mills, titled A Peaceful Man in an African Democracy, later this year. He was among eight victims who lost their lives while en route to a programme in Obuasi.
8. Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed
Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed was a Ghanaian politician and Member of Parliament for Tamale Central, serving as Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation until his tragic death in the 2025 Ghana Air Force helicopter crash. A trained teacher with a certificate from Tamale College of Education, he also held master’s degrees in Development Planning and International Relations and Diplomacy from KNUST and the University of Ghana respectively. In 2009, he served as Deputy National Coordinator of the National Youth Employment Programme and later served as Deputy Minister of Information and Media Relations and Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry under President John Mahama. After representing Nanton Constituency in Parliament from 2012 to 2016, he returned in 2021 as MP for Tamale Central and was re-elected in 2024. In Parliament, he served on the Public Accounts and Trade and Industry committees. He was appointed Minister for Environment in January 2025. He was among eight victims who lost their lives while en route to a programme in Obuasi.
9. Alhaji Mohammed Muniru Limuna (Died August 6,2025)
Limuna Mohammed Muniru was a Ghanaian politician who once served as Northern Regional Minister, Upper East Regional Minister, and Minister of State at the Presidency, and at the time of his death, was the Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator. Born in Langbonto, Damongo, he had his basic education in Tamale, attended Damongo Secondary School and Tamale Secondary School, and later earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Ghana, with further studies at GIMPA and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. Muniru was married with four children and tragically died in a helicopter crash on August 6, 2025, just two days before his 58th birthday.
10. Dr. Samuel Sarpong (Died August 6,2025)
Dr. Samuel Sarpong was the Vice-Chairman of the National Democratic Congress. Dr. Samuel Sarpong was a Ghanaian educationist and politician from Ejisu in the Ashanti Region. He attended Osei Tutu Senior High School and trained as a teacher at Wesley College, Kumasi, later teaching sports at Juabeng Secondary School from 1981 to 1984. In politics, he served as Central Regional Minister from 2013 to 2014 and later as Ashanti Regional Minister. At the time of his death, he was the Vice Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC). He was previously honoured as a Communal Visionary Leader in 2021. He was among eight victims who lost their lives while en route to a programme in Obuasi.
11. Peter Bafemi Anala (Died August 6,2025)
Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, a decorated Ghana Air Force pilot with years of experience in military aviation. He joined the Ghana Military Academy on June 20, 2013, and was commissioned into the Aircrew Branch on October 17, 2013. Until his passing, he served as a Z-9 Helicopter Pilot with the No. 8 Heli Wing. He was among eight victims who lost their lives while en route to a programme in Obuasi.
12. Manaen Twum Ampadu (Died August 6,2025)
Flying Officer Manaen Twum Ampadu was born on January 17, 1995, in Kwahu Adumoah in the Eastern Region. He was a Ghanaian Air Force pilot. He attended Aburi Presby Secondary School and later studied at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). He enlisted into the Ghana Military Academy on December 16, 2020, and was commissioned into the Aircrew Branch of the Ghana Air Force on November 4, 2021. He was among eight victims who lost their lives while en route to a programme in Obuasi.
13. Sergent Ernest Addo Mensah (Died August 6,2025)
Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah, a flight technician, was born on July 5, 1988, at Labadi in Accra. He attended the EMIT Electronic Institute in Accra and was recruited into the Air Force Recruit Training School on July 22, 2011. Sgt. Mensah graduated into the Engineering Branch of the Ghana Air Force on January 22, 2012. He was among eight victims who lost their lives while en route to a programme in Obuasi.
14. Samuel Aboagye (Died August 6,2025)
Samuel Aboagye was a Ghanaian engineer and politician from Obuasi in the Ashanti Region. A former Parliamentary Candidate for the National Democratic Congress in the 2024 general election, he attended AngloGold Ashanti Basic School and later studied at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). Until his passing, he served as the Deputy Director-General of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO). He was among eight victims who lost their lives while en route to a programme in Obuasi.
15. Ernest Yaw Kumi (Died July 7, 2025, aged 40)
Ernest Yaw Kumi, the Member of Parliament for Akwatia, died on July 7, 2025, at the age of 40. He made headlines earlier in the year when he was cited for contempt by the Koforidua High Court on February 19, 2025, for defying an interim injunction that barred him from being sworn in as a Member of Parliament on the Minority side of the House.
17. Abdullai Tahiru (Died February 9,2025)
Abdullai Tahiru, popularly known as Taidu Last Killer from the Takoradi-based comic movie group Junka Town, passed away on February 9, 2025, at the age of 41. Taidu was famous for his role as a well-built vigilante in the iconic series.
18. William Addo (Died 22 November,2025)
William Addo, also known as Akpatse, was a Ghanaian actor and film producer who made significant contributions to the Ghanaian film industry. A prominent figure in Ghana’s theatre and television world, he shot to fame through his roles on GTV’s Thursday Theatre, where his comic timing, wit, and presence made him a household name. Before making appearances in several Ghanaian films, he worked as a theatre performer. Akpatse died on Saturday, November 22, 2025, following a long battle with illness.
19. Paa Kow (Died 23,December, 2025)
Paa Kow, an internationally acclaimed Ghanaian drummer and composer, was celebrated for his unique Afro-Fusion style blending highlife, jazz, and funk to connect deeply with global audiences. Born in Enyan Denkyira, Ghana, he began performing at age five with his family’s band, later rising to fame alongside highlife legends like Amakye Dede and earning acclaim as “Ghana’s most artistic drummer” for his innovative, custom-made drums. He toured internationally with stars such as Kojo Antwi, Victor Wooten, and George Darko, releasing albums like Hand Go Hand Come, Ask, and Cookpot that showcased his profound rhythms. Paa Kow passed away on December 23, 2025.
20. Francis Frimpong (Died 2,February,2025)
Francis Yaw Frimpong, popularly known as Nana Pooley, was a prominent Ghanaian football enthusiast and dedicated supporter of Asante Kotoko SC, recognized for his unwavering loyalty and role in the club’s Supporters’ communication team. He resided in Asawase, Kumasi, and was survived by his widow, Gifty Frimpong, and their children, including Desmond Frimpong and Angel Frimpong. On February 2, 2025, Pooley was fatally stabbed during a Ghana Premier League match between Asante Kotoko and Nsoatreman FC at Nana Koromansah II Stadium in Nsoatre, sparking nationwide calls to end football hooliganism and leading to arrests of multiple suspects.
21. Jonathan Abbey Pobee (Died 5,June,2025)
Jonathan Abbey Pobee, a prominent Ghanaian football administrator who died in June 2025, was
best known as the founder and long-standing president of Kumasi-based Neoplan Stars FC, which competed in the Ghana Premier League during the 1980s. In 1984, his club faced controversial expulsion from the top-flight division following a court ruling, fueling his lifelong frustration and vocal criticism of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) for transparency issues and corruption. He advocated for governance reforms, grassroots development in the third-division league, and better support for local teams, even labeling GFA elections as “back door elections” as late as 2023. Pobee passed away on June 5, 2025, widely mourned by the Ghanaian football community as a “pillar” and “towering figure” for his unwavering dedication to the sport’s integrity.
22. Wilberforce Mfum (Died 11,May,2025)
Wilberforce Mfum, nicknamed “The Bulldozer” for his strength, was a former Ghanaian footballer and national team figure, as well as a legendary professional football forward who died on May 11, 2025, at the age of 88. Best known for scoring Ghana’s first-ever Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) goal and helping secure their maiden title in 1963, he tallied 20 goals in 26 appearances for the national team, also competing at the 1964 Olympics and as joint second-leading scorer at the 1968 AFCON. Career highlights include being a key player for the Ghana National Team in the 1963 AFCON victory and Olympic representation, a central figure at Asante Kotoko during their dominant 1962-1967 era, and excelling with U.S. clubs like Baltimore Bays, Ukrainian SC, Ukrainian Nationals (joint top scorer in 1970), and New York Cosmos in the NASL. His legacy as a cornerstone of Ghanaian football, marked by powerful shots, prompted FIFA to observe a minute of silence at its 75th Congress.
23. Ernest Akushey (Died 23,September,2025)
Ernest Akushey, popularly known by his ring name “Bahubali,” was a prominent Ghanaian professional boxer in the super middleweight and cruiserweight divisions who died on September 23, 2025, at age 32 (some reports suggest 27). Known for his entertaining and ferocious style, he became a beloved figure in the James Town and Chorkor boxing communities, holding a career record of 6 wins (all by knockout) and 2 losses after an undefeated 6-0-0 start out of Wadada Gym, earning his moniker from a warrior-like approach likened to the Indian film hero. He passed away following a TKO defeat to Jacob Dickson on September 12 at Bukom Boxing Arena, falling ill on September 22 from reported internal bleeding,his death prompted the National Sports Authority to suspend professional boxing nationwide for safety reviews, reigniting debates on medical protocols, with burial set for December 20, 2025, at Roman Boys School Park in Korle Gonno.
24. Alhaji Amadu Sulley (Died 1,March, 2025)
Alhaji Amadu Sulley, was the former Deputy Chairperson in charge of Operations for Ghana’s Electoral Commission (EC) until 2018, he was a prominent Ghanaian public servant. Appointed by President John Atta Mills in May 2012, he held qualifications including a Diploma in Statistics from the University of Ghana (1985) and Postgraduate Certificates in Public Administration from GIMPA (1993, 1995). Alhaji Sulley passed away on March 1, 2025, while fasting on the first day of Ramadan, and was buried the next day at Madina Muslim Cemetery in Accra per Islamic tradition.
25. Joseph Kobina Ade Coker (Died 31,May,2025)
Joseph Kobina Ade Coker was a prominent Ghanaian political leader and sports administrator who held high-ranking positions in both the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the Ghana Football Association (GFA). He served three consecutive terms as the NDC Greater Accra Regional Chairman from 2009 to 2022, earning a reputation as a strategic unifier and mentor, widely respected by the party’s grassroots for his outspoken views on national issues and his strong organizational role, before leaving the position in 2022 after losing a re-election bid to Emmanuel Nii Ashie Moore. In sports administration, he served as Vice Chairman of the GFA in 1997, was former Chairman of Accra Great Olympics, and founded the now-defunct AC Olympiacos in the early 2000s, which competed in the lower tiers of Ghanaian football. Beyond politics and football, he was a former Consul of the Republic of Belarus to Ghana and a regular media panelist on television and radio, including Citi TV’s Breakfast Daily. Ade Coker, a former NDC Greater Accra Regional Chairman and ex‑GFA Vice Chairman, died at the age of 68 on May 31, 2025, at the Bank Hospital in Accra after a short illness.
26. Cecilia Johnson (Died 22,September 2025)
Cecilia Johnson, a prominent Ghanaian politician and former Chairperson of the Council of State, died on September 22, 2025, at the age of 79. Her distinguished career included serving as Chairperson of the Council of State under President John Dramani Mahama an as Minister of Local Government and Rural Development during President Jerry John Rawlings’ administration. A stalwart of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), she was the inaugural National Women’s Organizer of the party and also served as General Secretary of the 31st December Women’s Movement, earning recognition as a pioneer for women in Ghanaian politics and a “beacon of integrity.” She passed away after a short illness, and a state funeral was held on November 14, 2025, at the Forecourt of the State House in Accra, attended by former President John Mahama and other high‑ranking officials.
27. Daasebre Nana Osei Bonsu II (Died April 2025)
Daasebre Nana Osei Bonsu II, the recent Mamponghene and former Regent of the Ashanti Kingdom, was a respected lawyer and economist who passed away in April 2025 at age 86. As Paramount Chief of the Mampong traditional area, a major seat in the Ashanti Confederacy. He served as second-in-command (Krontihene/Nwisiahene) to the Asantehene, occupying the Silver Stool and briefly acting as regent from February to April 1999 during an interregnum. Prior to his enstoolment as Mamponghene in 1996, he worked as Registrar of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology; his passing marked the end of an era, with funeral rites (Dote Yie) held in June 2025, celebrated for his wisdom and dedication to Asanteman.
28. John Sebiyam Nabila (Died October 2025)
Naa Professor John Sebiyam Nabila was a prominent Ghanaian academic, statesman, and traditional leader who served as the Wulugunaba (Paramount Chief) of the Kpasenkpe traditional area in the North East Region, enstooled on May 22, 1993. His distinguished career included presiding over the National House of Chiefs from 2008 to 2016, serving as Minister for Information and Tourism under Dr. Hilla Limann during the Third Republic (1980–1981), and acting as a Professor of Geography at the University of Ghana, alongside roles on the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation board and as MP for Walewale. Honored with the Companion of the Order of the Volta for his service, he died in October 2025 in Accra after a short illness, prompting tributes from Parliament in late December 2025 as a “servant-leader” bridging traditional wisdom and progress.
29. Sam Pee Yalley (Died 6,April 2025)
Ambassador Sam Pee Yalley was a prominent Ghanaian lawyer, diplomat, and statesman, a stalwart of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) known for his media commentary on legal and political issues. His career featured roles as Ghana’s High Commissioner to India from 2014, appointed by President John Dramani Mahama to strengthen bilateral ties; CEO/Deputy CEO of the National Pensions Regulatory Authority until 2014; Deputy Minister of Science and Technology; and District Chief Executive for Cape Coast. He founded and led the NDC Professionals Forum as its first National President, advocated for gender equity, and commented regularly on Metro TV’s “Good Morning Ghana” and UTV’s “Critical Issues,” holding degrees from the University of Ghana, Central University, and GIMPA. Yalley died on April 6, 2025, at age 63 or 70 (reports vary) after a short illness at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, with final funeral rites on August 2, 2025, where Parliament and NDC leaders eulogized him.
