Reports emerging are that Ishmael Ashitey, a member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has reportedly passed on today, January 7, 2022.
It’s unclear what led to his death but reports are that he had been unwell for some time now.
He was 67 years.
Key elements of the ruling party have been posting his pictures on various social media platforms but are not mentioning where their party stalwart died.
He was the immediate past Greater Accra Regional Minister.
Ismael Ashitey, was appointed by President Nana Akuffo-Addo in January 2017.
He was a Member of Parliament (MP) for Tema East in the Greater Accra Region.
He once served as the Minister for Fisheries in the John Kufuor administration.
Until his recent appointment as Greater Accra Regional Minister, he served as the NPP ‘s Greater Accra Regional Chairman.
He held that position for two terms.
Vincent Kubi of the Daily Guide newspaper owned by Freddie Blay, the NPP national chairman, has also reported on the death.
According to the Daily Guide, he had his primary and middle school education at the Manhean Middle Mixed School in Tema.
After successfully completing his studies for the middle school leaving certificate, he went to Kpando Technical Institute in the Volta region and then to the Accra Polytechnic for a course in mechanical engineering.
In the quest for further knowledge, he entered the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology where he obtained a Diploma in Mechanical Engineering.
He had an Executive Masters in Governance and Leadership from GIMPA.
Mr Ashitey, as a Mechanical Engineer, worked in many organizations in and outside the country. Notably amongst them are Tema Steel Works, Accra Brewery Limited in Ghana, Tecnofin Nederlands and General Establishment for Plastics & Industries all in Libya.
Since joining the NPP in 1992, Mr Ashitey had through hard work, commitment and dedication rose through the rank and file of the party.
He served as Member of Parliament for Tema East on three consecutive occasions from 1996 to 2008.
In Parliament, he served on the Mines and Energy, Foreign Affairs, Government’s Assurances and the House committees, among others.
Mr Ashitey served as a Minister of State at the Ministries of Food and Agriculture and Trade, Industry & President’s Special Initiatives under the leadership and government of John Agyekum Kufuor.
During the 2016 elections, Mr Ashitey as the Regional chairman of NPP led his party to retain and regain most of the Parliamentary seats in Greater Accra which eventually helped the party to attain victory leading to his appointment.
Currently, he was the Greater Accra Regional Chairman of NPP, Member of (NEC) NPP and a member of the NPP National Council.
Mr Ashitey was a Presbyterian and enjoys reading, swimming, walking and listening to good music.
He is married with four children.
