Tributes have started pouring in on social media for the late Former General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Lawyer Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, popularly known as Sir John, whose sudden demise has thrown the country into a state of shock.
His death was announced on Facebook by Eugene Arhin, the Communication Director for the President, who shared a tribute on his wall. He wrote, “RIP Sir John…Till we meet again.”
The wildly loved politician succumbed to the deadly coronavirus late last night, Wednesday, July 1, at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital after contracting the disease.
Some of the tweeps who couldn’t hide their sadness shared fond memories of the astute politician on twitter.
Until his death, Sir John was the CEO of the Forestry Commission. He was appointed as the CEO of the Forestry Commission in March 2017 by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
Profile
Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie was born in the Ashanti Region. He attended Seventh Day Adventist Secondary School in Bekwai from where he obtained his GCE Ordinary level certificate. He then proceeded to obtain his GCE Advanced level certificate from Konongo Odumase Secondary School in Konongo.
Mr Owusu Afriyie was admitted to study political science at the University of Ghana after which he enrolled at the Ghana School of Law where he graduated with Bachelor of Laws (LLB). He was then admitted as a solicitor and counsel for the Supreme Court of Ghana.
Sir John entered into private law practice in 1981. During the John Agyekum Kufuor administration, he was appointed head of legal services at the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC). He was later made to act as the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the corporation. While managing his firm, Afriyie was also actively engaged in Ghanaian politics.
He served as the General Secretary of the NPP from 2010 to 2014. He lost his bid to secure a second term to Kwabena Agyei Agyapong.
Read some of the reactions on twitter below:
REST EASY SIR JOHN!
— G i o v a n i (@GiovaniCaleb) July 1, 2020
What a sad exit. RIP sir. You served your nation well. pic.twitter.com/3kt8dzUtib
My heartfelt condolences to the family of Lawyer Kwadwo Owusu-Afriyie aka Sir John. I spoke with Sir John only yesterday but little did I know that was our last conversation. 1/2 pic.twitter.com/AsYfeXbpEn
— Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia (@MBawumia) July 1, 2020
Oh Sir John.
— Serwaa Amihere (@Serwaa_Amihere) July 1, 2020
REMEMBERING SIR JOHN ???? pic.twitter.com/0UV590qdXO
— GHOne TV (@GHOneTV) July 1, 2020
Former NPP General Secretary Sir John is dead Herh.
— Kelewele Joint ???? (@Ankamagyimi) July 1, 2020
What I remember him with is his famous “fear delegates” phrase smh
Owuo y3 forken ????
Let us adopt drugs like Ramdesivir and Tocilizumab (Actrema) while we look for cure and vaccine for COVID-19. With these two drugs we can improve survival rates.
— Edward Omane Boamah (@eomaneboamah) July 2, 2020
Wash your hands with soap under running water use alcohol based sanitiser & keep social distancing.
Adieu Sir John! pic.twitter.com/SUxlVbLedZ
Three times in a row, the NPP heart is stabbed and bleeding. Can I dare ask what is amiss? And Sir John, our only Sir has also succumbed to this painful death.
— Boakye Kyeremateng Agyarko (@bkagyarko) July 2, 2020
Onua, you enriched all of us and added such colour to our lives. You will be sorely missed.
1/2 pic.twitter.com/lvjeTKi5WN
He lost the mother and sister, and he was going to bury them in August. Now he has joined them.
— Yayra Koku (@YayraKoku) July 1, 2020
This is heartbreaking.
Rest in Peace Sir John...
R.I.P. Sir John.
— Nungua Donald Trump (@Nungua_DTrump) July 2, 2020
Scenes from his hometown. The people are distraught! pic.twitter.com/nxAayauubG
12th June: NPP’s Kobina Sam (Sekondi-Takoradi Mayor) died of Covid-19
— Sergio Manucho (@sergiomanucho1) July 1, 2020
1st July: NPP’s Sir John died of Covid-19
1st July: NPP’s Peter Mac Manu, Carlos Ahenkorah in ICU after testing positive for COVID-19
Me: Madamfo, ede?n na ?k?so? ????????
RIP Sir John
— Aaron Manyaweh (@manyaweh) July 2, 2020
Forever be missed. pic.twitter.com/9kKtD4rMQI
Life is short rip sir john???? pic.twitter.com/vpIoD737FO
— Doryz York???????? (@DoryzYork) July 2, 2020
Rest Well Lawyer Owusu Afriyie A.K.A. Sir John pic.twitter.com/S094vP4sJZ
— Brandy Abina Kuds (@KudsAbina) July 2, 2020
2020 is one fucked up year!
— OB Amponsah (@OBAmponsah_) July 2, 2020
Herrrh. Fare thee well Sir John. ????
And death, the grand leveler of all human greatness will reduce us to the same state.
— Amankwah Dennis (@Counselor_Denny) July 1, 2020
Am I the only one who is fed up with this year ? #RIP Sir John pic.twitter.com/tPrvtfJDdM
