Finance and Economic Planning Minister, Honourable Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu yesterday passed away in far away South Africa, where he had gone to seek medical attention for his ailing health. Credible information available to The Independent newspaper from South Africa say, Hon. Baah-Wiredu left Accra by South Africa Airways on September 11, 2008 to Johannesburg for medical attention over his ailing health.

He went for medical check up in that country, but on examination at the hospital in Johannesburg where he checked-in, the doctors decided to detain him for further examination.

According to our sources, it became imperative that, surgery should be performed on him, which operation was successful and was discharged last week-end, The Independent Newspaper learnt.

The late Minister, after this development, moved from Johannesburg to the residence of a Ghanaian Diplomat in Pretoria.

The Independent learnt from our credible South Africa sources that, early yesterday, there was a serious relapse creating complications, following which the decision was taken to take him to another hospital in Pretoria by name Little Mary Company Hospital. The late Minister, The Independent Newspaper learnt, was admitted into the Intensive care Department of Little Mary Company Hospital where after a short stay at that department, he passed away.