Former President of Ghana, Jerry John Rawlings has described the late KB Asante as a patriot and genuine Nkrumaist.

In a tweet Monday, the former President said “Ghana has lost a true statesman.”

Mr. Rawlings added that “K. B. Asante was a gentleman, historian, public-spirited person, a patriot and a genuine Nkrumaist. My sincere condolences to his family. Rest in peace Mr K. B. Asante.”

Mr. Asante died in his sleep on Monday at the age of 93.

He was the Secretary to Ghana’s First President Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. Asante also served under most Heads of States in Ghana, starting from Nkrumah, and also served as the Principal Secretary at African Affairs Secretariat from 1960 to 1966.

Born on March 1, 1924, Asante attended Achimota School then Achimota College, where he taught mathematics (1945–48), before proceeding to Durham University in Britain, where he obtained a BSc Mathematics in 1952.

He also became a member of the Institute of Statisticians in 1953, before returning to Achimota College, where he taught mathematics (1953–55).