Former president John Dramani Mahama has shared his heartfelt condolences following the death of Ghanaian IT pioneer, Herman Kojo Chinery-Hesse.

The 61-year-old passed away on September 16, 2024, after suffering a cardiac arrest.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter) to convey his condolences on September 18, 2024, John Mahama described Herman Chinery-Hesse as a cherished friend and a remarkable individual who impacted the lives of millions and the IT fraternity at large.

"We've lost a good man. I've lost a friend. This is a great blow to Ghana and our IT fraternity. We must be inspired to produce a million more Hermans. Rest in peace, Herman," Mahama wrote.

The former president joins a host of colleagues, friends, and the tech community who have all taken to social media to convey their condolences to a man who was widely recognised for his contributions to Ghana and Africa's IT industry.

Herman Kojo Chinery-Hesse was the founder and Chairman of SoFTribe, a leading software development firm based in Ghana and West Africa.

He was recently recognised by Google after the tech giant named one of its meeting rooms after him in honor of his contributions to the tech space.

Chinery-Hesse had been working and living in Sierra Leone for several years.

The BBC once described Herman Chinery-Hesse as "The Bill Gates of Africa" for his outstanding contribution to the continent's IT landscape.

Born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1963, Herman Kojo Chinery-Hesse has made significant strides in the tech industry over the decades.

His company, SoFTribe, has pioneered groundbreaking products such as government payroll systems, nationwide utility billing systems, security alert systems, and ERP systems, among others.

He is a product of Mfantsipim School in Cape Coast. He also attended Westlake High School in Austin, Texas, and Texas State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Industrial Technology.

Chinery-Hesse leaves behind a legacy as one of Africa’s most influential figures in the technology sector.

See John Mahama's post below:

We've lost a good man. I've lost a friend.

This is a great blow to Ghana and our IT fraternity. We must be inspired to produce a million more Herman's.

Rest in peace, Herman. pic.twitter.com/k5DWOYS2M3

— John Dramani Mahama (@JDMahama) September 18, 2024