The sudden death of Mr Henry Ford Kamel, the Volta Regional Minister, is a “rude shock” Mr Dan Abodakpi, Ghana’s High Commissioner to Malaysia, said on Friday.

“Our hearts are very heavy and hurting badly,” Mr Abodakpi said at a press briefing organized by the regional executives of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Ho.

He said members of the executive were devastated by the news of the demise of Mr Kamel and had to take some time to “pull through the trauma” to express their sympathy.

Mr Abodakpi described Mr Kamel as a “huge asset” to the Region with exceptional leadership skills, some of which he exhibited in handling the conflict situations at Hohoe and North Tongu.

He expressed condolences to the family of Mr Kamel and asked party supporters to remain calm and await the autopsy report on the cause of his death.

Mr Abodakpi announced that all activities planned for the celebration of the NDC’s victory in the Region had been suspended in honour of Mr Kamel.

Meanwhile, information gathered by the GNA indicates that the family would mark the eighth day of Mr Kamel’s death on Tuesday January 1, 2013.