Sekondi, Sept.25, GNA -Residents of the twin-city of Sekondi-Takoradi on Wednesday received with shock, sorrow and disbelief the sudden death of Mr Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning.

All commercial and other activities came to a stand still, when local frequency modulation (FM) radio stations broke the news one after the other late in the afternoon.

Many people were seen in groups discussing the death of the Minister who had endeared himself in the hearts of many people with his humility and hard work.

Most of the radio stations dedicated their programmes to the late Baah-Wiredu and played sorrowful songs with biblical quotations and dirges to console his family, friends and admirers, and Ghanaians in general, whilst listeners phoned-in to express their deep sorrow and shock at his death.

Many residents called the GNA Office at Takoradi on telephone while others walked in to seek confirmation or otherwise of the sad news. Ms Effua Donkor, trader at the Takoradi market circle in a very pensive mood said she wished the news would turn to be one of the "expensive jokes" because it was hard to believe. Mr Edwin Kpetigo described the death of Mr Baah-Wiredu as a "mortal blow" to the New Patriotic Party and the country as a whole. 25 Sept. 08