Ghana’s ex-vice president dies during morning exercise

Former Vice President of Ghana Kwesi Amissah-Arthur died on Friday during early morning exercise in Accra, local media reports.

The former number two man of the country under the John Mahama led National Democratic Congress collapsed at a gym at the Air Force base where he had gone to exercise.

He was subsequently rushed to the 37 Military Hospital where he died shortly after.

The 67-year old, popularly referred to as PK, also served as Governor of the Bank of Ghana between 2009 and 2012 during which time Ghana enjoyed about 30-month long single digit inflation and a stable foreign exchange environment.

He was last seen in public on Wednesday during a book launch by his wife Matilda Amissah-Arthur.

President Addo Akufo-Addo, writing on his Facebook wall, paid tribute to Amissah-Arthur as “a longstanding public servant, who discharged his duties with dignity.”

He described the death of the late former vice president as unfortunate.

Amissah-Arthur was,at different times, a lecturer at the Department of Economics, Anambra State College of Education, Awka, Nigeria ,and Economics Department,University of Ghana,Legon.

He later served as a Special Assistant to the Former Secretary (Minister) for Finance, Kwesi Botchway from 1983 to 1986.

Amissah-Arthur subsequently rose to become a Deputy Minister for Finance and Economic Planning from 1986 to 1997.

He is survived by his wife Matilda and has two children.