NPP opens book of condolence for Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has opened a book of condolence at its headquarters in Accra in honour of the former Party Chairman, Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey.
Jake died on the night of Saturday March 19, aged 70 at a hospital in London after a short illness.
Speaking during the opening of the book of condolence, Mr Freddie Blay, the Acting National Chairman of NPP, said the party had been saddened by the death of the former chairman.
He said they had fond memories of what Jake Obestebi-Lamptey had done for the NPP and mother Ghana: stating that “the party will not be left as an orphan. The party is in capable hands”.
Mr Blay said that Jake’s death would inspire them to work hard to win the 2016 general election.
Mr John Boadu, the Acting National Secretary of the NPP, said Jake was a great pillar who served the party selflessly.
He announced that the party flag must fly at half-mast in honour of the late former chairman, adding that the party was collaborating with Jake’s family towards the organisation of his funeral.
He urged all party faithful to remain resolute and to focus towards winning the 2016 general election.
The mood at the NPP headquarters was sombre with many party supporters clad in black and red as they mourned the former chairman.
A source at the residence of the late former NPP Chairman revealed to the Ghana News Agency that his family was in London with him at the time of his death, and that hopefully they would be back in Ghana by Tuesday.
From 2005 to July 2007, Obetsebi-Lamptey served as Minister of Tourism and Diasporan Relations in the cabinet of President John Agyekum Kufuor.
Previously Obetsebi-Lamptey was Minister of Tourism and Modernisation of the Capital City (2002–2005) and Minister of Information (2001–2002). He also served as Chief of Staff and Minister for Presidential Affairs in 2001.
He was the National Campaign Manager of then candidate Kufuor during the 2000 general elections, through which the party emerged victorious; which saw the first constitutional transfer of power in Ghana.
He resigned his posts as the Minister of Tourism and Diasporan Relations in July 2007 to campaign for the NPP nomination for the 2008 Presidential elections.
He later contested the NPP chairmanship slot and won in 2010. However, his efforts to be re-elected as party chairman in 2014 did not materialise, as he lost to Mr Paul Afoko, by a margin of 66 to 2,032 votes.
Source: GNA