Ghana lost three economic advisors in 3 months late 2011

Three economic advisors to Ghana’s President John Mills passed away within three months in the last quarter of 2011.

Strangely, each died in each of the three months – September, October and November.

Two of the three died in the US according to available information. It is not clear where the third died.

First was Dr. Gobind Nankani, a former World Bank economist. He died September 9, 2011 in the US at the age of 64.

The late Dr. Nankani was the Chair of the Economic Advisory Council to President Mills. He worked with the World Bank for over 30 years and became the Vice President in the Bank’s Poverty Reducation and Economic Management (PREM) network in 2001.

The Late Dr. Nankani graduated from the Univeristy of Ghana in 1970 obtaining a B.Sc. (Economics) First Class Honors. In 1975 he obtained an M. A. (Economics), from Harvard University in 1975 and he had his PhD (Economics), also from Harvard University in 1976.

On October 18, 2011, the country lost another economic advisor to the President. It was Mr Joel Hyde – an architect, a businessman and an industrialist.

He served on many boards including the Free Zones Board, the Board of CAL Bank. Mr Hyde was also the Managing Director of Somotex Ghana Limited and a Board Member of the Somotex Group of Companies.

Dr Emmanuel Young Abloh, also a member of the economic advisory council, died in Maryland USA on November 9, 2011.

Dr Abloh was a former Chairman of the Board of Directors of National Investment Bank (NIB). He was a school mate to President Mills at the University of Ghana.

All three have been laid to rest.

The late economists were said to be behind the economic success of the country. Ghana’s economy was touted the fastest growing in the world  in 2011 by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The Fund said the economy in 2011 will exceed at least 13%.

By Ekow Quandzie