The political and sports communities are in mourning following the death of Dr. Mustapha Ahmed, a former Member of Parliament for Ayawaso East and Sports Minister under President John Dramani Mahama’s administration.
Dr. Mustapha Ahmed passed away on Wednesday, February 7, in India, where he was receiving medical treatment. He was 63.
A delegation from the Minority in Parliament, led by Deputy Minority Whip Comfort Doyoe Cudjoe, the Member for Ada, visited Dr. Ahmed’s family to express their condolences.
The visit conveyed the sympathies of Speaker Alban Bagbin, the entire Parliament, and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Caucus.
2nd Deputy Minority Whip Comfort Doyoe stated, “The news of Dr. Mustapha Ahmed’s passing has deeply shocked the House. We assure the family that the Speaker, along with the Foreign Affairs Minister, are coordinating to assist the family in bringing Dr. Ahmed’s body back to Ghana for burial.
She emphasized the commitment of the MPs to support the family during this difficult time.
Mahama Ayariga, MP for Bawku Central and spokesperson for the delegation, reiterated the sentiment, promising to relay the unfortunate news to the Speaker and Parliament.
“Parliament is keen on receiving the details of the arrival of the corpse, the burial, and the funeral arrangements, to ensure we give our former colleague a befitting burial,” Ayariga assured.
Dr. Abdulai Alhassan, speaking on behalf of Dr. Ahmed’s family, expressed gratitude for the support and condolences from the delegation and Parliament.
He confirmed that the family would communicate their decisions regarding the burial and funeral, in line with Islamic customs, to the House.
Dr. Mustapha Ahmed’s political career was notable, serving as the MP for Ayawaso North from 2001 to 2016. His appointment as Minister of Youth and Sports in March 2015 marked a high point, though his tenure was brief, concluding with a reshuffle less than a year later.
Dr. Ahmed’s contributions to public service were occasionally marked by controversy, including a notable legal issue in March of the following year, where he was sentenced to seven days in prison for contempt of court by the Financial and Economic Crimes Division of an Accra High Court, alongside a GH¢12,000 fine for trespassing on disputed land.