Ghanaians react to Sir John’s death on social media

By Sylvester Owusu

02/07/2020

Tributes have started pouring in on social media for the late Former General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Lawyer Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, popularly known as Sir John, whose sudden demise has thrown the country into a state of shock.

His death was announced on Facebook by Eugene Arhin, the Communication Director for the President, who shared a tribute on his wall. He wrote, “RIP Sir John…Till we meet again.”

The wildly loved politician succumbed to the deadly coronavirus late last night, Wednesday, July 1, at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital after contracting the disease.

Some of the tweeps who couldn’t hide their sadness shared fond memories of the astute politician on twitter.

Until his death, Sir John was the CEO of the Forestry Commission. He was appointed as the CEO of the Forestry Commission in March 2017 by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

Profile

Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie was born in the Ashanti Region. He attended Seventh Day Adventist Secondary School in Bekwai from where he obtained his GCE Ordinary level certificate. He then proceeded to obtain his GCE Advanced level certificate from Konongo Odumase Secondary School in Konongo.

Mr Owusu Afriyie was admitted to study political science at the University of Ghana after which he enrolled at the Ghana School of Law where he graduated with Bachelor of Laws (LLB). He was then admitted as a solicitor and counsel for the Supreme Court of Ghana.

Sir John entered into private law practice in 1981. During the John Agyekum Kufuor administration, he was appointed head of legal services at the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC). He was later made to act as the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the corporation. While managing his firm, Afriyie was also actively engaged in Ghanaian politics.

He served as the General Secretary of the NPP from 2010 to 2014. He lost his bid to secure a second term to Kwabena Agyei Agyapong.

Read some of the reactions on twitter below:

REST EASY SIR JOHN!

What a sad exit. RIP sir. You served your nation well. pic.twitter.com/3kt8dzUtib
— G i o v a n i (@GiovaniCaleb) July 1, 2020

My heartfelt condolences to the family of Lawyer Kwadwo Owusu-Afriyie aka Sir John. I spoke with Sir John only yesterday but little did I know that was our last conversation. 1/2 pic.twitter.com/AsYfeXbpEn
— Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia (@MBawumia) July 1, 2020

Oh Sir John.
— Serwaa Amihere (@Serwaa_Amihere) July 1, 2020

REMEMBERING SIR JOHN 🙏 pic.twitter.com/0UV590qdXO
— GHOne TV (@GHOneTV) July 1, 2020

Former NPP General Secretary Sir John is dead Herh.
What I remember him with is his famous “fear delegates” phrase smh

Owuo y3 forken 😪
— Kelewele Joint 🍟 (@Ankamagyimi) July 1, 2020

Three times in a row, the NPP heart is stabbed and bleeding. Can I dare ask what is amiss? And Sir John, our only Sir has also succumbed to this painful death.

Onua, you enriched all of us and added such colour to our lives. You will be sorely missed.

1/2 pic.twitter.com/lvjeTKi5WN
— Boakye Kyeremateng Agyarko (@bkagyarko) July 2, 2020

He lost the mother and sister, and he was going to bury them in August. Now he has joined them.

This is heartbreaking.

Rest in Peace Sir John…
— Yayra Koku (@YayraKoku) July 1, 2020

And death, the grand leveler of all human greatness will reduce us to the same state.
Am I the only one who is fed up with this year ? #RIP Sir John pic.twitter.com/tPrvtfJDdM
— Amankwah Dennis (@Counselor_Denny) July 1, 2020