Former Minister for the Greater Accra Region, Ishmael Ashitey, has passed away.

Mr Ashitey, aged 68, died on Friday, January 7, at the Tema General Hospital after a short illness.

Sources say the former Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), flew into the country a week ago from the United States for treatment.

He is survived by his wife and four children.

Prior to his demise, Mr Ashitey made known his intentions of running for the NPP National Chairmanship position.

In July last year, he also urged the leadership of the governing party to be strong and come up with strategies that will help the NPP achieve an unprecedented feat by breaking the 8-year election jinx in 2024.

“NPP could be the first party under the 4th republic to secure a third term mandate. But this will take leaders who will unite all fronts, apply unique strategies and abide strictly by the party’s constitution," he said.

He added that he will be building on the successes chalked during his tenure as Regional Chair for the Greater Accra Region.

“I managed to take the party from nine parliamentary seats to 14 and subsequently to 21 seats when my mandate was renewed. I am pretty confident that I will be the person to break that jinx of 8 years”.

Mr Ishmael Ashitey was a member of the governing party's National Council.

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Mr Ishmael Ashitey was elected Member of Parliament for Tema East on three consecutive occasions from 1996 to 2008.

Under the Kufuor-led government, he served as a Minister of State at the Ministry of Food and Agriculture.

He was also a Minister of State at the Ministry of Trade and Industry.

Mr Ashitey, during his time in Parliament, served on the Mines and Energy, and Foreign Affairs committees, among others.