President Akufo-Addo has confirmed that the Mayor of Sekondi-Takoradi Anthony Kobina Kurentsi Sam had indeed died from Covid-19.

The late New Patriotic Party (NPP) stalwart who received a glowing tribute from the President during his 11th address to the nation, died a few weeks after his driver tested positive for the virus.

“Permit me to pay brief tribute to the memory of an old and valiant colleague in the struggle of the New Patriotic Party and in the work of the Akufo-Addo government, the Mayor of Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis, the Chief Executive of the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly, Hon. K.K Sam, Egya Sam to me and many, whose efforts in enforcing social distancing protocols at the Sekondi and Takoradi markets were, recently, highly commended by me, and who sadly passed away on Friday, as a result of a COVID-related death,” the President said.

While it had been unclear the cause of his death, the Presiding Member of the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly, Kwesi Buckman had said the late Mayor had been receiving treatment in Accra in an undisclosed health facility before his passing.

He told JoyNews that while on admission the deceased was never allowed to speak to anyone and that “his phones were even off.”

But sending well wishes to the Health Minister who is also on admission at the University of Ghana Medical Centre after contracting the virus, President Akufo-Addo described the late Mayor as a “valiant old colleague”.

The President also lauded the deceased’s contribution to the affairs of the NPP as well as in his government.

“May his soul rest in perfect peace in the bosom of the Almighty until the Last Day of the Resurrection, when we shall all meet again.

"Let us also wish our hardworking Minister for Health, Hon. Kwaku Agyeman Manu, MP for Dormaa Central, a speedy recovery from the virus, which he contracted in the line of duty, and is in a stable condition."