Family of Ghana Freedom Party leader Akua Donkor in shock over her passing, call for state burial.
The family and community of the late Akua Donkor, founder and leader of the Ghana Freedom Party (GFP), are reeling from her sudden passing on Monday in Accra. Known for her resilience and dedication to Ghana’s political landscape, Akua Donkor’s family expressed disbelief upon hearing the news. Opanin Nana Yao Poku, the family head, shared with JoyNews, “We received a call yesterday informing us of her demise, but we didn’t believe it because we thought it was just political propaganda. However, this morning, we received another call, and we are in a state of shock.”
Akua Donkor, a pioneering political figure, established the Ghana Freedom Party in 2011 after multiple attempts to engage in local politics, including runs for assembly member and Member of Parliament in Kwabre, her native region. She became a presidential candidate and recently submitted her bid to contest in the 2024 elections on the GFP ticket. Family members reflected on her lifelong ambition to lead Ghana, noting that her legacy will remain significant in the nation’s history.
Her hometown of Ejuratia in the Afigya Kwabre South District is mourning her loss, with community members gathering at her family home to pay their respects. Residents remember her efforts in developing the area and empowering young people, particularly girls. Akua Donkor’s daughter, Ama Serwaa Bonsu, highlighted her mother’s contributions, saying, “My mother contributed significantly to the development of Ghana… We have an asphalt road at Ejuratia because of my mother. She took family land of 25 acres for the construction of the road and built local facilities, including a bus station and a school.”
Ama further urged the state to honor her mother’s legacy with a state burial, citing her significant impact on the community. She detailed Akua Donkor’s development initiatives, from providing water and energy to building schools, markets, and infrastructure in several communities.
At Ridge Hospital, where Akua Donkor spent her final moments, her youngest daughter Mary shared emotional details, recounting how she was by her mother’s side when she passed at 10:00 PM on October 28. The family is awaiting further instructions from their head and other relatives arriving from Kumasi to finalize funeral arrangements. They are calling for formal recognition of Akua Donkor’s enduring contributions to the country and her efforts to shape Ghana’s political landscape.
