NDC’s Sherry Ayittey Dies

*Women Organizer Finds Love Again

The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) over the weekend recorded both good and bad news, as it lost one of its stalwarts, Dr. Hanny Sherry Ayittey.

But while the party was in grief, its national women organizer, Dr. Hannah Louisa Bissiw, spontaneously tied the knot with her newly-found love in Accra.

The former Minister of Health and also Fisheries and Aquaculture died on Saturday, July 22, 2023 after a short illness.

She was 75 years. Her death was announced by the head of family, Nii Kofi Ayittey of Akwetey Nantan of Osu Alata, in Accra.

“The head of the family, Nii Kofi Ayittey of Akwetey Nantan, Osu Alata, announce with deep sorrow the death of their beloved daughter and sister, Hon Hanny Sherry Ayittey, on July 22, 2023. The family will announce further details in due course,” a brief statement from the family said.

Meanwhile, the NDC has reacted to the sudden death of the former minister, saying it is devastated by the news.

“The death of hardworking and selfless Hon. Dr. Sherry Ayittey has robbed the party, the country, and her family, of yet another elder whose sterling contributions to nation-building span well over a generation in the history of Ghana. We in the NDC are particularly devastated by this sudden and unexpected blow, and at the appropriate time, we shall demonstrate our gratitude to her for her love of nation and party,” a statement from the national chairman, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, said.

Dr.Ayittey, who earned an honourary doctorate degree from the Day Spring Christian University in 2014, was a founding member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), and a prominent member of the defunct 31st December Women Movement, founded by the former first lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, which prioritized the well-being of women and children.

She was appointed the Minister of Environment, Science and Technology in 2009 by then President John Evans Atta-Mills.

Dr Ayittey, who served in different capacities in the first NDC government, headed by late President Jerry John Rawlings, later became the Minister of Health under former John Dramani Mahama in 2013.

She was reassigned to head the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development in 2014, where she remained until the government left power in January 2017.

She contested the National Vice Chairperson slot of the party and won in 2018, serving a term. She was seen in almost every activity and programme of the party, despite her advanced age.

She was last seen in public at the Assin North constituency in the campaign to reelect the removed Member of Parliament (MP), James GyakyeQuayson, back into the august House.

Women Organizer Finds Love

On the brighter side of life too, the party’s national women organizer tied the knot at a plush strictly-by-invitation wedding.

The two-day events held on Friday and Saturday for the traditional and white weddings were attended by party members, families and friends of the couple. Photographs and videos of the two events were splashed on social media.

Not much is known of the groom, but this is the second marriage of the Cuba-trained veterinary doctor. In 2014, while serving as a deputy minister for Food and Agriculture, Dr.Bissiw married one Francis Kpormego, a Jamaica-based medical doctor.

But reports say that marriage has since collapsed, paving the way for the latest one. The outspoken women leader is a two-time national women organizer of her party.

The mother of two, born July 23, 1972, was a one-term Member of Parliament (MP) for the Tano South constituency in the Ahafo Region from 2013 to 2016.

The 51-year-old, in the last general elections, tried a comeback, but failed to snatch the seat from the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP).

Source:Anchorghana.com