The Bongo District Chief Executive (DCE), Joseph Akasake Abaa, has been confirmed dead. The Bongo Constituency Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Alhaji Tahiru Aberinga, confirmed the news in an interview on Sunday, February 22, 2026.

According to him, Joseph Akasake Abaa died on Sunday, February 22, 2026, at the Upper East Regional Hospital in Bolgatanga following a short illness. Meanwhile, the family of the deceased has yet to issue a formal statement regarding his passing.

President John Dramani Mahama appointed the late DCE  in April 2025 after he was confirmed by members of the Bongo District Assembly.

Joseph Akasake Abaa had served as an Assembly Member for Zorko-Goo-Awaah for three consecutive terms. In 2022, he held the position of Bongo Constituency Youth Organizer before later being appointed as the Constituency Secretary.

He attended Sirigu Integrated Senior High School and Zuarungu Senior High School, where he worked as a storekeeper at both institutions. Mr. Abaa’s passing has left the NDC and the people of Bongo devastated.

The party has already suffered the loss of several key figures in 2025 and early 2026, including former Greater Accra Regional Chairman Joseph Ade Coker, local communicator Nana Kwadwo Busia and Ayawaso East MP Naser Toure Mahama.

The Member of Parliament (MP) for the Ayawaso East constituency was laid to rest on Monday, January 5. Naser Toure Mahama was reported dead on January 4, following a short illness at the Korle Bu-Teaching hospital.

As a Muslim, he is expected to be buried within 24 hours of his death; consequently, his final burial rites will be held, drawing thousands of mourners to Nima and Kanda, the heart of the constituency he served for years.

Speaking on the preparations, the Member of Parliament for Ayawaso North, Yussif Jajah, disclosed that an intervention by President John Dramani Mahama helped fast-track coordination of the administrative processes at the mortuary.

“As we speak now, we have brought the body home,” Mr Jajah said late Sunday evening, confirming that the remains had been released to the family for burial.

Naser Toure Mahama was widely regarded as a grassroots politician whose parliamentary work focused on urban renewal in Nima and youth empowerment within Zongo communities.

Last year, Ghana lost several people in power, with the last Ghana and other members of the world bid farewell to the late former first lady Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings.

One of the biggest losses of the state was the death of eight gallant men who died in service to the nation. They met their untimely death in a helicopter crash at Adansi on the 6th of august enroute to a programme on galamsey, a menace that is eating deep into the cloth of Ghana.

The deceased included Dr Edward Kofi Omane Boamah, Minister for Defence; Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed; Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator in charge of Human Security, Alhaji Muniru Limuna Mohammed; Vice Chairman of the National Democratic Congress, Samuel Sarpong; and Deputy Director-General of NADMO, Samuel Aboagye.

Others included Squadron Leader Peter Analaa of the Ghana Air Force, Flying Officer Tsum Ampadu of the Ghana Air Force, and Sergeant Ernest Addo of the Ghana Air Force.

Ghana’s entertainment industry mourned the loss of several beloved figures this year. Highlife musician Dada KD passed away after a short illness. Legendary highlife musician, Daddy Lumba, born Charles Kwadwo Fosu, succumbed at the Ridge hospital, though the exact cause of his death was not publicly disclosed, but speculations attributed it to medical negligence. The film industry also suffered a blow with the death of Abdullai Tahiru, popularly known as Taidu from the Junka Town series, who died on February 9, 2025. His cause of death was not specified.

The nation also bid farewell to Apostle Dr. Kwadwo Safo Kantanka, a revered cleric, inventor, and founder of the Kristo Asafo Mission. He died peacefully on September 11, 2025, shortly after celebrating his birthday. His passing marked the end of an era for Ghana’s innovation and spiritual leadership.

The very recent death was that of rising Ghanaian boxer, Ernest Akushey aka Bahubali, who passed just 11 days after a thrashing defeat to Jacob Dickson, his opponent.