Kojo Armah, Kofi Ansah Dead

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Category: Obituaries

Created on Tuesday, 06 May 2014 00:00

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Kojo Armah, Kofi Ansah Dead

Two high profile individuals – Ghana’s foremost fashion designer, Kofi Ansah and former MP for Evalue Gwira in the Western Region, Kojo Armah – are dead.

Both deaths were recorded at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra over the weekend.

Snippets of information last Saturday had it that Kofi Ansah might have died from cardiac arrest.

Kofi, a younger brother to TV Africa proprietor and celebrated film producer, Kwaw Ansah, is said to have died shortly after being rushed to the hospital last Friday at age 62.

He would have turned 63 in July.

Considered as one of the few Ghanaian designers to have etched their names on the international map of designing, he was trained in the United Kingdom’s Chelsea School of Art where he made a First Class before returning home to establish himself.

Winner of a number of local awards – one of which was the Millennium 2000 African Fashion Award – he is credited with the designing of the anniversary fabric for Ghana’s golden independence anniversary celebration, including the costumes for the opening and closing ceremonies of the CAN 2008 African Cup of Nations in Ghana.

His company, Artdress, a design setup, is also a consultancy in the industry which has been rendering services to renowned textile company, GTP, for several years.

His design signature – Kofi Ansah – is not new in renowned fashion spots in both Britain and the US; something which brought him international fame.

His achievements could not have come without his father’s encouragement when as a child he encouraged him to take to his traits of creation. His father was a creator, photographer and musician.

His fashion designs were soon seen in the retail shops and boutiques of London. His fashions also appeared in many retail stores and boutiques in the USA at Saks Fifth Avenue.

Kofi’s distinct elegant designs, though Western-styled, were never without the emphasis of his native homeland of Ghana.

Daughter’s Tribute

Tanoa Sasraku-Ansah, the youngest of three children and only daughter of the late ace fashion designer, paid glowing tribute to him.

The daughter, who is currently in UK, told Joy FM her dad was her ultimate inspiration and that his death has left her shattered.

“A true legend and master of his craft died today, my father and my ultimate inspiration. I know you loved me deeply, as did I, and a huge hole in my future has been left upon your passing. Know that my strife for greatness in my life has only been fuelled by your passing. Love always,” she said.

Kojo Armah

Kojo Armah, former CPP Member of Parliament for Evalue-Gwira, died in the early hours of Sunday May 4, after a short illness. He was about 69 years.

Sources close to the family revealed that the former MP died at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.

Kojo Armah was in Parliament from 1996-2000 after winning the seat for the CPP in collaboration with the New Patriotic Party (NPP), dubbed ‘The Great Alliance.’

He lost the seat in 2001 but returned in 2004-2008 and lost again to Catherine Afeku in 2008.

President Kufuor appointed him as the Municipal Chief Executive for Nzema East from 2000 to 2004.

He chaired the Kojo Armah Committee which was established after checks conducted at the Police Narcotics Exhibit Room revealed that drugs which had been placed at the premises of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Police Service, had been taken away and replaced with other substances.

A lawyer by profession, he owned Ankobra FM 100.9 based in Axim, Western Region.

He left behind a wife and three children.

Source: Daily Guide/Ghana