Former Information Minister, John Tia Akologo, is dead
Mr. John Tia Akologo, a former Minister of Information during President John Evans Atta Mills’ administration, has passed away at the age of 69.
He died on Sunday morning, March 24, at the Upper East Regional Hospital in Bolgatanga after a brief illness.
The sad news was confirmed by Mr. Salifu Abdallah, the Upper East Regional Director of Communications for the National Democratic Congress (NDC). According to Abdallah, Akologo was taken to the hospital on Saturday for a medical check-up but unfortunately succumbed to his illness the following day.
Abdallah expressed shock at Akologo’s sudden passing, noting that he had been active and engaged in party activities until shortly before his death.
He described the late former Minister as a valued counselor whose wealth of experience across various fields greatly contributed to the strength of the NDC and the development discourse of the country.
Akologo, who was also a journalist, had been involved in grassroots politics since the 1980s.
He served as the Press Secretary of the Upper East Regional Secretariat of the Peoples Defence Committees and Workers Defence Committees established by the Provisional National Defence Council in 1982.
Elected as the Member of Parliament for the Talensi Constituency in the 1992 general election under the NDC ticket, Akologo retained the seat in subsequent elections until 2012.
However, he lost to Mr. Robert N. Doameng Mosore, an independent candidate, in the 2012 election.
Akologo was appointed Minister of Information in 2009 and again in 2014. Later, he served as Ghana’s Ambassador to Cuba under former President John Dramani Mahama until 2016 when the NDC lost power. He also worked in various capacities, including at the Bolgatanga office of the Ghana News Agency.
Until his passing, Akologo remained an active member of the National Council of Elders representing the Upper East Region, leaving behind a legacy of service and dedication to his country and party.
