Accra, Ghana – Akua Donkor, a prominent Ghanaian presidential candidate and founder of the Ghana Freedom Party (GFP), has passed away just weeks before the December 7 elections. Donkor, one of only two female candidates running for the nation’s highest office, died on Monday, October 28, around 10 p.m. local time in a hospital in Accra, the country’s capital, according to local reports. She was 72.
Donkor, who had built a reputation as an outspoken advocate for rural and grassroots issues, was initially diagnosed with abdominal complications on October 26. She was admitted to a hospital in eastern Ghana, where she received treatment before being discharged. However, her condition deteriorated suddenly on Monday, prompting her to be rushed to a major hospital in Accra.
Her running mate, Kwabena Agyeman Appiah Kubi, who had visited Donkor earlier that day, was informed of her passing that evening. “It’s a devastating loss for all of us who knew her passion and vision for Ghana,” Kubi said, adding that Donkor’s drive for equality and access for all Ghanaians defined her political career.
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Donkor, a farmer by background, formed the Ghana Freedom Party to advocate for a people-centered approach to politics, prioritizing the needs of the rural and marginalized communities. She was admired for her determination to make politics more accessible and for her unique voice in a political landscape often dominated by larger parties.
This unexpected loss leaves a significant void in the election field, especially for her supporters and grassroots movement. Alongside Nana Frimpomaa of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), Donkor was one of two female candidates in the upcoming election, both challenging a system historically skewed toward male leadership.
As the nation mourns, Donkor’s legacy as a pioneering figure in Ghanaian politics will undoubtedly be remembered in the days leading up to the elections
