Death of Kugblenu big loss to nation — Speaker

The Speaker of Parliament, Mr Edward Doe Adjaho, yesterday eulogised the late Director of Public Affairs of Parliament, Mr Jones Kugblenu, describing him as brilliant, affable, kind and a team player.

At a meeting with Kugblenu’s wife and family members at the deceased’s residence in Accra, the Speaker expressed shock at his untimely death and said he was yet to come to terms with the fact that Kugblenu had passed on.

He said when he received the news of Mr Kugblenu's death, he did not believe it because, as far as he was aware, his health had improved tremendously and he was expected back home from the United Kingdom where he had been receiving treatment.

He said it was until Mr Kugblenu’s wife had confirmed the death that he believed that, indeed, Kugblenu had passed on.

Mr Adjaho was accompanied by the Minority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu; the Clerk to Parliament, Mr Emmanuel Anyimadu; the Clerk at Table of Parliament, Mr Ebenezer Djietror, among others.

Assistance offered

Mr Adjaho said when Mr Kugblenu became ill, he (Adjaho) offered him all the support he needed and even informed the President, Mr John Mahama, about the situation.

"We did everything we could to support him," he said, and added that when he travelled to the UK in May, he met with Mr Kugblenu and was happy to notice that his health had improved.

According to him, after parliamentary proceedings a few weeks ago, Mr Kugblenu called him and they had a hearty chat.

"We all expected his return, not his death," he said.

Loss to Ghana

Mr Adjaho noted that Mr Kugblenu always tried to calm nerves anytime there was a wrong reportage of parliamentary proceedings and added that anytime Kugblenu intervened, his (Adjaho's) anger died down.

He said he travelled with Kugblenu on many occasions, adding that Mr Kugblenu "always made delegations tick".

"He did his work with passion. God knows better than each and everyone one of us.

The family should take heart and put their trust in God, he said.

The Speaker added that Kugblenu’s death was a loss not only to the family and Parliament but also the entire nation.