Shai Osudoku NDC parliamentary aspirant killed in accident

The Shai Osudoku Constituency of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Greater Accra Region was thrown into a state of shock and mourning yesterday, following the death of the party’s parliamentary candidate-elect in a road accident.

Mr William Desmond Ocloo died in a gory accident last Thursday night.

Many party members in the constituency shed tears when news about the death became public.

The deceased, who was driving a four-wheel GMC with registration number GR 7764-13, was heading towards Kumasi from Accra when the accident occurred at Atwedie, near Juaso.

His vehicle collided head-on with a Hyundai mini-cargo truck, which was travelling from the opposite direction.

Due to the impact of the collision, both drivers died on the spot. Their bodies have since been deposited at the Stewards Hospital at Yawkwei, near Konongo, pending autopsy.

The other driver, a worker of New Farm Ventures, is yet to be identified.

Confirming the accident to the Daily Graphic, the Konongo Divisional Commander of Police, Superintendent of Police, Mr Ohene Boadi Bossman, said a truck which was ahead of the aspiring MP’s vehicle overtook two cars in a sharp curve and, in the process, lost control.

He said in an attempt to avoid running into the truck, Mr Ocloo veered into the other lane and collided head-on with the oncoming mini-cargo truck.

Mr Bossman said Mr Ocloo’s car was badly damaged and the police had to cut it to retrieve his body.

Mood in constituency

When the Daily Graphic visited parts of the constituency yesterday, some party members were seen in groups discussing what had befallen the party.

Others struggled to hold back their tears.

At Kordiabe, the Ward Chairman of the NDC, Mr Francis Ahenful, described the death as extremely shocking.  "We are in a state of shock. He was such a hardworking, humble and kind man.”

In the parliamentary primary, Mr Ocloo polled 4,350 votes to unseat the incumbent, Mr David Tetteh Assumeng, who garnered  1,280 votes.

Other contenders in the race were Dr Michael Kpessah Whyte, who had 3,189 votes and Ebenezer Adzakli, who got 393 votes in the NDC primaries held in November, last year.

Asset

Mr Ahenful described the late aspiring MP as an asset to the NDC who enjoyed the support of all the party executives in the constituency.

"He was to contest the primary in 2012 but was prevailed upon to allow the incumbent MP to complete his third term so he stepped down. God knows best," he said.

Mr Ahenful said following news of the accident, some constituency party executive members were dispatched to the Ashanti Region to verify the news to know the way forward.

Mr Frank Awumey, another party member, recalled the contributions of the late aspiring MP to both the ward and constituency at large, adding that his death was a big blow.

Profile

The deceased had his secondary education at the Ghanata Secondary School (1989-1993).

He obtained a Diploma in Accounting from the Institute of Professional Studies (IPS), now University of Professional Studies, in Accra in 1995.

Mr Ocloo obtained ACCA 1 and 2 at the same institution in 1996 and a Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA), Finance option, from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in 2012.

His working life included 1995-2004 when he was the Accountant at Ghanata Secondary School.

Between 2004 and 2006, he became the head of accounting department of the Action Progressive Institute, and in 1998, he was the financial secretary for Missions of God Church, Dodowa.

Until his election as NDC parliamentary candidate, he was the Chief Finance Officer at Mining and Building Construction (MBC).