President John Dramani Mahama has eulogized the late Komla Afeke Dumor of the BBC who died today as a “broadcaster of an exceptional quality and Ghana’s gift to the world”.
The president, like millions of Ghanaians, took to social media, twitter, to express his condolence as regards the passing of the Ghanaian journalist.
Komla Afeke Dumor was the presenter of the BBC World News programme, Focus on Africa.
In 2013, Komla Afeke Dumor was among a list of Top 100 most influential Africans compiled by the New African Magazine.
His name is trending on twitter as millions of subscribers are tweeting to express their sympathies.
Komla Afeke Dumor, an astute journalist, died suddenly today in his London home after a cardiac arrest at age 41. He had three children.
On the official facebook page of the Flagstaff House, Ghana's seat of Government, a statement of condolence has been posted to mourn the death of the media icon.
Read the full statement below
It is with great shock and profound sadness that I learned of the sudden death of one of the most illustrious sons of Ghana, the internationally-acclaimed BBC TV broadcaster, Komla Afeke Dumor.
Komla was a hardworking, dedicated and consummate professional, who blazed a trail, from his days of great success as Ghana’s most popular broadcaster with Joy-FM in Accra, where he won the Ghana Journalist of the Year award, to his inspiring rise at the BBC in London.
Komla was a friend, a brother and a patriot, who cared very deeply about Ghana and Africa and also about global leadership that serves people and improve lives. His brilliant broadcast work during the recent passing of South Africa’s global icon, Nelson Mandela, was hailed by many around the world.
He always sought every opportunity to share his deep passion for Ghana’s success. He called on me during his last visit to Accra and we discussed varied issues relating to Ghana and Africa. He invited me to take better advantage of BBC’s strategic reach to project the positive achievements Ghanaians are chalking.
In his passing, Ghana, Africa and indeed the world have lost a great, dedicated and wonderful human being and world broadcaster. May his soul rest in peace.
On behalf of my Government and the people of Ghana, I wish to express my deepest sympathies and condolences to his wife, Kwansema and the children and also to his father, Professor Ernest Dumor, his siblings Mawuena and Korshie and the entire family.
Our sympathies also go to his colleagues at the BBC and in the international broadcasting and journalism fraternity.
Click here for Komla Afeke Dumor
Tributes paid to Komla Dumor
Our nation has lost one of its finest ambassadors. @BBCkomladumor was a broadcaster of exceptional quality and Ghana's gift to the world.
— John Dramani Mahama (@JDMahama) January 18, 2014Being hugged by @BBCKomlaDumor was like getting a life-transfusion. Seems so wrong he's gone.He'll be so much missed @BBCWorldNews #RIPKomla
— stephen sackur (@stephensackur) January 18, 2014#KomlaDumor A great honour to have known such a beautiful soul. An amazing friend. #LifeLessons Kufa awunamahloni! pic.twitter.com/PHsOiQtMBk
— Nomsa Maseko (@nomsa_maseko) January 18, 2014Rest in Peace Komla.. Your purpose was to break glass ceilings so the rest of us can enter. A race well run. Blessings always.
— Lerato Mbele (@BBCLerato) January 18, 2014RIP Komla Dumor, great ambassador of Ghana & role model for journalists worldwide! #RIPKomlaDumor
— US Embassy Ghana (@USEmbassyGhana) January 18, 2014!!! RT @kellis07gh: @wanlov our future president @BBCkomladumor die oooo. #RIPKOMLADUMOR
— FOKN Kubolor (@wanlov) January 18, 2014Devastated at the loss of Komla Dumor. The best of Africa and of the BBC. My goodness, we'll miss him.
— Ros Atkins (@BBCRosAtkins) January 18, 2014
