Ghanaian politician and businessman Charles Eric Kofi Wayo, popularly known as Kofi Wayo or ‘Chuck’, has died at the age of 71.

A death announcement circulated on Saturday, November 7, 2026, said he died in the early hours of the day at Nyaho Clinic in Accra.

Mr. Wayo was widely known for his outspoken views on Ghanaian politics and his criticism of successive governments.

Although he never won an elected public office, he became a familiar figure in the country’s political landscape through his strong opinions on governance, corruption and economic management.
He was also involved in active politics and founded the United Renaissance Party (URP) after breaking away from other political parties.

Mr. Wayo first gained national attention in the early 2000s through his criticism of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government. He later joined the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and contested the Ayawaso East parliamentary seat on its ticket in the 2000 general elections but lost.


However, his relationship with the NPP became strained after the party came to power in 2001, following his criticism of the Kufuor administration.
He subsequently left the party, associated with the People’s National Convention (PNC) and later established the URP, serving as its founder and leader.
In 2012, he was endorsed as the party’s presidential candidate, having earlier expressed interest in contesting the presidency.

Beyond politics, Mr. Wayo was an advocate for agricultural development and supported farmers by distributing farming tools, including cutlasses.

In 2017, he announced his decision to leave active politics and focus on farming, saying he wanted to support rural farmers.

His death marks the end of a political career whose outspoken political views and unconventional approach often attracted public attention and debate.