Former Member of Parliament for the Ningo-Prampram constituency and Council of State member, ET Mensah, has passed away at the age of 77.
Reports indicate that he breathed his last in South Africa last night after a prolonged battle with illness.
Enoch Teye Mensah, born on May 17, 1946, had a distinguished career as a Minister for Education and served as a Member of Parliament in Ghana from January 1997 to January 2017. Affectionately known as ET Mensah, he was a devoted family man, blessed with seven children.
During the era of the PNDC military regime in Ghana, ET Mensah held the prominent position of Chief Executive of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), essentially serving as the Mayor of Accra. His affiliation with the National Democratic Congress began in 1992 when the party was established.
In 1996, he contested in the parliamentary election and emerged victorious as the MP for the Ningo-Prampram constituency, a seat he held for nearly a decade. Even after the NDC’s loss in the 2000 elections, he continued to serve as a dedicated member of parliament. Notably, Mensah faced an internal party challenge in 2015, ultimately losing the NDC primaries to Sam George on November 21, 2015.
Throughout his political career, ET Mensah held key roles within parliament. He served as the Minority Chief Whip prior to the Ghanaian parliamentary election in 2008 and subsequently became the Majority Chief Whip in Parliament in January 2009.
At the advent of the Fourth Republic, President Jerry Rawlings appointed him as the Minister for Youth and Sports, a position he held throughout both terms of the Rawlings administration. In January 2010, following a cabinet reshuffle, President John Atta Mills appointed him as the Minister for Employment and Social Welfare.
ET Mensah’s commitment to public service extended beyond Ghana’s borders. He was a member of the Pan-African Parliament until January 2009, when he resigned upon being appointed a member of the state. In January 2011, he assumed the role of Minister for Education following the resignation of Betty Mould-Iddrisu.
On February 12, 2021, Mensah achieved another milestone as he was unanimously elected to represent the Council of State for the Greater Accra Region, further solidifying his legacy of dedicated service to his country.
ET Mensah’s passing marks the end of an era in Ghanaian politics, leaving behind a legacy of unwavering commitment to public service and a deep sense of responsibility towards his constituents and his nation.
