Former URP leader Kofi Wayo dies at 71

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

He reportedly passed away in the early hours of Saturday, November 7, 2026, at Nyaho Clinic in Accra. His death was announced on Saturday, although details surrounding his funeral arrangements and the cause of death had not been made public at the time of reporting.

Wayo was widely recognised for his outspoken views on governance, corruption and economic management, making him one of the country’s distinctive political figures.

He first gained national attention in the early 2000s after returning to Ghana and becoming involved in active politics.

He contested the Ayawaso East parliamentary seat on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the 2000 general elections but lost to the incumbent National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate.

However, his relationship with the NPP became strained after the party assumed power in 2001 under former President John Agyekum Kufuor.

He subsequently left the party, became associated with the People’s National Convention (PNC) and later established the United Renaissance Party (URP) in 2006.

Wayo served as the founder and leader of the URP and was endorsed as the party’s presidential candidate ahead of the 2012 general elections.

Beyond party politics, he also served on the board of the Energy Commission after being appointed by former President John Evans Atta Mills in June 2009.

He later resigned from the position in 2015.
In March 2017, Wayo announced his decision to withdraw from active politics and concentrate on agriculture, particularly supporting rural farmers with farming equipment and other logistics.

Explaining his decision at the time, he told Graphic Online: “I am now into farming and assisting the farmers in the villages with implements and other logistics unlike their MPs who are cruising in Land Cruisers and don’t care about them.”

His decision marked a shift from partisan politics to agricultural activities, an area he believed deserved greater attention from successive governments.

Following his retirement from mainstream politics, Wayo largely stayed away from public engagements, although he remained a familiar name in Ghana’s political discussions.

His death brings an end to a political journey characterised by outspoken criticism, independent political positions and a strong interest in national governance and agricultural development.