Enoch Teye Mensah popularly known as ET Mensah, a veteran politician and former Ningo-Prampram Member of Parliament on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has died at the age of 77. He died on the evening of Sunday, October 1, 2023, in South Africa where he was receiving medical attention as reports reveal.
Under the PNDC military administration in Ghana, he served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), which was equivalent to being the Mayor of Accra. In the year 1992, he became a member of the National Democratic Congress. He again contested for parliament in 1996 and was elected MP to represent the Ningo-Prampram constituency, which he held for more than 10 years from January 1997 to January 2017.
His reign as an MP came to an end when his party comrade Sam Dzata George overthrew him during the Parliamentary primaries for the Ningo–Prampram seat. Nevertheless, he stayed relevant in the political space.
E.T. Mensah served as Minister of Education, Minister of Youth and Sports, Mayor of Accra, and a member of the Council of State for the Greater Accra Region via his hard work, devotion, and heroism. Before the 2008 Ghanaian parliamentary election, he was the Minority Chief Whip in parliament. He was appointed Majority Chief Whip in Parliament in January 2009.
His major contributions to Ghanaian sports are highly recognized. E.T. Mensah’s voyage into the world of sports administration began in the early 1990s, at a moment of major political and social upheaval in Ghana. As the country transitioned to the Fourth Republic, he was selected as the country’s first sports minister by late President Jerry John Rawlings.
His stint as Minister for Youth and Sports from January 1993 to January 2001 made him the longest-serving Minister for Youth and Sports, and it proved to be a revolutionary moment for Ghana sports. One of his most important accomplishments was the establishment of Ghana’s Professional League system.
He was the Greater Accra Region’s longest-serving Mayor, and he pioneered the concept of “Keep Fit” clubs across the country. E.T. Mensah, determined to provide better facilities, successfully convinced the government to construct a 24-apartment house for the national team in Winneba. When he became sports minister, he was instrumental in Hearts of Oak (one of Ghana’s most notable football teams) victories in the CAF Champions League and the CAF Super Cup in 2000. He accomplished all of these between April 1993 and January 2001.
ET Mensah was a family man who was married and had seven children. His demise comes just one day after the death of former First Lady Theresa Kufuor.
May their souls enjoy peace in the loving embrace of our Creator.
Damirifa Due ET MENSAH !!
Story By: Illiasu Suraiya – Ahotoronline
