Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has paid glowing tribute to late New Patriotic Party (NPP) stalwart, Joseph Henry Mensah.

According to Dr. Bawumia, Mr. JH Mensah as he is affectionately called was one of Ghana’s best economist adding that he looked up to him that field.

The Gold Coaster born on October 31, 1928 and a founding member of New Patriotic Party (NPP) reportedly died on Wednesday evening at the 37 Military Hospital where he had been on admission for sometime now, suffering from stroke.

Mr. JH Mensah has served in numerous capacities at both party and national levels.


Dr Bawumia in a tweet to commiserate with the bereaved family wrote: “Truly a mighty tree has fallen with the passing on of a statesman Mr. Joseph Henry Mensah (affectionately called J.H. Mensah)

“He passionately served his country with pride to enhance development and was a man of endearing charm and wit.”

He added : “For me, J.H. Mensah was a mentor. In my humble opinion he is probably the best economist Ghana has produced. Analytically amazing in the way he dissected issues and practical in his policy prescriptions. He was the author of President Kwame Nkrumah's seven year development plan.”

“My sincerest condolences go to his family, Government, People of Ghana and the fraternity of the Danquah-Dombo-Busia tradition. May his soul Rest In Peace.”

Below is the biography of the late JH Mensah

Joseph Henry Mensah was educated at the University of Gold Coast (now University of Ghana) between 1948 and 1954.

He proceeded to the University of London in 1954 and studied for both Bachelors and Master degrees in Economics. Mr. Mensah also had a stint at the Stanford University, Palo Alto, California, USA, and specialised in Economic Theory and Development.

His working experience dates back to 1953 when he was appointed as an Assistant Inspector of Taxes by the colonial administration.

The Senior Minister of Government Business also worked as a Research Fellow in Economics at the University of Ghana between 1954 and 1958.

He joined the United Nations Secretariat in 1958 as an Economic Affairs Officer at the Centre for Development Planning, Projections and Policies, in New York.

In 1961, Mr. Mensah was the Head of Agency at the National Planning commission of the Government of Ghana, which drew and implemented the country’s Seven-Year Development Plan (1962 ­ 1969).