Former Member of Parliament for Jomoro Constituency and a former Education Minister under President Atta Mills era, Lee Ocran is being laid to rest today, Saturday, April 13, 2019.
The late Lee Tandoh Ocran, former MP for the Jomoro Constituency, died on Thursday, 21st February 2019.
The former High Commissioner to South Africa and ex-MP for Jomoro passed on before midnight at 37 Military Hospital in Accra on Thursday, February 21, 2019. Mr Ocran was said to have battled with ill health for some days leading to his passing away.
He spent 74 years old on this earth and left behind three children also a wife.
His burial service is currently ongoing at his hometown, Nawule near Half Assini in the Jomoro Municipality in the Western Region.
In his tribute, the former President and Flagbearer of the NDC, Mr. Mahama noted that late Lee Ocran was a very principled person and a friend.
He also added that he was very liberal with giving him lesson in politics.
"...Lee Ocran was an unrepented Nkrumist and know that I came from Nkrumist family, I became a close comrade of his, we became friends at East Legon", he revealed.
He continued "...Of course we know what the work Lee Ocran has done not only for our party but also for us when we were in government, he served in many positions and he served with his vision".
He added "Of course one thing that we all know Lee Ocran for because he was very principled person and if he believed in something there was nothing you could ever do to change his mind".
"We have lost a true Comrade and a friend, even in the last minute on his hospital bed, I believed...was still at work, I went to visit him in the hospital and he then woke him up from sleep, I talked to him, he smiled and I told him he didn't deserve to be here at this time because in 2020 we have a very serious matter ahead".
"And that was the nature of the man, fact, very truthful and so on this occasion all we can do is to console the bereaved family and so urge that we celebrate the life of deceased and that we lay the ideals that he stood for in life and that was one of principle and integrity", he said.
"On behalf of the whole NDC party, we wish our Comrade Lee Ocran a peaceful rest, may his soul rest in perfect peace", he concluded.
Other party officials including Johnson Asiedu Nketia, NDC General Secretary, Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, NDC National Chairman, Joshua Akamba, NDC National Organiser, Emmanuel Armah Kofi-Buah, Ellembelle MP, Jomoro MP, Paul Essien, North Tongu MP, Samuel O. Ablakwa, NDC Western Regional Chairman, Nana Toku, NPP Westerm Regional Chairman, Francis Ndede Siah, Nana Oye Lithur, former Gender Minister, former Chief of Defence Staff, General Blay among others were there to commiserate and pay their final respects.
He served as Minister for Education of Ghana from 2012 to 2013. Ocran was appointed Minister by President John Atta Mills in February 2012 in a cabinet reshuffle following the resignation of Betty Mould-Iddrisu from the government and the sacking of Martin Amidu.
In 2000 he was Deputy Minister of Environment Science and Technology. Since January 2005 as a candidate from the National Democratic Congress, he was Member of Parliament for the Jomoro Constituency until he lost his seat to the daughter of Kwame Nkrumah, Samia Nkrumah of the Convention People's Party in the December 2008 parliamentary election.
In February 2014, Ocran was sworn in as board chairman of the Volta River Authority. On May 13, 2015 he described the Bui Dam as a White Elephant (extravagant but burdensome gift).
Some members of the party were present to pay their last respects