The late former chairman of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey died of leukemia.
Former General Secretary, Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie revealed this to Adom TV’s’ Frank Owusu in an exclusive interview Sunday.
Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey died early Sunday in the United Kingdom after a short illness. Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey served in various ministerial positions during the Kufuor administration and led the NPP in the 2012 general elections.
Before his death, he said undergoing courses of chemotherapy treatment in South Africa, but relapsed and was transferred to London.
Sir John as he is popularly called indicated that the late Jake had planned to come to Ghana December last year but fell ill and was admitted at the hospital.
He added that the late former chairman died in his sleep while on admission at the hospital.
“The dream of late Jake was to see Nana Akufo-Addo elected as president ahead of the November 7 election and we will ensure that comes to pass,” he stressed.
A grief-stricken Sir John appealed to party members not to bombard the bereave family with calls and visits but rather pray for them as they mourn their loved one.
Leukemia is a form of cancer that begins in the blood-forming cells of the bone marrow – the soft, inner part of the bones.
Leukeamia – which literally means “white blood” in Greek – occurs when there is an excess of abnormal white blood cells in the blood. Known as leukocytes, these cells are so plentiful in some individuals that the blood actually has a whitish tinge.
The types of leukemia are grouped by how quickly the disease develops and gets worse. Leukemia is either chronic (gets worse slowly) or acute (gets worse quickly).
The common symptoms of leukemia includes fevers or night sweats; frequent infections; feeling weak or tired; headache; bleeding and bruising easily (bleeding gums, purplish patches in the skin, or tiny red spots under the skin), pain in the bones or joints, swelling or discomfort in the abdomen (from an enlarged spleen), swollen lymph nodes, especially in the neck or armpit and weight loss.
A bone marrow transplant, as it was his only chance of a cure.
