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Former Minority Leader of Parliament and National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Samuel Arthur Odoi-Sykes, has died.
Mr Odoi-Sykes passed away on Monday, October 5, 2026, his family has announced.
The former Member of Parliament for the Ashiedu Keteke Constituency was a lawyer, diplomat and veteran politician who held several prominent positions in Ghana’s public service.
He entered Parliament after winning the Ashiedu Keteke seat in the 1979 elections and subsequently became Minority Leader in 1980.
Between 1998 and 2001, he served as National Chairman of the NPP, leading the party during a period that preceded its historic victory in the December 2000 general elections.
Mr Odoi-Sykes also served Ghana diplomatically, including as High Commissioner to Canada from 2001 to 2006.
His career in the Foreign Service began in 1961 after an earlier stint as a teacher and subsequent work at the Ministry of Information. He went on to serve in diplomatic assignments in countries including India, the United States, the Soviet Union and the United Kingdom.
Among the positions he held were First Secretary, Press Attaché, Minister-Counsellor, Deputy Ambassador to the Soviet Union and Deputy High Commissioner to the United Kingdom.
A Barrister-at-Law, Mr Odoi-Sykes was called to the Bar at the Inner Temple in London before being admitted to practise law in Ghana.
Born in Accra, he was educated at Accra Academy, the University of Ghana, the University of London and Johns Hopkins University.
In a statement announcing his death, his family described him as a man of principle, courage and firm leadership who remained committed to public service and intellectual independence throughout his life.
Mr Odoi-Sykes is survived by his wife, Edith Amorkor Sykes, and four children; Cynthia Omaboe, Mavis Amoa, Vincent Sykes and Frank Sykes