Professor Thomas Mba Akabzaa, a native of Dua, a suburb of the Bongo District in the Upper East Region of Ghana and the immediate past chairman of the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), was laid to rest on December 13, 2025, at his family residence in Bongo-Dua.Prof. Akabzaa passed away on April 17, 2025, at the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC).
He was widely regarded as a prominent academic and policy advisor, recently appointed as the Board Chairman of PURC. His selfless contributions to the Upper East Region earned him the admiration of many, including individuals from Nigeria and beyond, who traveled to Bongo-Dua to express their condolences and pay their last respects.
The burial service, held at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Bongo-Dua, was attended by notable figures, including Lawyer Dr. Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, the current Member of Parliament for Bolgatanga East and Minister of State for Attorney General, Mr Isaac Adongo, MP for Bolgatanga Central, Mrs Lydia Akanvariba Adakudugu, MP for Tempane, Mr David Ayindenaba Assibi Apasera, former MP for Bolgatanga Central and former presidential candidate for the PNC; alongside MMDCES, National Democratic Congress members, the New Patriotic Party, and friends from Nigeria.
Mourners, dressed in muted traditional cloth, sat and stood to listen to various solidarity messages honoring Prof. Akabzaa’s legacy. He began his education in his community of Bongo-Dua, where he studied under a tree, using stones for chairs and soft stands for writing surfaces.
Despite the limited access to education in rural areas, he excelled academically and completed both primary and middle school.
He later attended Bawku Secondary School, where he served as the Independence House Prefect. Each step in his educational journey symbolized not just personal achievement but a collective victory for his family and community.
Prof. Akabzaa continued his studies at the University of Ghana-Legon, earning a Bachelor of Science in Geology and Physics in 1980. He later pursued a Master’s in Mining Economics at McGill University in Canada, graduating in 1994, and obtained a PhD in Geology from the University of Ghana in 2004.
He joined the Department of Geology (now the Department of Earth Science) in 1995 as a lecturer and rose to the rank of associate professor. From 2008 to 2010, he served as the head of the department and led significant transformations in both the academic programs and infrastructure.
Known for his generosity and dedication to students, Prof. Akabzaa was particularly supportive of those from disadvantaged backgrounds, often paying fees and providing guidance to help them succeed.
His expertise extended beyond the classroom. From 1996 to 2010, he was a pioneering researcher and activist with the Third World Network Africa, focusing on analyzing mining contracts, mineral rent distribution, and the politics of natural resource extraction across Africa.
He was known for his rigorous research, fearless critiques, and dedication to the communities impacted by mining activities.Prof. Akabzaa led training programs for parliaments in Ghana, Mali, and Sierra Leone, and served as a resource person for the Revenue Watch Summer School on Oil and Gas at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA).
His passing has left a significant void, not only in his family but also in the entire Upper East Region, the National Democratic Congress, and Ghana as a whole. People from various walks of life have traveled far and wide to bid farewell to this industrious son of the Upper East Region.
Source:mywordfmonline.com/Gaspard Adongo Ayuureneeya.