Kofi Wayo

Charles Eric Kofi Wayo, popularly known as Kofi Wayo or "Chuck", was a Ghanaian politician and businessman. He founded the United Renaissance Party (URP) and was known for decades as one of the most outspoken critics of governments formed by both the NDC and the NPP. He never held elected office, but his blunt radio interviews and trademark cowboy hat made him a familiar figure in Ghanaian politics.

Political career

Wayo rose to prominence in the late 1990s as a vocal critic of the NDC government after returning to Ghana from abroad, and later joined the New Patriotic Party. In the 2000 general election he contested the Ayawaso East parliamentary seat on the NPP ticket but lost.

After the NPP came to power under John Agyekum Kufuor in 2001, Wayo grew critical of the party's economic management. He announced his exit from the NPP at a press conference in Accra in December 2003 and was briefly associated with the People's National Convention (PNC). In 2006 he registered his own party, the United Renaissance Party, which he presented as an alternative to the NDC and NPP. The URP endorsed him as its presidential candidate ahead of the 2012 general election.

In June 2009 President John Evans Atta Mills appointed him to the board of the Energy Commission. He later said he resigned voluntarily in 2015.

Later years

In March 2017 Wayo announced that he was stepping back from active politics to focus on agriculture, with plans to supply rural farmers with farming tools and logistics. He continued to comment on national affairs on radio, often criticising politicians he felt had neglected farming.

Death

Kofi Wayo died in the early hours of Saturday, 7 November 2026, at the Nyaho Medical Centre in Accra. He was 71. His family had not announced the cause of death or funeral arrangements at the time of the first reports. This profile will be updated with funeral details.