John Dramani Mahama announced the death of his friend on Facebook on Wednesday, September 18, 2024. In his post, Mahama shared the sad news about the passing of Herman Kojo, a 61-year-old expert.

In the message, Mahama expressed that Herman was a close friend and that his death is a great loss to both him and the country.

Herman, a well-known tech visionary, died on Monday, September 16, 2024, after suffering a heart attack.

Herman Chinery-Hesse, often referred to as "The Bill Gates of Africa," was a significant figure in Africa's tech industry. He founded SoFTribe, a top software development company that led the way in modern technology solutions across West Africa. His contributions to the tech world included developing government payroll systems, utility billing software, and security alert systems, along with other impactful innovations.

Born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1963, Chinery-Hesse’s journey started in Ghana, where he attended Mfantsipim School. He later continued his education at Westlake High School in Austin, Texas, and graduated from Texas State University with a degree in Industrial Technology. His career was marked by innovation, and many admired his determination to put African technology on the global map.

Friends, family, and colleagues have flooded social media with tributes, sharing their grief and admiration for Chinery-Hesse's groundbreaking work. His death is a huge loss for Ghana and the broader African tech community.