†October 3, 2025
Mr. David Azey Adeenze Kangah, affectionately known as Azey to his friends and colleagues, was born on April 29, 1947, in Suwarinsa, Sandema, in the Upper East Region.
Growing up, little Azey attended Sandema Old Primary and Middle Boarding Schools, all located within walking distance of the traditional family compound. His classmates include Mr. Afina Akanbodiipo, Mr. Daniel Akanwarisage, and Mr John Akowan. From Sandema Middle Boarding School, he continued to Tamale Secondary School, where he had both his ordinary and advanced level school certificates.
Upon completing Tamale Secondary School, he studied at the University of Cape Coast and obtained a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Physics and Mathematics in 1972.
He also holds a Master’s in Conflict Resolution from Antioch University, Ohio, USA, as well as postgraduate training in Science Education and Educational Foundations from Chelsea College and the University of Leeds, UK, respectively.
Azey taught Physics and Mathematics at Notre Dame Seminary Secondary School and Navrongo Secondary School in the early days of his professional teaching career. Between 1976 and 1988, he served as the pioneer Headmaster of Zamse Secondary Technical School (1976–1988), which he established into one of Northern Ghana’s leading schools, earning him the rare honour of a bust on the school grounds.
He was later appointed the Headmaster of Navrongo Secondary School (NAVASCO) from 1988 to 1993. His former students recognize him as one of the most instrumental in transforming the school and counselling, in most cases, students who were unsure of their future career and academic progress.
Mr. David Azey Adeenze Kangah was instrumental in Ghana’s return to multiparty democracy, overseeing finance, administration, policy formulation, human resource management, electoral logistics, and international election observation in institutions such as the Interim National Electoral Commission, the National Consultative Assembly in 1991, and the National Commission on Civic Education.
He was a Member of the National Commission for Democracy (NCD) and the Interim National Electoral Commission (INEC) between 1988 and 1993. He held this position while serving as Headmaster of Navrongo Secondary School (NAVASCO).
In 1993, he was initially appointed Deputy Chairman (Operations) of the Electoral Commission of Ghana, and in 2004, he became Deputy Chairman (Finance & Administration). He served in this role, overseeing finance, logistics, legal/institutional issues, boundary demarcation, and policy.
On the international front, he also participated in election assistance and observation missions for the United Nations and the Commonwealth in several countries, including Jamaica, Brazil, South Africa, Sudan and South Sudan, New Zealand, and Australia. Also, he served as a trainer, facilitator, and observer of elections and referenda in many countries, including Nigeria, Liberia, Sierra Leone, the DRC, Zimbabwe, the UK, and the USA.
Mr. David Azey Adeenze-Kangah went on compulsory retirement on April 29, 2012, after 19 years of dedicated service in the Electoral Commission. After retirement, he remained active in farming, peacebuilding, and conflict resolution efforts.
In 2012, he was commended by late President John Atta Mills at the then seat of government, Osu Castle, for his outstanding service to the country, and that same year, he was appointed to the Council of State, representing the Upper East Region, by President John Dramani Mahama, President Atta Mills’ successor, serving until 2016.
In a nutshell, he left a strong legacy as a key contributor to science education and school administration in northern Ghana. As a significant figure in national electoral administration during Ghana’s democratic consolidation, he was widely respected for his role in managing Ghana’s electoral system and his active engagement in peace-building efforts locally and internationally.
He was married to Paulina Abayom Kangah and had eight children.