Elikem Kotoko, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Forestry Commission, has revealed he nearly committed suicide twice after losing $497,000.
According to Elikem Kotoko, he contemplated suicide twice following the loss of about $497,000 worth of his business during the June 3, 2015, floods at Circle in Accra.
Elikem Kotoko recounted that he was about 31 years old at the time and struggled to cope with the devastating financial setback.
He added that the experience, however, taught him the importance of patience, discipline and endurance.
Speaking at a Youth Forum, Elikem Kotoko said, “I nearly committed suicide twice before because, on June 3, 2015, the Circle floods caused me to lose close to $497,000 worth of my business.
I was 31 years old or so. I felt like my world had shattered. There was nothing more to do, but here I am today. Imagine I had killed myself. If you are not disciplined, if you cannot endure, and you are not patient enough, you may even outstep your own opportunities,” he said.
He further urged young people going through difficult circumstances to remain resilient, encouraging members of the NDC youth wing not to allow political pressure or attacks from their opponents to negatively affect them.
“You didn’t even die when we were in opposition. So is it in power that you will die? Don’t let the NPP make you feel that they are laughing at you and therefore, you fall victim to that.
They are frustrated, and in a way to make them feel okay, they have to transfer some of that energy to you so that you also begin to feel negative,” he added.
Some Ghanaians reacting to Elikem Kotoko’s claims stated, “What work does he do again?”
A netizen quizzed, “497k dollars or cedis, bro, how this people dey get all this money, and this is 2015 oooo where price of things were down a little so how do they get this kind of money”.
“He had all these funds? What is his job again???”, an X user added.
One X user added, “What business was he doing that he lost that amount?”
In other news, some months ago a 17-year-old final-year student of Mfantsipim Senior High School in Cape Coast has committed suicide.
The deceased has been identified as Emmanuel Arthur and was found in an unfinished building at Ola North, a suburb of Cape Coast.
Reports suggest he was found following a report made by a carpenter working at the site.
According to the Central Regional Police Command, officers responded to the report on June 11, 2026, and discovered the student’s remains.
The police disclosed that a search conducted at the scene led to the retrieval of a black backpack containing examination materials for a Geography Paper 1 mock examination paper bearing the name Emmanuel Arthur.
Police Investigators also recovered two mobile phones (an Android and a small ‘yam’ phone) and other personal belongings.
The Mfantsipim Senior High School subsequently confirmed the identity of the deceased, with his body released to the family after an autopsy by a pathologist at the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital.
Watch the video below:
“I nearly committed suicide twice after losing $497,000 in the June 3, 2015 flood disaster.” – NDC National Deputy Organizer, Elikem Kotoko pic.twitter.com/En7aZG329P
— EDHUB🌍ℹ (@eddie_wrt) August 23, 2026
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