Death has struck the Inquirer Newspaper family leaving one of its senior editors, Patrick Karmle Wrokpoh, dead. Patrick died Friday night, June 24, 2011, upon arrival at the Catholic Hospital following a brief illness. Journalist Wrokpoh was born on June 1, 1973 and graduated from the D. Twe High School in New Kru Town. He was a graduating senior student at the African Methodist Episcopal University reading Mass Communication. He was also a full member of the Press Union of Liberia and the Sport Writers Association of Liberia. The late Patrick attended many fellowships and international functions including the Olympic held in China.

The late Patrick who has worked as a practicing journalist for the past 13 years was also the chief reporter at the New National Newspaper owned and operated by Sando Moore and he also provided media consultation for the New Republic Newspaper. The late Journalist Wrokpoh was the current Liberian Correspondent of the Chinese News Agency (XINHUA) and China Africa Magazine all based in Beijing, China.

He was also a contributor to Pambazuka News of South Africa having completed and participated in the 2010 African Journalists Study Tour in Beijing, China organized by Fahamu based in South Africa. Mr. Wrokpoh was a 2008 Climate Change Media Fellow becoming the first Liberian journalist on record to be accredited to attend and report on the United Nations Climate Change Summit after 13 years. It was the 14th edition held in Poznan, Poland and he participated after he was selected for a fellowship program organized by Panos London, Interviews and the International Institute of Environmental Development (IIED) on climate change reporting.

He also served as the Liberian Correspondent of the United Nations Integrated Regional Information News Network (IRIN), African News Dimension (AND) and Agency France Press (AFP). He also worked as a contractor for three months with the European Union in Liberia.

Patrick joined the Inquirer as a sports reporter and later rose to the position of a sports editor. He advanced in his reportorial duties not only reporting on sports but he reported on politics as well as other issues with passion for the profession. Due to this dedication and commitment to duty at the institution, he had the confidence of many and travelled extensively out of the country. The late Patrick went to Tokyo, Japan as guest of the Japanese Atomic Agency and the Foreign Ministry of that country.

The late Journalist was selected through a competitive application process by the agency in collaboration with the Foreign Ministry to attend a special forum on disarmament and non-proliferation of nuclear weapon. He was the only Liberian journalist selected for the forum.

He visited several Japanese cities that were hit by US atomic bombs during World War II, including the Hiroshima Memorial Park, Nagasaki and the site of the Nuclear Power Plant in that country and participated in the Global forum on Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Education.

Early this month, the late Patrick travelled to Accra, Ghana where he participated in an international journalism conference held under the theme Journalism, “Ethics And Religion” along with three other Liberian journalists. He was privileged to present a paper on behalf of Liberia.

The Inquirer boss, Philip N. Wesseh has described the death of Mr. Wrokpoh as a loss and blow to the institution. He said Patrick was a valuable asset to the institution with an unmeasured dedication, commitment and humbled lifestyle.

“Patrick was someone who had sufficient patience to lead and teach others. He was approachable and very respectful. He was a heavy weight in the Inquirer. He worked under tension at all times. We will miss him,” Mr. Wesseh lamented.

Mr. Wesseh said although many persons he knew have died but, the death of Patrick was something he is yet to understand, adding, “I still cannot believe that death has taken the person I considered the heavyweight in the newsroom.”

The late Patrick helped to coordinate the affairs of the Inquirer's county correspondents and he was the institution's representative on media related projects including the International Research and Exchanges Board (IREX) project.

The late Patrick was a family oriented person with several children including Alice, Anita, Patricia and Eznma. He leaves to mourn several brothers, sisters, relatives and his youthful wife, Juliet B. Datty-Wrokpoh.

Meanwhile, several persons have consoled the institution for the homecoming of the journalist. They include, Mr. Gabriel Williams, former Managing Editor of the newspaper; Mr. Peter Quaqua, president of the Press Union of Liberia;;,Mr. George Barpeen, former president of the union, Mr. Cyrus Badio, Press Secretary to the President, Mr. Terence Sessay, Press Secretary to the Vice President and Mr. Sando Moore, his former boss. Others are Sam Dean, Alphanso Toweh, Ansu Konneh, Throuble Suah, David Targbe, Sonnie K. Morris, Henry Bestman, Othello Yarsiah, Charles Crawford, Solo Keigbeh, Herbert Johnson, Truth FM, LBS, Jallah Grayfield, Horatio Willie, S.K Davies, Jonathan Savage, Aloysius David, C. Y. Kwanue, George Bardue, George Kennedy, S. K. Duworko, Frank Sainworla, Boima J.V. Boima, Frederick Dainse, Precious Seboe-Bonte, Clara Mallah, Jimmy Fahngon and Lewis Togba.

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* This article first appeared in The Inquirer.
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