Ghanaian entrepreneur Stephen Kwabena Boateng, popularly known as Kwabena Kesse or Kessben, has died at the age of 68.
News of his death was reported on Thursday, August 20, 2026, with multiple Ghanaian media outlets reporting that the founder of the Kessben Group had passed away after a period of illness.
Kessben was one of the prominent businessmen associated with Kumasi and built a business group with interests spanning several sectors, including media, education, hospitality, transport and financial services.
Born Stephen Kwabena Boateng, Kessben developed his business career in Kumasi before building what became the Kessben Group of Companies.
His business interests subsequently expanded into areas including travel and tours, foreign exchange, media and education.
The group also became associated with Kessben FM and Kessben TV, giving the businessman a significant presence in Ghana’s media landscape.
The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST)recorded his contribution to the university in 2022, when he supported the furnishing of the Faculty of Social Sciences’ boardroom and the office of the Faculty Registrar.
He was also the founder and president of Kessben University College, according to the institution’s governing council information.
These activities formed part of a broader public profile that combined entrepreneurship with investments in education and other community-oriented initiatives.
He became a lawyer at 64. Kessben’s career later took an unusual turn when he entered the legal profession.
In June 2022, at the age of 64, Stephen Boateng was called to the Ghana Bar after completing his professional legal training.
His academic background included degrees in Economics and Law and an MBA in Finance from KNUST.
His admission to the Bar added another dimension to a career that had already spanned business, broadcasting and education.
Reports from Citi Newsroom, MyJoyOnline and other Ghanaian media outlets say Kessben died after a period of illness. He was 68.
However, no specific cause of death has been established in the sources reviewed for this report.
Details regarding funeral arrangements and other official announcements were also not established from the sources reviewed at the time of publication.
As news of his death emerges, further official information from his family or the Kessben Group will be important in clarifying funeral arrangements and other details.
Stephen Kwabena Boateng, known to generations of Ghanaians as Kessben, leaves behind a business and institutional footprint built over several decades.
