The Krobo Old Girls’ Association (KOGA) has paid a heartfelt tribute to renowned Ghanaian artist and architect Lady Irene Sharon Yaa Dede Padiki Padi, describing her passing as a great loss to the association, Ghana and the global art community.
In a statement, KOGA said it received news of her sudden death with “deep sorrow and heavy hearts,” remembering her as a woman whose creativity and passion left an enduring mark on the nation.
Lady Yaa Padiki, an architect by profession, gained international recognition after setting the Guinness World Record for the largest leaf-screen painting, a feat that showcased Ghanaian art and culture on the global stage.
According to the association, she used her artistic talent to tell Ghanaian stories, celebrate the country’s rich cultural heritage and inspire many through her work.
KOGA also noted that just days before her passing, the Okuapehene and his elders appointed her ambassador for the upcoming 200th anniversary of the Akuapem Odwira Festival, a role through which she had planned to use art and culture to engage and inspire young people.
The association described the timing of her death as particularly heartbreaking, noting that she had celebrated her 50th birthday on June 24, 2026, before reportedly dying from an asthma attack.
“Yaa Padiki used her talent to lift others. She used her platform to preserve culture. She used her hands to create beauty that will outlive us all,” portions of the statement read.
Extending condolences to her family, friends, classmates and loved ones, KOGA said her legacy would continue through her art, service and the many young people she hoped to inspire.
“KOGA has lost a star. Ghana has lost a cultural icon. The world has lost a creator. But her legacy—in art, in service, and in the young people she hoped to inspire—will continue,” the association added.
