Kwame Dzokoto, Santo, Katawere and Five Other ‘Efiewura’ Stars Who Have Passed Away
The death of Kwame Dzokoto, popularly known as Judge Koboo, has renewed memories of the actors whose humour and performances helped make the long-running television sitcom a household favourite in Ghana.
By: Ebenezer Adugyamfi & Emmanuel Ayiku for GhanaianNewsCanada
23 OCTOBER 2026
The death of veteran Ghanaian actor, comedian and broadcaster Seth Kwame Dzokoto has brought renewed attention to the legacy of Efiewura, one of Ghana’s best-known television sitcoms, and the actors who helped shape its enduring popularity.
Dzokoto, popularly known for playing Judge Koboo in the series, reportedly died on Thursday, October 22, 2026, at the age of 51 after collapsing during a radio discussion on Owass FM in Tarkwa in the Western Region. He was subsequently taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival, according to reports by MyJoyOnline and GBC.
His death has saddened viewers who grew up watching the programme, which began in 2001 and became a familiar feature of Ghanaian television through its humour, memorable characters and portrayal of everyday neighbourhood life.
Dzokoto’s passing also adds to the list of Efiewura performers who have died over the years, including Bob Santo, Araba Stamp, Akoto, MC Flava Pounds, Katawere, Bra Kofi and Mercy Little Smith.
Here are eight notable actors associated with the sitcom who are no longer alive.
1. Kwame Dzokoto — Judge Koboo
Seth Kwame Dzokoto became widely recognised for his portrayal of Judge Koboo, one of the memorable characters in Efiewura. His comic timing and interactions with other cast members helped establish the character as a familiar presence in Ghanaian homes.
Beyond acting, Dzokoto worked as a broadcaster, comedian and television presenter. He hosted TV3’s food and tourism programme Edziban, which explored Ghanaian cuisine and local food culture, and also worked with radio stations including Skyy Power FM in Takoradi and Hello FM in Kumasi.
He also entered politics, contesting the Tarkwa-Nsuaem parliamentary seat on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress in the 2016 general elections.
His sudden death has prompted tributes from colleagues and fans, many of whom remember him for his contribution to Ghanaian television entertainment.
2. Bob Santo — The Landlord
John Evans Bosompem, popularly known as Bob Santo, was among the early performers associated with Efiewura. He played the landlord at the centre of the sitcom’s premise, a character that helped establish the neighbourhood setting around which much of the comedy unfolded.
Santo was already a recognised figure in Ghanaian entertainment before his death. His distinctive comic style made him one of the performers associated with the development of television comedy in the country.
His death in May 2002 was an early loss for the cast and came during the programme’s formative years. His legacy remains tied to the character and the humour that helped introduce audiences to the world of Efiewura.
3. Araba Stamp — Margaret Quainoo
Margaret Quainoo, known to viewers as Araba Stamp, was another veteran performer associated with the sitcom.
Her character was recognised for neighbourhood gossip and the everyday social interactions that provided much of the programme’s humour. Through such roles, the show reflected familiar aspects of community life while entertaining audiences.
Quainoo’s acting career extended beyond Efiewura. She was also associated with earlier Ghanaian film productions, including I Told You So, released in the 1960s.
Her death in July 2006 marked another loss among the performers who contributed to the sitcom’s early identity.
4. Akoto — Michael Moncar
Michael Moncar, who played Akoto in Efiewura, died on March 8, 2013, at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra following a brief illness, according to published accounts.
Moncar worked across Ghanaian film and television, appearing in productions that reached audiences beyond the sitcom. His contribution to Efiewura made him familiar to viewers who followed the show over the years.
His death represented another departure from a cast whose members had become recognizable through their recurring roles and relationships on screen.
5. MC Flava Pounds — Lucky Azasoo-Nkornoo
Lucky Azasoo-Nkornoo, known as MC Flava Pounds, was among the younger performers associated with the sitcom.
He played the husband of Adwoa Smart’s character and brought a different energy to the programme’s mix of neighbourhood relationships and comedy.
His reported death in May 2016, at the age of 27, was particularly tragic because of his youth. His passing added to the losses experienced by the cast during a period when the programme had already become familiar to generations of viewers.
6. Katawere — Ebenezer Donkor
Ebenezer Donkor, popularly known as Katawere, was a veteran actor whose career spanned more than three decades.
His distinctive voice, delivery and comedic exchanges made him a recognisable figure in Efiewura. He also appeared in Ghanaian films and other television productions, building a career that extended beyond a single character.
Donkor died in November 2016 after reportedly battling an undisclosed illness. His passing was mourned by audiences familiar with his contribution to Ghana’s entertainment industry.
Katawere remains remembered as one of the experienced performers who helped sustain the sitcom’s humour and appeal.
7. Bra Kofi — Kofi Agyiri
Kofi Agyiri, known to Efiewura audiences as Bra Kofi, was another cast member whose character became part of the sitcom’s wider neighbourhood story.
His role included romantic and interpersonal storylines involving Boatemaa and Yaa Baby, adding to the relationships that drove the programme’s comedy.
Agyiri reportedly died on June 29, 2017, while receiving treatment for a kidney condition.
His death further reduced the number of familiar performers from the sitcom’s earlier cast, leaving audiences to remember his contribution through the character he portrayed.
8. Mercy Little Smith — Benyiwaa
Mercy Little Smith was widely recognised for playing Benyiwaa, the on-screen wife of Judge Koboo.
Her character’s interactions with Dzokoto’s Judge Koboo became one of the familiar relationships within Efiewura, with their exchanges contributing to the show’s domestic and neighbourhood comedy.
Smith reportedly died in December 2024. Her death was a major loss for fans of the series, particularly those who had followed the characters’ relationship over many years.
With Dzokoto’s death in October 2026, viewers are now mourning both performers who brought the on-screen couple to life. Their work remains part of the sitcom’s legacy and the memories of audiences who watched them together.
A Legacy That Lives Beyond the Screen
The actors associated with Efiewura helped build a distinctive place for Ghanaian television comedy. Through recognisable characters, neighbourhood disputes, family relationships and everyday social situations, the sitcom entertained audiences while reflecting aspects of community life.
Their performances also helped make local-language and locally produced television a familiar part of home entertainment for many Ghanaian families.
The deaths of these performers serve as a reminder of the people behind the characters that audiences came to love. Although the cast has changed over the years, their work continues to live on through recorded episodes, memories and tributes from viewers.
Kwame Dzokoto’s passing has reopened those memories and renewed appreciation for the actors who helped make Efiewura a lasting part of Ghana’s entertainment history.
