Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa MP | |
---|---|
Member of the Ghana Parliament for North Tongu | |
Assumed office 2009 | |
Deputy Minister for Education | |
In office 2013–2017 | |
President | John Dramani Mahama |
Succeeded by | Yaw Osei Adutwum |
Deputy Minister for Information | |
In office 2009–2013 | |
President | John Evans Atta Mills |
Succeeded by | Felix Kwakye Ofosu |
Personal details | |
Born | Aveyime-Battor,Ghana | 11 August 1980
Political party | National Democratic Congress |
Spouse | Nuhela Seidu |
Alma mater | University of Ghana |
Committees | Foreign Affairs Committee Appointments Committee |
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa (born 11 August 1980) is a Ghanaian politician and a Member of Ninth Parliament of the Fourth Republic of Ghana for North Tongu Constituency in the Volta Region on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress. He was a deputy minister of state under both John Atta Mills and John Mahama. [1] [2]
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa was born on 11 August 1980 and hails from Aveyime-Battor in the Volta Region of Ghana. [3] He is an old student of the Presbyterian Boys' Senior Secondary School - Legon (Presec-Legon) [4] and also served as Vice President of the scripture union.
He attended the University of Ghana,and had a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Philosophy between 2002 and 2006. At the University of Leicester,he had his Master of Arts in Communication Media,and Public Relations. [3] [5]
Ablakwa also holds a certificate in Leadership from the Harvard Kennedy School of Governance,USA and a Master of Science in Defense and International Politics from the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College. [6]
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa is a Member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC). [7] He served as President of the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) from 2005 to 2006,whilst he was a student in the University of Ghana. He was also a member of the team that drafted his party's youth policies in the NDC's manifesto for the 2008 campaign. He was a member of the Committee for Joint Action (CJA) a pro-masses pressure group. He is an Accredited Member (APR)of the Institute of Public Relations (IPR),Ghana. [8]
Ablakwa entered politics at an early age of 28. He won the North Tongu seat in the 2012 elections by a larger number,representing 90.5% of the votes. [9]
He retained his seat once again in the 2016 elections even though his party lost the Presidential Elections [10] Since 2017,he has been a member of the appointments committee. He is also the Ranking Member on Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee. [11]
Ablakwa contested and won the NDC 2020 parliamentary primaries for North Tongu Constituency in the Volta Region of Ghana. Ablakwa won in the 2020 Ghanaian general elections on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress with 42,011 votes (89.71%) against Arku Richard Collins of the New Patriotic Party who had 4,312 votes (9.21%) and Akaho Raymond of the Ghana Union Movement who also had 505 to join the 8th Parliament of the Fourth Republic of Ghana. [12]
Ablakwa contested and won the NDC 2024 parliamentary primaries for North Tongu Constituency in the Volta Region of Ghana. Ablakwa won in the 2024 Ghanaian general elections on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress with 41,033 votes (93.11%) against Dr John Saviour Yaw Eleblu of the New Patriotic Party who had 3,036 votes (6.89%) to join the 9th Parliament of the Fourth Republic of Ghana. [13]
In his foray in national politics,he was a member of the then - candidate John Evans Atta Mills Campaign Communication Team until his appointment as Deputy Minister for Information at the age of 28,under the presidency of the late John Atta Mills. [14] He served on Government's Transition Team as Acting Secretary. Ablakwa served as Deputy Minister for Education in charge of Tertiary Education under then Minister of Education Prof. Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang under the John Dramani Mahama Government. [15] [16] [17] [1] [18]
In August 2023,Ablakwa claimed he is planning a massive demonstration in Ghana dubbed 'Enough of the Looting Demo'. [19]
On 10 February 2024,Mr. Ablakwa inaugurated a safe housing project for flood victims who had been displaced off. [20] He stated that the project,which was launched by former President John Dramani Mahama,will assist those affected by the Akosombo Dam disaster in obtaining a roof over their heads.
On 15 September 2023,the Volta River Authority (VRA) began releasing water from the Akosombo and Kpong dams as a result of a steady increase in the Akosombo reservoir's water level and inflow pattern. [21]
Mr. Okudzeto Ablakwa has received numerous awards including the TNG Corporate Excellence Awards - Accra,2010,Outstanding Youth Leader in West Africa by the West Africa Students' Union (WASU) - Kaduna,Nigeria 2009,Special Alumnus Award by the National Union of Ghana Students' (NUGS) - 2009,Old Vandal Award - 2008,Award of recognition by the Volta Hall JCR of the University of Ghana –2005 and a special Fellow of the Private University Students Association of Ghana (PUSAG). [22] [23] He has also been honored by the Mepe Traditional Council and the Tepa Traditional Council where he is known as the "Mmrantiehene". [8]
Deputy Minister of Information,2009-2013 (Government of Ghana).
Deputy Minister of Education,2013-2016 (Government of Ghana).
Member of Parliament,2012 - till date (Office of Parliament).
Saavi Solutions,managing director (2007-2009). [6]
Chairman of the Board of Trustees - Ghana Christian International High School (2023)
Taught at Kwahuman International
He is married to Nuhela Seidu,daughter of Mumuni Abudu Seidu a legal practitioner and they have a daughter and a son. [24] [25] [26] He is a Christian. [27] He has an uncle Sam Okudzeto,who is the founder of Sena Chartered Secretaries Limited. [28]
In August 2022,he granted a full scholarship to Samelia Mekporsigbe,an 8-year old class 3 pupil of Battor DA Primary School. She won the 2022 Volta Regional Competition organized by USAID Learning Initiative. She emerged as the overall best student at the circuit,district and regional levels. [29] [30]
John Dramani Mahama is a Ghanaian politician who has been the 14th president of Ghana since 7 January 2025. He previously served as the 12th president from 2012 to 2017 and as the fifth vice president from 2009 to 2012. Mahama took office as president for the first time on 24 July 2012,following the death of his predecessor,John Atta Mills.
Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang is a Ghanaian academic and politician who currently serves as the eighth vice president of Ghana under President John Mahama since 7 January 2025. She previously served as Minister for Education from February 2013 to January 2017 under President Mahama's first administration. She is a professor of literature,and served as the first female Vice-Chancellor of a state university in Ghana when she took over as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast. She served as the Chancellor of the Women's University in Africa in Zimbabwe until her resignation in August 2024.
Joe Kwashie Gidisu is a politician and teacher and a former Minister for Roads and Highways of Ghana.
Haruna Iddrisu is a Ghanaian lawyer,politician,football enthusiast and owner of Karela United and Steadfast Football clubs owner who is a member of the eighth Parliament of the Fourth Republic of Ghana representing Tamale South. He served as the Minority Leader for NDC in Ghana's Parliament from January 2017 and was succeeded by Ato Forson.
Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo is a Ghanaian politician and a former Member of Parliament and former District Chief Executive for the Fanteakwa North district of the Eastern Region of Ghana. He is also a former Eastern Regional Minister and a former National Organizer of the National Democratic Congress. Ampofo is also a former Minister for Local Government and Rural Development. He is the former national Chairman for the National Democratic Congress(NDC).
Helen Adjoa Ntoso is a Ghanaian politician and a member of the Parliament of Ghana for the Krachi West constituency in the Volta Region of Ghana. She is a member of the National Democratic Congress. Hon Ntoso is a former Regional Minister for the Volta and Eastern Regions in the NDC government of President Mahama.
John Dumelo is a Ghanaian actor and politician.
Johnson Asiedu Nketiah is a Ghanaian politician and Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC). He is noted to be the longest serving General Secretary of the NDC.
Bernice Adiku Heloo was a Ghanaian politician who served as a Member of Parliament for the Hohoe Constituency.
Gifty Twum-Ampofo is a Ghanaian politician and a Member of Parliament of the New Patriotic Party. She is currently the Member of Parliament for Abuakwa North constituency in the Eastern Region of Ghana. Ampofo is the deputy minister for Gender,Children and Social Protection in Ghana.
Central Tongu District is one of the eighteen districts in Volta Region,Ghana. Originally created as an ordinary district assembly on 10 March 1989 when it was known as the first North Tongu District,with Adidome as its capital town,which was created from the former Tongu District Council,However on 28 June 2012,the western part of the district was split off to create a new North Tongu District,with Battor Dugame as its capital town,which was established by Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 2081;thus the remaining part has been renamed as Central Tongu District,with Adidome as its capital town,which was established by Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 2077. The district assembly is located in the southwest part of Volta Region and has Adidome as its capital town.
Ablah Dzifa Gomashie is a Ghanaian female veteran actress,producer,screen scriptwriter and a politician. She was the Deputy Minister of Tourism in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) during their term in office between 2013 and 2017 when John Dramani Mahama was president. She is currently the parliamentary candidate of the NDC in the Ketu South Constituency and a queen-mother in the Aflao Traditional Area.
Cassiel Ato Baah Forson is a Ghanaian politician and member of parliament from 2009 to date. Dr. Forson first joined the Fifth Parliament of the Fourth Republic of Ghana,before retaining his seat for the Sixth Parliament of the Fourth Republic of Ghana,Seventh Parliament of the Fourth Republic of Ghana and the Eighth Parliament of the Fourth Republic of Ghana representing the Ajumako-Enyan-Esiam Constituency in the Central Region on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC). In 2013 he served as the deputy minister for Finance.
Shaibu Mahama is a Ghanaian politician and member of the Seventh Parliament of the Fourth Republic of Ghana representing the Daboya-Mankarigu Constituency in Ghana's Northern Region on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress.
Alexander Roosevelt. Hottordze is a Ghanaian politician and member of the Seventh Parliament of the Fourth Republic of Ghana representing the Central Tongu Constituency in the Volta Region on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Kenneth Dzirasah is a Ghanaian politician and lawyer. He was first deputy speaker from 1993 to 2001 and second deputy speaker from 2001 to 2005. He also served as a Member of Parliament (MP) for the South Tongu Constituency from 1997 to 2005 and MP for North Tongu from 2005 to 2008.
The Western Togoland Rebellion is an ongoing separatist revolt led by the Ewe nationalist organization Western Togoland Restoration Front (WTRF) against the government of Ghana. The group seeks the independence of former British Togoland.
Austin Akufo Gamey is a Ghanaian politician and labor dispute resolution expert and consultant. He served for two terms as member of parliament for North Tongu constituency in the Volta region of Ghana,from 1992 to 2001. During the Jerry John Rawlings administration he was appointed deputy minister for employment and social welfare now ministry of employment and labor relations. He is a labor expert and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) practitioner in Ghana.
John Mahama's first tenure as President of Ghana began when he succeeded John Atta Mills following the latter's death in office on 24 July 2012. Mahama previously served as Vice-President of Ghana from January 2009 to July 2012,and is the first head of state of Ghana to have been born after the country's independence. He was elected after the December 2012 election for a full term as president.
Samuel Nuamah Donkor was a Ghanaian politician and social worker. He was a Minister for Health,Minister for Ashanti Region and a member of the first parliament of the fourth republic of Ghana representing New Juaben North constituency under the membership of the National Convention Party (NCP).