Kojo Oppong Nkrumah

Hon.
Kojo Oppong Nkrumah
Member of Parliament
for Ofoase-Ayirebi
Assumed office
19 February 2024
Minister of Works and Housing
Assumed office
19 February 2024
PresidentNana Akufo-Addo
Preceded byFrancis Asenso-Boakye
Personal details
Born
Kojo Oppong Nkrumah

(1982-04-05) 5 April 1982 (age 42)[1][2]
Koforidua, Ghana
NationalityGhana Ghanaian
Political partyNew Patriotic Party
SpouseAkua Oppong Nkrumah
Children4
ResidenceGhana
Alma materPope John Senior High School and Minor Seminary
University of Cape Coast
University of Ghana
GIMPA
OccupationPolitician, Lawyer, Farmer
Websitehttp://www.konkrumah.com/
NicknameKON

Kojo Vincent Oppong Nkrumah (born 5 April 1982) is a Ghanaian politician and lawyer.[3][4][5] He is the member of parliament for the Ofoase-Ayirebi constituency.[6][7][8] Having served as the Minister of Information since November 2018, he was appointed the Minister for Works and Housing during a Ministerial reshuffle on Wednesday, February 14, 2024.[9][10]

Early life

[edit]

Nkrumah was born in Koforidua, in the Eastern Region of Ghana. His parents are Kwame Oppong Nkrumah and Felicia Oppong Nkrumah. His mother was a teacher and his father was initially a teacher before becoming a banker. He hails from Akim Anyinase.[6]

Education

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Nkrumah had his basic school education at St. Bernadette Soubirous School in Dansoman, continued to Pope John Senior High School and Minor Seminary in Koforidua for his senior high education and later studied at the University of Cape Coast, where he received a bachelor's degree in Commerce. In 2012, he graduated with an MBA in Marketing from the University of Ghana, Legon. In 2014, he was awarded a bachelor's degree in law (LLB) at the GIMPA Faculty of Law after two years of studies. In 2016, he was called to the Bar as a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Ghana.[6]

Before embarking on his legal career, he had undertaken and successfully completed a Fellowship with the African Leadership Initiative. This experience not only enriched his knowledge and perspective but also contributed significantly to his personal and professional growth.[11][12]

To give back to society, Nkrumah founded the Oppong Nkrumah Education and Skills Development Fund in 2017 to provide education and skills development support for the youth of his constituency. As at 2022, the fund provided scholarships to more than 300 constituents across different tertiary institutions in the country.[13]

Career

[edit]

Nkrumah started his career as a Treasury Analyst at British American Tobacco in 2006. He moved on to Joy FM as a broadcast journalist, hosting the Super Morning Show after the departure of host Komla Dumor. In 2014, Nkrumah bowed out of broadcasting to establish an investment firm, West Brownstone Capital.[14] By 2016, he had become a lawyer, practising at Kulendi, Attafuah and Amponsah at law.[6]

He was selected as one of the world's 115 Young Global Leaders for 2020 by the World Economic Forum.[15][16]

Politics

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In 2015, he contested and won the NPP parliamentary primaries for Ofoase-Ayirebi constituency in the Eastern Region of Ghana.[17][18]

He won this parliamentary seat during the 2016 Ghanaian general elections.[19] He was also the longest serving Minister for Information serving in this portfolio from 2018 to February 2024.[20][21][22][23][24][25]

He additionally served as a member of the Finance and Constitutional committees of the 7th and 8th Parliament of Ghana. He is currently the Minister of Works and Housing.[26]

Kojo Nkrumah was announced as Minister-designate for information by President Nana Akufo-Addo along with Mavis Hawa Koomson as a Minister-designate for Fisheries and Minister designate for Food Agriculture, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto.[27] They were subsequently rejected by the minority side at the Appointments Committee for various reasons.[28] He was however approved by a majority consensus on the floor of the House after extensive debate on recommendations made by the Appointments Committee.[29]

In August 2023, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, as the Minister of Information, urged CSOs and media to back efforts for diplomatic resolution to the crisis in Niger.[30]

Personal life

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Kojo is married to Akua, and they are both devoted Christians. They have four children so far, Kwaku, Afua, Araba and Kofi.[6][31]

Philanthropy

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On March, 2020, Kojo Nkrumah donated various personal protective and sanitary supplies to two health facilities in Akyem Oda and Akyem Ofoase in the Eastern Region to fight against COVID 19. The donated items, which included alcohol-based hand sanitizers, gun thermometers, Veronica buckets, examination gloves, face masks, washing bowls, liquid soap, and tissue paper, were given to the Oda Government Hospital and the Akyemansa District Health Directorate.[32][33][34]

Minister of Information Kojo Oppong Nkrumah gifted a Public Address (PA) system to the Gbewaa Palace in Yendi, located in the Northern Region on August 5, 2021. This donation was made to fulfill a promise the minister had made to Ya Na Abukari Mahama II, the Overlord of the Dagbon Traditional Area, during a working tour of Northern Ghana earlier that year.[35][36]

Kojo Nkrumah together with his family donated to the Nsawam Prisons during his 42nd birthday celebration with important items such as rice, beans, gari, sachets of water, t-rolls, washing powder, oil and medical supplies on Friday, April 5, 2024.[37][38]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Kojo Oppong Nkrumah : A Young Achiever". ModernGhana. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  2. ^ "Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah". Aspen Institute. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  3. ^ "Kojo Oppong Nkrumah". moi government of ghana. Retrieved 2018-11-01.
  4. ^ "Kojo Oppong Nkrumah Archives". Citi Newsroom. Retrieved 2018-11-01.
  5. ^ Ghana, ICT Dept. Office of Parliament. "Parliament of Ghana". parliament of ghana. Retrieved 2018-11-01.
  6. ^ a b c d e UKGCC (2018-07-09). "HON. KOJO VINCENT OPPONG NKRUMAH". UK-Ghana Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved 2020-07-26.
  7. ^ "Ghana MPs – MP Details – Oppong-Nkrumah, Kojo". Ghana MPs. Retrieved 2018-11-01.
  8. ^ Annang, Evans. "Meet Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Ghana's affable Information Minister". Retrieved 2018-11-01.
  9. ^ "I'll focus on rural housing, Saglemi project – Oppong Nkrumah". Citinewsroom - Comprehensive News in Ghana. 2024-02-15. Retrieved 2024-02-16.
  10. ^ Abedu-Kennedy, Dorcas (2024-02-15). "Oppong Nkrumah outlines priorities as Minister of Works and Housing". Adomonline.com. Retrieved 2024-02-16.
  11. ^ https://www.ghlinks.com.gh/kojo-oppong-nkrumah-biography-age-education/ [bare URL]
  12. ^ "Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah - User Profile". AGLN - Aspen Global Leadership Network. Retrieved 2023-08-23.
  13. ^ "Home | Kojo Oppong Nkrumah". www.konkrumah.com. Retrieved 2024-02-16.
  14. ^ "Once I was a stammerer... - Joy FM's Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  15. ^ "Ghana: GJA Congratulates Kojo Oppong Nkrumah On Selection As Young Global Leader 2020". allAfrica. 2020-03-19. Retrieved 2020-12-08.
  16. ^ "About me | Kojo Oppong Nkrumah". konkrumah. Retrieved 2023-06-19.
  17. ^ "Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah wins NPP Primary at Ofoase Ayirebi". graphic ghana. 13 June 2015. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
  18. ^ "Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah, Biography". GhanaWeb. Retrieved 2023-08-23.
  19. ^ "Zanetor, Oppong Nkrumah win". 8 December 2016.
  20. ^ "New Ministers Vetting October 26 – Daily Guide Africa". dailyguideafrica. Archived from the original on October 12, 2018. Retrieved 2018-10-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  21. ^ Frimpong, Enoch Darfah. "Reshuffle: Otiko Afisa Djaba now Ambassador to Italy". Graphic Online. Retrieved 2018-10-11.
  22. ^ "Let's discuss the 'New normal' – Oppong Nkrumah". Graphic Online. Retrieved 2020-05-23.
  23. ^ "245 Ghanaians in Kuwait to be deported on May 23". MyJoyOnline. 2020-05-22. Retrieved 2020-05-23.
  24. ^ "Parliament approves Oppong Nkrumah, Morrison as ministers | General News 2018-11-01". mobile ghanaweb. Retrieved 2018-11-01.
  25. ^ "Statistics show successes chalked in Ghana's COVID-19 fight – Oppong Nkrumah". Citinewsroom – Comprehensive News in Ghana. 2020-07-19. Retrieved 2020-07-19.
  26. ^ "COVID-19 vaccine roll-out plan to be ready in a week's time – Oppong Nkrumah". Citinewsroom – Comprehensive News in Ghana. 2021-01-19. Retrieved 2021-01-19.
  27. ^ "Akufo-Addo presents first list of ministers for his second term to parliament – MyJoyOnline.com". Myjoyonline. 21 January 2021. Retrieved 2021-03-16.
  28. ^ "Minority MPs on Appointments Committee outrightly reject 3 nominees including Afriyie Akoto and Hawa Koomson – MyJoyOnline.com". Myjoyonline. March 2021. Retrieved 2021-03-16.
  29. ^ "Parliament approves Hawa Koomson, Oppong Nkrumah, 11 other ministerial nominees". Citinewsroom – Comprehensive News in Ghana. 2021-03-04. Retrieved 2021-03-16.
  30. ^ "MSN". Msn. Retrieved 2023-08-23.
  31. ^ Mensah, Jeffrey. "Beautiful photos of Kojo Oppong Nkrumah's wife pop up". Yen – Ghana news. Retrieved 2018-11-01.
  32. ^ "COVID-19 fight: Oppong Nkrumah donates to two health facilities". www.konkrumah.com. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
  33. ^ Online, Peace FM. "Oppong Nkrumah Supports Fight Against COVID 19 In Ofoase /Ayirebi". Peacefmonline.com - Ghana news. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
  34. ^ "Oppong Nkrumah supports coronavirus fight in Ofoase-Ayirebi - MyJoyOnline". www.myjoyonline.com. 2020-03-30. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
  35. ^ "Oppong Nkrumah donates PA system to Gbewaa Palace". www.konkrumah.com. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
  36. ^ "Oppong Nkrumah Donates PA System To Gbewaa Palace". DailyGuide Network. 2021-08-05. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
  37. ^ "Oppong Nkrumah family donates to Nsawam Prison on MPs 42nd Bday". www.konkrumah.com. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
  38. ^ "Oppong Nkrumah celebrates birthday with donation to Nsawam Prison - MyJoyOnline". www.myjoyonline.com. 2023-04-05. Retrieved 2024-08-29.