Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo
Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo | |
---|---|
Minister for Local Government and Rural Development | |
In office 2011–2013 | |
President | John Atta Mills |
Preceded by | Joseph Yieleh Chireh |
Eastern Regional Minister | |
In office 2009–2011 | |
President | John Atta Mills |
Preceded by | Kwadwo Afram Asiedu |
Succeeded by | Dr Kwasi Appiah-Kubi |
Member of Parliament for Fanteakwa North | |
In office 1996–2004 | |
Succeeded by | Kwadjo Agyei Addo |
Personal details | |
Born | 10 March 1962 |
Nationality | Ghanaian |
Political party | National Democratic Congress |
Spouse | Joyce Ofosu-Ampofo |
Children | Obed Ofosu-Ampofo, Steve Ofosu-Ampofo, Aaron Ofosu-Ampofo, Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, Ebenezer Ofosu-Ampofo, Vivian Ofosu-Ampofo |
Alma mater | Ghana Institute of Management & Public Administration (GIMPA) |
Occupation | Mechanical Engineer |
Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo (born March 10, 1962) 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.[1][2] He is also a former Eastern Regional Minister and a former National Organizer of the National Democratic Congress.[3][4][5] Ampofo is also a former Minister for Local Government and Rural Development.[6][7] He is the former national Chairman for the National Democratic Congress(NDC).[8][9][10][11]
Early life and education
[edit]Ofosu-Ampofo was born in Kyebi in the Eastern Region of Ghana.[12] He attained his basic school education at the Asamankese, Anum L/A Middle School (1976 – 1979). He proceeded to the Akwatia Technical Institute for secondary education from 1979 to 1982. He moved on to Kumasi Polytechnic in 1987 and went further to pursue a Post Graduate Certificate in Public Administration at the Ghana Institute of Management & Public Administration (GIMPA) and at Haggai Institute in Hawaii Islands.[citation needed]
He also attended University of Education, Winneba(Kumasi Campus) to pursue a sandwich program from 1991 – 1993. Ampofo also attended University of Mines and Technology(UMAT) in Tarkwa and obtained a degree in mechanical engineering from 1983 -1985. He is also an alumnus of the USA-Specialized Studies in Advanced Leadership (1998).[7]
Politics
[edit]Ampofo is a member of the 2nd and 3rd Parliament of the fourth republic of Ghana and a politician of the National Democratic Congress.[13] His political career started when he was appointed District Chief Executive by His excellency former president Jerry John Rawlings from 1994 to 1996.[14][15]
Member of Parliament
[edit]He then participated in the 1996 Ghanaian general elections as a parliamentary candidate for the Fanteakwa North constituency of the Eastern region of Ghana. He won this seat with a total of 21,284 of the total valid votes cast that year.[16][17] He retained his seat in the 2000 Ghanaian general elections with a total of 15,487 making 49.70% of the total valid votes cast.[18]
He contested again in the 2004 elections and lost to Kwadjo Agyei Addo of the New Patriotic Party.[19] He went ahead to contest again in the 2008 Ghanaian general elections and lost again to Kwabena Amankwa Asiamah of the New Patriotic party.[20]
Minister of State
[edit]He stood for the party National Organizer position,[3] and was appointed Ghana Minister for Local Government and Rural Development by President Mills during a cabinet reshuffle in January 2011.[21] Prior to this appointment he had been the Eastern Regional Minister since the start of the Mills NDC government in 2009 and was succeeded by Kwasi Akyem Apea-Kubi.[22]
He was later appointed board chairman of Ghana ports and Harbour Authority in 2013 under the regime of former president John Dramani Mahama.[23][24] In November 2018, Ampofo was elected the National Chairman of the NDC at 9th delegate congress held at Fantasy Dome at the Trade Fair Centre in Accra. His contenders were Dan Abodakpi, Betty Mould Iddrisu, Alhaji Huudu Yahaya and Danny Annang.[25]
Legal issues & controversies
[edit]Kidnapping Allegations
[edit]On June 11, 2019, Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo was arrested by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of Ghana. Ofosu-Ampofo was arrested in connection to a series of kidnappings that had occurred throughout the nation; consisting of a foreign diplomat, a foreign national, and volunteers from Canada.[26]
Criminal Conspiracy Allegations
[edit]November 2020, the High Court of Ghana admitted into evidence alleged recordings of Ofosu-Ampofo committing criminal conspiracy. The origin of the recording was February 2019. An alleged audio recording of the voice of NDC National Chairman Samuel Ofosu Ampofo and another individual planning a road-map of criminal activities targeted at some individuals has been admitted as evidence. The targeted individuals include the Electoral Commission (EC) chair and the Chairman of the National Peace Council among others
This was after the court had rejected claims by lawyers for the politician that the audio breached constitutionally guaranteed right to privacy. The two have pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit assault against a public officer, while Mr Ofosu-Ampofo has separately pleaded not guilty to two counts of assault against a public officer.[27]
References
[edit]- ^ "Ofosu-Ampofo says NPP neglected Fanteakwa". BusinessGhana. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
- ^ "Fanteakwa NDC expresses confidence in Ofosu-Ampofo". News Ghana. 2 March 2012. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
- ^ a b "Samuel Ofosu Ampofo is E/R Minister". MyJoyOnline. 23 January 2009. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
- ^ "Ofosu Ampofo promises Fanteakwa effective leadership". MyJoyOnline. 11 November 2008. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
- ^ "Ofosu-Ampofo to contest Fanteakwa Parliamentary seat on ticket of NDC". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
- ^ Online, Peace FM. "Ofosu Ampofo Is Afraid Of NPP In Fanteakwa - Akufo Addo". Peacefmonline - Ghana news. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
- ^ a b by (7 August 2016). "Complete Biography & Profile of Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo , Minister for Local Government and Rural Development". GhanaStar. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
- ^ AFP. "Ghana opposition leader arrested as kidnap suspect - police". ewn.co.za. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
- ^ "I will continue Mills' Peace Fight -Mahama". The Chronicle Online. 28 July 2020. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
- ^ Sullemana, Malik (20 February 2020). "Ghana: Ofosu Ampofo, Kweku Boahen Case - Court Dismisses Stay of Proceedings Motion". allAfrica.com. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
- ^ "Name all Gov't Officials Tested Positive for Covid-19 to Build Public Confidence – Ofosu Ampofo". Bryt FM. 17 June 2020. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
- ^ "Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo , Minister for Local Government and Rural Development". ghanaweb. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
- ^ Ghana Land Ownership and Agricultural Laws Handbook Volume 1 Strategic Information, Policies, Regulations. Lulu. 3 September 2018. ISBN 978-1-4387-5907-4.
- ^ "Meet Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo; the newly elected NDC National Chairman » Awake News". Awake News. 19 November 2018. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
- ^ "Report on National Sensitization workshop for the northern sector kumasi" (PDF).
- ^ FM, Peace. "Ghana Election 1996 Results - Fanteakwa North Constituency". Ghana Elections - Peace FM. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
- ^ FM, Peace. "Parliament - Fanteakwa North Constituency Election 1996 Results". Ghana Elections - Peace FM. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
- ^ FM, Peace. "Ghana Election 2000 Results - Fanteakwa North Constituency". Ghana Elections - Peace FM. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
- ^ FM, Peace. "Ghana Election 2004 Results - Fanteakwa North Constituency". Ghana Elections - Peace FM. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
- ^ FM, Peace. "Ghana Election 2008 Results - Fanteakwa North Constituency". Ghana Elections - Peace FM. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
- ^ "Cabinet reshuffle: Zita dropped, Betty for education". Ghana Home Page. 4 January 2011. Retrieved 23 February 2011.
- ^ "(KOFORIDUA) NEW JUABEN : Ofosu-Ampofo hands-over to incoming Minister". GhanaDistricts.com. Archived from the original on 11 July 2011. Retrieved 23 February 2011.
- ^ "NDC Race: Communication director endorses Ofosu-Ampofo". Ghanaweb. 25 September 2018. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
- ^ "NDC Race: Communication Director Endorses Ofosu Ampofo". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
- ^ "Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo Elected As NDC Chairman".
- ^ "Ofosu-Ampofo is being investigated for kidnapping of Indian - NDC - MyJoyOnline.com". myjoyonline. 20 June 2019. Retrieved 17 December 2022.
- ^ "High Court admits alleged Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo leaked tape as evidence".