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Kojo Oppong Nkrumah
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 lifeNkrumah 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] EducationNkrumah 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] CareerNkrumah 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] PoliticsIn 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] In January 2024, he was maintained as the parliamentary candidate of the New Patriotic Party for the Ofoase-Ayirebi (Ghana parliament constituency).[31] He subsequently won the parliamentary election during the 2024 Ghanaian general election garnering 18,601 of the total valid votes.[32][33][34] Personal lifeKojo is married to Akua, and they are both devoted Christians. They have four children so far, Kwaku, Afua, Araba and Kofi.[6][35] PhilanthropyIn 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.[36][37][38] 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.[39][40] 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.[41][42] References
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