Kojo Oppong Nkrumah Explained

Honorific-Prefix:Hon.
Nationality: Ghanaian
Birth Date:1982 4, df=yes[1] [2]
Birth Place:Koforidua, Ghana
Spouse:Akua Oppong Nkrumah
Party:New Patriotic Party
Children:4
Residence:Ghana
Alma Mater:Pope John Senior High School and Minor Seminary
University of Cape Coast
University of Ghana
GIMPA
Occupation:Politician, Lawyer, Farmer
Website:http://www.konkrumah.com/
Kojo Oppong Nkrumah
Constituency Mp:Ofoase-Ayirebi
Term Start:19 February 2024
Office2:Minister of Works and Housing
Term Start2:19 February 2024
President2:Nana Akufo-Addo
Predecessor2:Francis Asenso-Boakye
Birth Name:Kojo Oppong Nkrumah
Nickname:KON

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

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.

Education

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.

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

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.

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

Politics

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

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

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Kojo Oppong Nkrumah : A Young Achiever . ModernGhana . 31 March 2015.
  2. Web site: Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah . Aspen Institute . 31 March 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150402180112/http://agln.aspeninstitute.org/fellows/kojo-oppong-nkrumah . 2 April 2015 . dead .
  3. Web site: Kojo Oppong Nkrumah . 2018-11-01 . moi government of ghana.
  4. Web site: Kojo Oppong Nkrumah Archives . Citi Newsroom . 2018-11-01.
  5. Web site: Ghana . ICT Dept. Office of Parliament . Parliament of Ghana . 2018-11-01 . parliament of ghana.
  6. Web site: UKGCC. 2018-07-09. HON. KOJO VINCENT OPPONG NKRUMAH. 2020-07-26. UK-Ghana Chamber of Commerce. en-US.
  7. Web site: Ghana MPs – MP Details – Oppong-Nkrumah, Kojo . 2018-11-01 . Ghana MPs.
  8. News: Meet Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Ghana's affable Information Minister. Annang. Evans. 2018-11-01 .
  9. Web site: 2024-02-15 . I'll focus on rural housing, Saglemi project – Oppong Nkrumah . 2024-02-16 . Citinewsroom - Comprehensive News in Ghana . en-US.
  10. Web site: Abedu-Kennedy . Dorcas . 2024-02-15 . Oppong Nkrumah outlines priorities as Minister of Works and Housing . 2024-02-16 . Adomonline.com . en-US.
  11. https://www.ghlinks.com.gh/kojo-oppong-nkrumah-biography-age-education/
  12. Web site: Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah - User Profile . 2023-08-23 . AGLN - Aspen Global Leadership Network . en.
  13. Web site: Home Kojo Oppong Nkrumah . 2024-02-16 . www.konkrumah.com.
  14. Web site: Once I was a stammerer... - Joy FM's Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah . Modern Ghana . 31 March 2015.
  15. Web site: 2020-03-19 . Ghana: GJA Congratulates Kojo Oppong Nkrumah On Selection As Young Global Leader 2020 . 2020-12-08 . allAfrica . en.
  16. Web site: About me Kojo Oppong Nkrumah . 2023-06-19 . konkrumah..
  17. Web site: 13 June 2015 . Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah wins NPP Primary at Ofoase Ayirebi . 22 June 2015 . graphic ghana.
  18. Web site: Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah, Biography . 2023-08-23 . GhanaWeb.
  19. Web site: Zanetor, Oppong Nkrumah win. 8 December 2016 .
  20. Web site: New Ministers Vetting October 26 – Daily Guide Africa . usurped . https://web.archive.org/web/20181012014625/http://dailyguideafrica.com/new-ministers-vetting-october-26/ . October 12, 2018 . 2018-10-11 . dailyguideafrica. . en-US.
  21. News: Reshuffle: Otiko Afisa Djaba now Ambassador to Italy. Frimpong. Enoch Darfah. Graphic Online. 2018-10-11. en-gb.
  22. Web site: Let's discuss the 'New normal' – Oppong Nkrumah. Graphic Online. en-gb. 2020-05-23.
  23. Web site: 2020-05-22 . 245 Ghanaians in Kuwait to be deported on May 23 . 2020-05-23 . MyJoyOnline. . en-US.
  24. Web site: Parliament approves Oppong Nkrumah, Morrison as ministers General News 2018-11-01 . 2018-11-01 . mobile ghanaweb..
  25. Web site: 2020-07-19. Statistics show successes chalked in Ghana's COVID-19 fight – Oppong Nkrumah. 2020-07-19. Citinewsroom – Comprehensive News in Ghana. en-US.
  26. Web site: 2021-01-19. COVID-19 vaccine roll-out plan to be ready in a week's time – Oppong Nkrumah. 2021-01-19. Citinewsroom – Comprehensive News in Ghana. en-US.
  27. Web site: Akufo-Addo presents first list of ministers for his second term to parliament – MyJoyOnline.com . 2021-03-16 . Myjoyonline . 21 January 2021 . en-US.
  28. Web site: Minority MPs on Appointments Committee outrightly reject 3 nominees including Afriyie Akoto and Hawa Koomson – MyJoyOnline.com . 2021-03-16 . Myjoyonline . March 2021 . en-US.
  29. Web site: 2021-03-04. Parliament approves Hawa Koomson, Oppong Nkrumah, 11 other ministerial nominees. 2021-03-16. Citinewsroom – Comprehensive News in Ghana. en-US.
  30. Web site: MSN . 2023-08-23 . Msn..
  31. News: Mensah . Jeffrey . Beautiful photos of Kojo Oppong Nkrumah's wife pop up . en-US . Yen – Ghana news. . 2018-11-01.