This year’s elections was one of the diciest elections Ghana has ever experienced. From the parliamentary elections to the presidential, the amount of tension that was experienced was through the roof. Certainly, there will be some new faces in parliament next year.
READ MORE: Meet the 39 Ghanaian women who will be representing in the 8th Parliament of the 4th Republic.
Some MPs decided to retire and not stand for parliament in the 2020 elections. Here is a list of newbies going to parliament for the first time.
Ophelia Hayford, Mfantseman Constituency
After the death of the late Ekow Hayford. Ophelia polled a 51.3% vote cast to beat her competitor James Odzifo Essoun. After her husband’s death, she resigned from the police force to contest for her husband’s seat and won.
Dakoa Newman. Okaikwei South
Born to Victor Newman, a founding member of the new patriotic party, Dakoa schooled in Wesley girls high school and obtained her bachelor’s degree in political science at the University of Ghana. She beat Ahmed Arthur in the primaries to represent the new patriotic party. After that, she won the parliamentary seat in her constituency. She is a mother of one.
Sheila Bartels. Ablekuma North
The daughter of Kwamena Bartels succeeded in beating Mrs. Winifred Ashley of the NDC to win the Ablekuma south parliamentary seat. She is the CEO of inCharge global Ghana.
Xavier Sosu. Madina
The truck pusher now turned lawyer. He was born to an alcoholic dad and a mother who was a victim of trokosi in Accra new town. Honorable Sosu defied all odds to become a human rights lawyer. He began nursery at age 8 and went on to win many awards during his St. Johns Grammar days. He is a proud vandal. He defeated Abu Saddique in the parliamentary elections.
Benjamin Ayiku, Ledzokuku Constituency
He is the immediate past constituency chairman of the NDC. It comes as a surprise to many when he won against Nana Addo’s darling boy Honorable Okoe Boye. Clearly, the Ledzokuku constituency which he is to represent is a no party’s constituency.
Samuel Abu Jinapor. Damango
Abu Jinapor is the NPP parliamentary candidate of the Damongo constituency. He is the brother of John Jinapor in the NDC. Abu joined the university wing of NPP during his education at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and now owes allegiance to the NPP.
Alhaji Umar Farouk Aliu Mahama, Yendi Constituency
Son of Alhaji Aliu Mahama, a former vice president of Ghana, won his primaries to parliamentary elections to represent Yendi on the ticket of the NPP. He worked at Ghana cocoa board and rose through the ranks to become deputy procurement manager. He is a proud father of two.
Dzifa Abla Gomashie, Ketu south Constituency
We remember honorable Dzifa for her impeccable control of the English language on our screens. She is a veteran actress and a former minister of tourism under the NDC administration. She attended St. Louis senior high school and proceeded to the University of Ghana. She is a queen mother in Aflao. She is a mother of one.
Gizella Tetteh Agbotui, Awutu Senya Constituency
She is a sister to Honorable Hannah Tetteh. She defeated Gabriel Quaye of the NPP who defeated her sister in the previous election. That’s a beautiful comeback for the Tetteh sisters.
Theresa Lardi Awuni. Okakwei north.
Honorable Awuni is a former GIMPA TEIN women’s commissioner. In addition, she is a three time women’s organizer for the Okaikwei North constituency. The woman is a children and women rights advocate. She contested three others to win the primaries and won.
Congratultions to all of them!