Ghana Decides: Profiles of the 7 candidates

Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom — PPP

Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom was born on 15th February, 1953 in Elmina in the Central Region.

Education

Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom began his education at the St. Joseph’s Catholic Boys School at Elmina. He proceeded to St. Augustine’s College in Cape Coast, where he gained his Ordinary and Advanced Level Certificates. He furthered his education with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics, a Master of Science Degree in Management, and a Doctorate Degree in Service Delivery System. He attained the latter certificates from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, USA.

Career

Dr Nduom has working experience in Life and Health Insurance, business improvement and technology. He became one of the six Blacks, out of over 800 partners and shareholders in Deloitte and Touché, an auditing and management consulting firm in the USA, in 1986. Dr. Nduom and his wife, Mrs. Yvonne Nduom jointly own Group Nduom, a Multi-National Conglomerate with close to 50 Companies in Ghana, Liberia, Togo, La Cote d’Ivore, the United Kingdom and USA. These companies operate in banking, insurance, pension, manufacturing and hospitality, as well as construction & concrete products, media, advertising & production, industrial estate, entertainment, education and sports.



Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom

Political career

Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom served the country as Minister for Economic Planning & Regional Cooperation from 2001 to 2003; Minister of Energy from 2003 to 2005 and Minister of Public Sector Reforms from 2005 to 2007 under the Kufuor Administration. He was MP for Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abirem (KEEA) constituency in the Central Region. He has been a Presidential Candidate on two occasions.

Family life & Interests

Dr. Nduom is married to Mrs. Yvonne Nduom for the past 40 years. They have been blessed with four children. His first son, Nana Kweku Nduom, is a PhD holder in International Business; Dr. Edjah Nduom is a Neurosurgeon; Papa Wassa Chiefy Nduom is a Lawyer, and; Nana Aba Nduom, a psychiatrist.

Mr. John Dramani Mahama — NDC



John Mahama

Mr. John Dramani Mahama comes from a very rich political family having been born to the Late Emmanuel Adama Mahama who was the first Member of Parliament (MP) for the West Gonja Constituency, and the first Regional Commissioner of the Northern Region during the regime of the first president of Ghana, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.

Mr Mahama before going into active politics took a job at the Embassy of Japan in Accra as the Information, Culture and Research Officer. After a brief stay at the Embassy of Japan, Mr Mahama joined Plan International as the International Relations, Sponsorship, Communication and Grants Manager.

Politics

Mr. Mahama began his political career as Member of Parliament (MP) for Bole-Bamboi Constituency in the Northern Region in 1996. He held various ministerial positions in the Rawlings government as deputy minister of communications and subsequently a substantive minister for same portfolio.

He was in 2008 picked by the late Professor John Evans Fiifi Atta Mills who was then the NDC candidate to partner him as running mate in the presidential election, which Prof. Mills won.

Following the demise of President Mills on July 24, 2012, Mr. Mahama who was the Vice President then was sworn in as President per the 1992 Constitution to serve the remaining five months of the late Mills’ term.

Mr. Mahama won the December 7, 2012 presidential election on the ticket of the NDC with 50.7 per cent of the votes and sworn into office on January 7, 2013.

Education

He attended the Ghana Secondary School in Tamale for Ordinary and Advanced levels General Certificate Examination (GCE) certificates, and then to the University of Ghana, Legon where he graduated with Bachelor of Arts Degree in history in 1981.

His quest for more academic laurels led him to study Communication at the University of Ghana’s School of Communication Studies, completing in 1986.

Mr. Mahama also studied for a Post-graduate Diploma in Social Psychology from the Institute of Social Sciences.

Mr. Mahama is, married to Mrs. Lordina Mahama a native of Nkoranza in the Brong Ahafo Region.

Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo — NPP



Nana Akuffo Addo

Nana Akufo Addo like Mahama was also born to a rich political family. He started his political life in 1977, as the General Secretary of the broad -based People’s Movement for Freedom and Justice (PMFJ), established to oppose the perpetuation of military rule in Ghana.

He co-established the law firm, Akufo-Addo, Prempeh & Co in 1979 while a decade after, in 198;, he established the Ghana Committee on Human and Peoples Rights.

Nana as he is affectionately called took advantage of the arrival of the Fourth Republic democratic dispensation and became a founder member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) which he is currently its flag-bearer.

The NPP leader is remembered for his leading role in the broad -based Alliance for change, which organised the famous “Kume Preko” demonstrations in 1995 against the hardships and suffering endured by Ghanaians under President Jerry John Rawlings.

Akufo-Addo served three terms in parliament as the legislature for the Abuakwa South constituency in the Eastern Region.

He served from 2001 to 2007, as a cabinet Minister, first as Attorney General for two years and later as Foreign Minister for five years.

Childhood life

Born on March 29, 1944, in Swalaba in the Greater Accra Region.

Three of the “Big Six” (founding fathers of Ghana)were Nana’s blood relatives: J.B Danquah (Grand Uncle), William Ofori Atta (Uncle) and Edward Akufo-Addo, who became the third Chief Justice and later ceremonial President of the Republic from 1970-1972, was his father.

Akufo-Addo started his primary education at the Government Boys School and later Rowe Road School both in Accra Central. He went to England to study for his Ordinary and Advanced ‘ Level examinations.

He came back home in 19962 to teach at the Accra Academy before going to the University of Ghana, Legon in 1964 to study economics.

His desire to help the downtrodden in society compelled him to read law in the United Kingdom (UK) after graduating as economist. He was called to the English Bar (Middle Temple) in July 1971 and the Ghana Bar in 1975.

Legal career

After his call to the English Bar, he went to work in Paris, France, as a Lawyer with a then renowned international US law firm, Coudert Freres, for a period of five years.

He became the first chairperson of DHL, Ghana Limited; chairperson, Kinesec Communications company Limited, publishers of the Statesman newspaper, and the first Chairperson of the Ghana Committee on Human and Peoples Rights.

He is married to Rebecca, daughter of the Speaker of Parliament of the Third Republic of Ghana, the late Mr. Justice J.H Griffiths -Randolph. They have five children and five grandchildren. They are both devout Christians.

Mr. Ivor Kobina Greenstreet — CPP



Ivor Kobina Greenstreet

Mr Ivor Kobina Greenstreet is the 2016 Presidential Candidate of the Convention People’s Party (CPP). He is the son of two professors from the University of Ghana, Legon, and is not only a lawyer called to the Ghana Bar and the English Bar (Inner Temple), and he is also a publisher. As a result of a car accident in 1997, he uses a wheelchair

Political career

He is a political activist who believes in enhancing the rights and opportunities for the youth, women and the disadvantaged in society and a firm believer in a social justice, self-determination and Pan-Africanism. He is well noted for his organisational abilities and capacity to galvanise volunteer groups for causes.

Mr Greenstreet’s overriding motivation for seeking to be President of Ghana is to put in place a “Ghanaian Dream”, where any Ghanaian who is hardworking, and desires to be lifted out of poverty, will have opportunities to change their life story and secure their future. The “Ghanaian Dream” will see the government machinery and civil bureaucracy responding and serving the need of public. This is the essence of “Apam Foforo”-the new covenant Mr. Greenstreet wants to establish with Ghanaians.

In 1996 he contested as a parliamentary candidate on the ticket of the People’s Convention Party (CPP) but had to withdraw due to the Great Alliance at that time. Again in 2004, he contested as parliamentary candidate for the CPP in the Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency of Greater Accra and garnered 4,964 votes for the party.

He was later elected as General Secretary in 2007 and again 2011, being the only national officer to be re-elected for a second term

In 2016, he contested for the presidential nominee to represent the CPP and won with a total vote of 1,288 votes, representing 64.2% of valid votes cost.

Ivor Kobina Greenstreet is an avid swimmer and athlete and a member of the Ghana National Rifle Association (GNRA). He has represented Ghana’s Black Snipers abroad,being the first African to participate in an international para-shooting event.

Dr. Edward Nasigre Mahama — PNC

Dr. Edward Nasigre Mahama

Dr. Edward Nasigre Mahama was born on the 15th of April, 1945 in Sumniboma, near Nalerigu in the Northern Region of Ghana. His formative years were spent at Nalerigu Primary and Middle School in Tamale from 1953 to 1959. He continued his education at the Tamale Secondary School where he successfully completed his ‘Ordinary Level in 1965. In the same year, Dr. Mahama gained admission to the University Of Ghana and graduated with a medical degree in 1972.

He went back to Nalerigu after his medical education as a medical doctor. He began his medical career in 1974 as a primary health care physician at the Baptist Medical Center. He worked at the medical center for four years and gained both a fulfilling and challenging experience.

After four years of practice in Nalerigu he left Ghana for the United States of America (USA) to pursue further studies, becoming an obstetrics and gynecology physician in Chicago, Illinois.

During his stay in the United States, he was a staff physician in obstetrics and gynecology on the Board of Health in Chicago. He also doubled as a clinical instructor at Northwestern University from 1978 to 1990.

Dr. Mahama returned home in 1990 to serve as a lecturer and consultant at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital. In 1994, he was elected as a Fellow of the West African College of Surgeons. He has been the medical director since 2003 at the Superior Medical Centre, a private non-profit Medical Centre in Accra.

Political life

Dr. Mahama has since the early 1990s been engaged in voluntary and political activities. From 1991 to 1996, he took resident obstetrician and gynaecologists in training at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital to Nalerigu to teach them how to repair Vesico-vaginal Fistulae. Many young obstetricians and gynaecologist benefited from this program including the Head of Maternity at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Professor Yaw Kwawukume.

Dr. Mahama has also provided health-screening and educational lectures across the country. These awareness-creation activities have centered on preventive healthcare, sex education and women’s health. In 2004, for instance he provided HIV/AIDS and health maintenance lectures to institutions including the State Insurance Corporation Women’s Club, Full Gospel Business Men’s International Fellowship, New Legon Presbyterian Church and Assemblies of God Northern Sector Convention in Accra. In 1992, his free medical care programs were beneficial to 600 flood victims in Sandema in the Upper East Region of Ghana.

In terms of his political career, Dr Mahama started as a member of the Mamprusi District Council from 1975 to 1976. He was elected as the President Candidate of People’s National Convention (PNC) in 1996, 2000, 2004 and 2008. During these periods, Dr Mahama campaigned on the PNC Four Point Program which focuses on subsidised agriculture, housing for low income earners, preventive healthcare and free education from nursery to senior secondary school.

Dr. Mahama is married to Mrs. Comfort Mahama, a Superintendent Pharmacist. The couple has four children.

Jacob Osei Yeboah — Independent Candidate



Jacob Osei Yeboah

Mr. Osei Yeboah attended secondary school at the Opoku Ware School in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region.

His sportsmanship, while in secondary school, saw him play hockey for his school team. He was also a javelin thrower and a triple jumper. While in Opoku Ware School, Mr. Osei Yeboah was House Prefect of St. Paul’s House.

Mr. Osei Yeboah continued his education at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), where he gained an Electric/Electronic Engineering Degree. In KUST, his outstanding contributions to Junior Common Room (JCR) meetings of the Katanga Hall were imbibed by fellow Katangese as he was recognized as an astute and discerning Christian Leader. He furthered his education at the Warwick University, UK, where he gained an Masters of Business Administration (MBA) and the Mannheim University, Germany where he attained a Masters in Global Supply Chain Management.

Early Career

Barely a year after his national service in 1991, Mr Jacob Osei Yeboah was employed by the Ashanti Goldfields Company(AGC) where he worked for seven years as Director and Leader of Senior Staff of the Obuasi Mine Divisional Board. His period saw a review of the company procedures and processes that led to a very significant transformation and cost reduction. He was the Special Projects Coordinator, having practiced as Instrumentation Superintendent of the Processing Plant.

From 2000 to 2006, he served as the West Africa Manager for Sherwood International, a division of the Super Group Company of South Africa, covering Ghana, Guinea and Mali. There, he gained first-hand experience in logistic and supply chain management in West Africa mining industry. In 2010 he founded Mpontuo Mining, a mining and consulting service for small scale miners popularly referred to as “galamsey” miners. His consulting service provides technological and financial assistance to small scale miners to ensure that they mine gold safely and without mercury pollution and environmental degradation.

Jacob Osei Yeboah is also a founder, and Director for West Africa of Vital Source Limited (VSL), in 2006, a procurement and logistics company for the gold mining industry as well as the oil and gas industry. VSL provides consulting services in engineering, oil contamination and filtration, logistics and supply chain management for the mining and oil and gas sectors in West Africa.

Political career

Jacob Osei Yeboah co -funded the United Movement for Change (UMC) in April 2010, an Association established to bring about real change in Ghana.

Jacob Osei Yeboah has a keen interest in the youth. He was the National President for the Ghana Methodist Student Union (GHAMSU) from 1991 to 1993. In 2009, the Lay Movement of the Methodist Church, Ghana awarded him for his sterling leadership of the youth. Again, during the Diocese’s 60th Anniversary he was awarded for exceptional leadership and contribution to the Diocese

Jacob Osei Yeboah is married to Mrs. Hilda Osei Yeboah and has four children, Jacobel, Janice, Jeremy and Jeffrey

Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings — NDP



Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings

She is the first female Presidential Candidate of Ghana on the ticket of the National Democratic Party (NDP).

She was born on November 17, 1948 in Cape Coast. She is a direct descendant of the Asante Royal Family in Kumasi. Both her mother and father hail from a long line of royal ancestry with a proud tradition of leadership.

Nana Konadu was the First Lady of Ghana from 4 June, 1979 to 24 September, 1979 and 31 December, 1981 to 7 January, 2001, both times under President Jerry John Rawlings

Education

She schooled at Achimota School, where she met her future husband Mr. Jerry John Rawlings. She continued at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), where she read Art, specialising in Textiles. She was a student leader and an executive of her Hall of residence, Africa Hall.

She has been the president of the 31st December Women’s Movement (DWM) since 1982 to date. DWM is a grass root non-governmental organisation. She was elected First Vice Chairperson of her party in 2009 during the second term of her National Democratic Congress (NDC) party’s tenure in office under President John Atta Mills. She challenged Atta Mills for the party’s flag-bearership position at the party’s congress which took place at Sunyani in the Brong Ahafo Region from 8–10 July 2011.

Nana Konadu is a firm believer that women hold the key to breaking the cycle of male dominance.

She and her husband have four children, three girls and a boy. When not busy with her family or work, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings enjoys swimming, reading, dancing, camping, and collecting dolls from around the world.