Kwamena Minta Nyarku (born 7 December 1974) is a Ghanaian academic and politician who is a member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).[1][2][3] He is the member of parliament for the Cape Coast North Constituency in the Central Region of Ghana.
Hon. Kwamena Minta Nyarku | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of Parliament for Cape Coast North Constituency | |
| Assumed office 7 January 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Barbara Asher Ayisi |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 7 December 1974 Apewosika, Ghana |
| Political party | National Democratic Congress |
| Education | Adisadel College |
| Alma mater | Komenda College of Education University of Cape Coast University of Ghana Business School University of Leicester The Chartered Institute of Marketing |
| Occupation | Academic |
| Committees | Poverty Reduction Strategy Committee |
Early life and education
editNyarku was born on 7 December 1974. He hails from Apewosika, Cape Coast in Central Region of Ghana.[4] He completed his GCE Ordinary level and GCE Advanced level certificate in Business in 1992 and 1996 respectively at Adisadel College, Cape Coast. He further moved to the Komenda Training College completing with a Teacher Certificate A (3 year Post Sec Teacher Cert A) in 1995.[5][6] In 2000, he completed a bachelor's degree in education with emphasis on Business Education at the University of Cape Coast.[7][4] He went on to the University of Ghana Business School, graduating with a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Marketing in 2003. He is also a graduate of the University of Leicester, where he completed with a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Marketing in 2019 and the Chartered Institute of Marketing in the United Kingdom.[5]
Career
editNyarku is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Marketing and Supply Chain Management, School of Business, University of Cape Coast, Ghana.[7][2][8][9]
Politics
editParliamentary bid
editNyarku stood for the National Democratic Congress' primaries ahead of the 2020 elections.[7][10] He won the parliamentary bid to represent the National Democratic Congress for the Constituency in August 2019 after he went unopposed due to the disqualification of his two contenders.[11][12]
On 16 July 2020, ahead of the elections during the compilation of a new voter's register, he was disqualified from holding a voter's ID card due to claims of registering in a suburb of Cape Coast, Nkanfoa, where he had not been a resident for a number of years as required by the registration laws.[13][14][15] His eligibility was challenged by a polling agent of his opponent's party the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and referred to the District Registration Review Committee.[13][16] The District Registration Review Committee upheld the challenge and in August 2020, he filed an appeal against the decision which was dismissed by the Cape Coast High Court.[16][14][17] On 22 September 2020, based on points raised by his lawyer Godwin Kudzo Tameklo, an Accra High Court, with the presiding judge Justice Stephen Oppong issued a write of mandamus compelling the Electoral Commission to register him since no court of competent jurisdiction had barred him from registering.[16][18][14][17]
On 1 October 2020, he was registered in accordance to the ruling of the Accra High court.[19][20] The issuing of the new ID card prompted another challenge by the New Patriotic Party which was this time quashed by the District Registration Review Committee by a 5:2 majority vote paving way for him to file his nomination to contest in the parliamentary elections.[20][19]
In the 2020 Elections, Nyarku beat the incumbent member of parliament Barbara Asher Ayisi of the New Patriotic Party,[21] who doubled as the deputy minister for works and housing and was a former deputy minister of education.[22][23] He garnered 22,972 votes against her 21,643 votes representing 51.49% and 48.51% respectively to be declared winner and member of parliament elect.[24]
Member of Parliament
editNyarku was sworn into office as the Member of Parliament representing the Cape Coast North Constituency in the 8th Parliament of the 4th Republic of Ghana on 7 January 2021.[4] He serves as a member on the Poverty Reduction Strategy Committee.[25]
Personal life
editNyarku is a Christian.[4][26] He is popularly known referred to by his nickname Ragga.[2][5][7]
References
edit- ^ Cann, Thomas Vincent (8 April 2020). "Mahama gives protective equipment to Cape Coast Teaching Hospital for Covid-19". 3NEWS. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
- ^ a b c Kwakye, D.C. Kwame (10 April 2020). "NDC Cape Coast North Parliamentary Aspirant Supports His Constituents to Fight COVID-19". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
- ^ Emmanuel, Kojo (23 September 2020). "Go and register NDC parliamentary candidate for Cape Coast North Dr. Nyarku – Court orders EC". Pulse Ghana. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
- ^ a b c d "Nyarku, Kwamena Minta". Ghana MPS. Retrieved 2021-04-16.
- ^ a b c "UCC Senior Lecturer Contests Cape Coast North Seat For NDC". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 2021-04-16.
- ^ "Parliament of Ghana". www.parliament.gh. Retrieved 2021-04-16.
- ^ a b c d Kaku, Daniel (2019-07-12). "UCC Senior Lecturer picks forms to contest Cape Coast North seat for NDC". www.ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 2020-12-29.
- ^ "Staff Directory | University of Cape Coast". directory.ucc.edu.gh. Retrieved 2021-04-16.
- ^ "Kwamena Minta Nyarku". scholar.google.com. Retrieved 2021-04-16.
- ^ "Eight women to contest NDC Parliamentary primaries in CR". BusinessGhana. Retrieved 2021-04-16.
- ^ Asiedu-Addo, Shirley (24 August 2019). "Central Region: 11 constituencies out of NDC primaries". Graphic Online. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
- ^ Sedode, Pilot (2020-09-29). "Cape Coast North Constituency: The Two Main Parliamentary Aspirants". Kuulpeeps – Ghana Campus News and Lifestyle Site by Students. Retrieved 2020-12-29.
- ^ a b Amoh, Emmanuel Kwame (2020-07-13). "NDC Cape Coast North Parl Candidate disqualified as a voter". 3news. Retrieved 2021-04-16.
- ^ a b c Hawkson, Emmanuel Ebo (22 September 2020). "Court orders EC to register NDC Cape Coast North parliamentary candidate Dr Minta Nyarku". Graphic Online. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
- ^ Nyarko, Richard Kwadwo (22 September 2020). "High Court orders EC to register NDC parliamentary candidate for Cape Coast North – MyJoyOnline.com". www.myjoyonline.com. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
- ^ a b c Djabanor, Fred Tettey (22 September 2020). "Restore name of NDC Cape Coast North parliamentary candidate on register – Court to EC". Citinewsroom. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
- ^ a b "Court orders EC to register NDC parliamentary candidate for Cape Coast North". Ghanaian Times. 2020-09-23. Retrieved 2021-04-16.
- ^ Bimpeh, Justice Kofi (22 September 2020). "Court orders EC to restore name of NDC Cape Coast North PC on register". Prime News Ghana. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
- ^ a b Agency, Ghana News (2020-10-05). "NDC's Cape Coast North Parliamentary candidate receives voter's ID card". News Ghana. Retrieved 2021-04-16.
- ^ a b Appiah, Georgina (4 October 2020). "EC clears NDC Parliamentary Candidate for Cape Coast North". Citinewsroom. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
- ^ "NPP wins Cape Coast North seat, others". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 2021-04-16.
- ^ "Election 2020: 10 NPP MPs who have lost their seats". Pulse Ghana. 2020-12-08. Retrieved 2020-12-29.
- ^ "Barbara Asher Ayisi loses Cape Coast North seat to NDC". Graphic Online. Retrieved 2020-12-29.
- ^ "Cape Coast North Summary – 2020 Elections". www.modernghana.com. Retrieved 2020-12-29.
- ^ "Parliament of Ghana". www.parliament.gh. Retrieved 2022-11-28.
- ^ "Parliament of Ghana". www.parliament.gh. Retrieved 2024-09-20.