Papa Owusu-Ankomah
Encyclopedia
Papa Owusu-Ankomah , sometimes called the Quiet Dynamo of Ghanaian politics, was born in Ghana on 27 April 1958 to a family of entrepreneurs in the retail and real estate industries in the Western Region. Papa’s father, the late Mr. Yaw Owusu-Ankomah, hailed from Atibie in the Kwahu District of the Eastern Region, while his mother, a still feisty octogenarian – Madam Araba Owomoye Owusu-Ankomah - hails from Dixcove in the Western Region.
At the University of Ghana, Legon Papa Owusu-Ankomah’s choice of the law was a key landmark in his career development as a future leader of Ghana. As a law student, Papa recognized that civil liberties, an issue of contemporaneous concern, and the rule of law would at the heart of the country’s future democratic dispensation.
He excelled as a student at Legon, graduating with an LL.B (Hons) 2nd Class Upper Division in 1979 even as he maintained a busy schedule of extracurricular activities in the social, cultural, religious and political life of the University. Papa was accepted to the Ghana School of Law
, where he completed his professional studies in the Law in 1981, and was called to the Ghana Bar
that same year.
As a lawyer, Papa Owusu-Ankomah is renowned for his work on behalf of activists of the New Patriotic Party, some of whom have been wrongfully persecuted as they tried to exercise their constitutional rights. Papa’s service to the N.P.P. goes far beyond donating his legal services, as important as this was at the time.
Founding member and Chairman of the Western Region branch of the New Patriotic Party
Founding member of the Danquah-Busia Club
Member of the Western Regional Campaign team in 1992 and 1996
Member of the National Campaign Board in 2006
Chairman of the Communications and Publicity Committee of the Camp Board of the NPP for the 2000 elections
Member of the National Steering Committee - which came up with the “Positive Change slogan - from October 2001 to March 2003
Member of the National Executive Committee of the NPP from 1997 to date
Member of the National Council of the NPP from 1997 to date
No newcomer to the political arena, Papa’s work in the NPP is both extensive and significant. Papa has been a leading member of the Western Region N.P.P. since its inception, when he worked with stalwarts such as Mr. Stephen Krakue, of blessed memory, to form a viable political party to contest the National Democratic Congress’s hold on power. In 1996, upon wresting the Sekondi constituency seat away from a National Democratic Congress stalwart, Papa embarked on a parliamentary career that has served to showcase other facets of his considerable talents.
When his party was in the Opposition, Papa Owusu-Ankomah served as the shadow minister for Information, a position in which his grace under pressure and command of the issues helped convince the Ghanaian electorate that the NPP could be entrusted with power.
Papa Owusu-Ankomah can lay claim to being the most experienced legislator among the senior members of the Party today. He has seen service on a number of Parliamentary committees – the Standing Committee on Subsidiary Legislation, the Select Committee on Foreign Affairs, and the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, to name but a few.
It is under Papa Owusu-Ankomah’s leadership at the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports that the Ghana Black Stars made their historic run to the round of sixteen at the World Cup in 2006. Currently, he is leading the effort to reform Ghanaian basic education to ensure that Ghanaian students receive a first-class education and are thus empowered to participate in the transformation of the country.
In addition to his family, with whom he spends as much time as his hectic national duties permit, Papa Owusu-Ankomah is a man of deep faith, worshiping all his life in the Methodist Church, where he has served in a good number of offices. He has a pleasing baritone voice, which is often lifted in the service of the Singing Band.
Early upbringing
Growing up in the cosmopolitan twin port cities of Sekondi-Takoradi, Papa lived in close proximity to the Zongo neighbourhood of Sekondi, and had the opportunity to make friends with a very broad range of Ghanaians. Papa’s tolerance and his ability to appeal to people of all ethnic backgrounds, faiths and creeds stem from this facet of his upbringing.Education
Papa’s education began in primary schools in Takoradi, from which he entered Mfantsipim School, a preeminent Ghanaian Secondary School, with a reputation for training its students for leadership positions. During his years in Mfantsipim, Papa acquired the people- and consensus-building skills for which he is well-known today. He was a very successful student at Mfantsipm, achieving the requisite high marks at the West African Examination Council’s Advanced Level Examination for entrance into University.At the University of Ghana, Legon Papa Owusu-Ankomah’s choice of the law was a key landmark in his career development as a future leader of Ghana. As a law student, Papa recognized that civil liberties, an issue of contemporaneous concern, and the rule of law would at the heart of the country’s future democratic dispensation.
He excelled as a student at Legon, graduating with an LL.B (Hons) 2nd Class Upper Division in 1979 even as he maintained a busy schedule of extracurricular activities in the social, cultural, religious and political life of the University. Papa was accepted to the Ghana School of Law
Ghana School of Law
The Ghana School of Law is an educational institution in Ghana for training lawyers.The school is only one that provides training for law graduates in the Barrister at Law program....
, where he completed his professional studies in the Law in 1981, and was called to the Ghana Bar
Ghana Bar Association
The Ghana Bar Association is a professional association of lawyers in Ghana, including what used to be called solicitors and barristers but are now called legal practitioners, as well as magistrates....
that same year.
Professional career
In his professional career, which includes distinguished service as the Attorney-General of Ghana, Papa Owusu-Ankomah has become recognized as one of the most seasoned lawyers in the country. He was the managing partner in the practice of Owusu-Ankomah, Amanquah & Co. just prior to becoming a full-time politician when the New Patriotic Party took office in 2001.As a lawyer, Papa Owusu-Ankomah is renowned for his work on behalf of activists of the New Patriotic Party, some of whom have been wrongfully persecuted as they tried to exercise their constitutional rights. Papa’s service to the N.P.P. goes far beyond donating his legal services, as important as this was at the time.
Party activism
The record of Papa Owusu-Ankomah’s service to the Party shows that he was at one time or the other the:Founding member and Chairman of the Western Region branch of the New Patriotic Party
Founding member of the Danquah-Busia Club
Member of the Western Regional Campaign team in 1992 and 1996
Member of the National Campaign Board in 2006
Chairman of the Communications and Publicity Committee of the Camp Board of the NPP for the 2000 elections
Member of the National Steering Committee - which came up with the “Positive Change slogan - from October 2001 to March 2003
Member of the National Executive Committee of the NPP from 1997 to date
Member of the National Council of the NPP from 1997 to date
No newcomer to the political arena, Papa’s work in the NPP is both extensive and significant. Papa has been a leading member of the Western Region N.P.P. since its inception, when he worked with stalwarts such as Mr. Stephen Krakue, of blessed memory, to form a viable political party to contest the National Democratic Congress’s hold on power. In 1996, upon wresting the Sekondi constituency seat away from a National Democratic Congress stalwart, Papa embarked on a parliamentary career that has served to showcase other facets of his considerable talents.
When his party was in the Opposition, Papa Owusu-Ankomah served as the shadow minister for Information, a position in which his grace under pressure and command of the issues helped convince the Ghanaian electorate that the NPP could be entrusted with power.
Parliamentary career
Since the NPP’s stunning electoral victory in 2000, Papa has captured the public imagination as one of the most experienced and competent politicians in the nation. His first official appointment was to the post of Deputy Majority leader. In this position, he was noted for his ability to both lead his party’s various constituencies and also to bring the Opposition on board, when necessary, to ensure the passage of the President’s legislative agenda.Papa Owusu-Ankomah can lay claim to being the most experienced legislator among the senior members of the Party today. He has seen service on a number of Parliamentary committees – the Standing Committee on Subsidiary Legislation, the Select Committee on Foreign Affairs, and the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, to name but a few.
Governance experience
Within the executive branch of Government, Papa Owusu-Ankomah has continued to display the characteristic blend of leadership and excellence that observers have remarked on over and over again. He has led a combination of staff (Ministry of Justice) and line ministries (Youth and Sports, Parliamentary Affairs, Interior, and Education, Science and Sports) with great distinction and aplomb.It is under Papa Owusu-Ankomah’s leadership at the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports that the Ghana Black Stars made their historic run to the round of sixteen at the World Cup in 2006. Currently, he is leading the effort to reform Ghanaian basic education to ensure that Ghanaian students receive a first-class education and are thus empowered to participate in the transformation of the country.
Family
Papa Owusu-Ankomah is a dedicated family man, having been married for almost a quarter of a century to his beautiful wife, Mrs. Augustina Owusu-Ankomah, who hails from the Central Region. The couple’s union is blessed with three wonderful and accomplished children: Nania, Papa Yaw and Kwesi Papa and also the last Michael DwamenaIn addition to his family, with whom he spends as much time as his hectic national duties permit, Papa Owusu-Ankomah is a man of deep faith, worshiping all his life in the Methodist Church, where he has served in a good number of offices. He has a pleasing baritone voice, which is often lifted in the service of the Singing Band.