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Samuel Atta Akyea

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Hon
Samuel Atta Akyea
MP
MP for Akim Abuakwa South
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 2009
PresidentJ. A. Mills, John D. Mahama, Nana Akufo-Addo
Preceded byNana Akufo-Addo
Minister for Works and Housing
In office
7 February 2017 – 7 January 2021
PresidentNana Akufo-Addo
Personal details
Born (1962-08-20) 20 August 1962 (age 62)
Kyebi, Ghana
Political partyNew Patriotic Party
Children3
Alma materUniversity of Ghana, Ghana School of Law
OccupationPolitician
ProfessionLawyer
CommitteesMines and Energy Committee (Chairperson); Subsidiary Legislation Committee; Special Budget Committee

Samuel Atta Akyea (born 20 August 1962)[1] is a Ghanaian lawyer, politician and a member of the New Patriotic Party. He was the Minister for Works and Housing from 2017 until January 2021. He is the Member of Parliament of Akim Abuakwa South constituency in the Eastern Region of Ghana. He is the second person aside Nana Akufo-Addo to be elected as MP for that constituency in the 4th republic.

Early life and education

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He was born in Kyebi in the Eastern Region of Ghana.[2] He attended the University of Ghana, Legon and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Law and Philosophy in 1989.[2] He proceeded to the Ghana School of Law and obtained his practising license in 1993.[2][3]

Working life

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After being called to the Bar in 1994, Atta Akyea was employed as a state attorney at the Attorney General's Department.[2] He later joined the private law firm, Akufo-Addo, Prempeh & Co in Accra. In 2003, he founded the law firm, Zoe Akyea & Co.[4] He worked worked there as head of Chamber until 2008 when he left legal practice for politics.

Political life

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Atta Akyea entered politics in 2008 when he was elected the parliamentarian for the Abuakwa South constituency.[5] He competed against two other aspirants, namely, Sammy Osei of the National Democratic Congress and Nana Addo Aikins, an Independent candidate.[6] He won the election by obtaining 22,681 votes out of the 30,109 which represented 75.3% of valid votes cast.[6][2] He succeeded Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who stepped down as MP in order to concentrate on his presidential ambitions.[7] Atta Akyea went on to retain his seat in the 2012,[8] 2016 and 2020 elections. In parliament, he has served on various committees including the Finance, Public Accounts, Judiciary and Appointments Committees.[2]

2016 election

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In the 2016 Ghanaian general election, he won the Abuakwa South Constituency parliamentary seat with 28,442 votes making 78.7.61% of the total votes cast whilst the NDC parliamentary candidate Owuraku Amofah had 7,697 votes making 21.3% of the total votes cast.[9][10]

2020 election

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In the 2020 Ghanaian general election, he again won the Abuakwa South Constituency parliamentary seat with 29,897 votes making 75.7% of the total votes cast whilst the NDC parliamentary candidate Sanusi Mohammed had 7,740 votes making 19.6% of the total votes cast, the GUM parliamentary candidate Banning-Peprah Felix had 957 votes making 2.4% of the total votes cast and an Independent parliamentary candidate Marfo Enock Kwame had 905 votes making 2.3% of the total votes cast.[11]

Member of the following previous Parliaments

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7th Parliament (NPP)

6th Parliament (NPP)

5th Parliament (NPP)

Galamsey fight

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Atta Akyea was accused of not doing enough to stop the use of the Birim River by galamseyers.[12] The Birim river which passes through his constituency is a major river body in Ghana and supplies a substantial amount of the constituency's water requirement. Atta Akyea opined that the galamsey fight was a national problem requiring military support.[13][14][15]

Committees

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In 2021, Atta Akyea was made Chairperson of the Mines and Energy Committee.[16] He is also a member of the Subsidiary Legislation and Special Budget Committees.[17]

Ministerial appointment

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In January 2017, President Akufo-Addo nominated him to serve in his government as Minister for Works and Housing.[18][19] Prior to his vetting by the appointments committee of Parliament, it emerged that he had made no input relevant to the ministry he had been nominated to head. In addition he had not been involved in any relevant interaction with Parliament's Works and Housing committee.[10] To his credit however, was his track record of building strong institutions by upholding constitutional provisions.[10] During his vetting by the appointments committee on January 31,[20][21] he expressed his vision for the ministry and pledged to complete all uncompleted housing projects started by the erstwhile John Dramani Mahama administration.[22] He told the committee that he would prioritise the construction of houses for members of the judiciary.[23]He was sworn in along with eleven other ministers by President Akufo-Addo on 8 February 2017 at the Jubilee House.[24][25]As Works and Housing Minister, Atta Akyea brought his legal expertise to bare, helping him to finalise the implementation of the Ghanaian building code and other legislative development.[26]

Personal life

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He is married with three children and is a Christian.[27] He is a member of the International Central Gospel Church.[5]

Award

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At its 28th West African Nobles Conference and Awards in Accra, the non-governmental, non-religious, and nonprofit West African Nobles Forum (WANF) presented Hon. Samuel Atta Akyea, Minister of Works and Housing, with an award for preserving the virtues of honesty, integrity, and accountability.[28]

Controversy

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In March 2022, he was chased out by the people in the Abuakwa South Constituency. It was alleged he failed to honor his campaign promises to the people.[29]

Philanthropy

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In March 2020, he presented some sanitary products to his constituency in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic.[30]

References

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  1. ^ "Hon. Samuel Atta Akyea: MP for Abuakwa South". odekro. Archived from the original on 17 August 2017. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Akyea, Samuel Atta". Ghana MPs. 7 January 2017. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  3. ^ "Bio Of 2nd Batch Of Ministers-Designate Announced By President Nana Akufo-Addo". Peace FM. 21 January 2017. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  4. ^ "Samuel Ofori Atta Akyea - Zoe, Akyea & Co". zakyea.com. 28 September 2022. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
  5. ^ a b "Governance Samuel Atta Akyea – Works & Housing". Government of Ghana. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  6. ^ a b "Ghana election 2008" (PDF). fes. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  7. ^ "I am not resigning? -Akufo-Addo". Ghanaweb. 26 January 2006. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  8. ^ "I'm a very serious lawyer – Atta-Akyea". Ghanaweb. 20 August 2013. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  9. ^ FM, Peace. "2016 Election - Abuakwa South Constituency Results". Ghana Elections - Peace FM. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  10. ^ a b c "Parliamentary Records of Ministers-Designate : Samuel Atta Akyea (NPP-Abuakwa South) Works and Housing Minister-Designate". Odekro. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  11. ^ FM, Peace. "2020 Election - Abuakwa South Constituency Results". Ghana Elections - Peace FM. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  12. ^ "A Chat With Hon Samuel Atta Akyea, MP". Modern Ghana. 26 November 2013. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  13. ^ "We Are Partners – Atta Akyea". modernghana. 7 February 2016. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
  14. ^ "Atta Akyea not involved in Kyebi chieftaincy affairs". vibeghana. 8 December 2011. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
  15. ^ "Clamp Down on Galamsey". 9 March 2010. Retrieved 13 September 2017.
  16. ^ "Speaker never said Appointment Committee should suspend to plant trees -Atta Akyea". Ghana MPS. 25 June 2021. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  17. ^ "Parliament of Ghana". Parliament of Ghana. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  18. ^ "Profile of second batch of ministerial nominee". Myjoyonline. 12 January 2017. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  19. ^ "Atta Akyea, two others face vetting today". ghananewsagency. 8 February 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
  20. ^ "Some questions asked at vetting irrelevant -Atta Akyea". ultimatefmonline. 31 January 2017. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  21. ^ "Atta Akyea, Amewu get vetted today". Ghanaweb. 31 January 2017. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  22. ^ "Vetting Highlights: Atta Akyea appears before Appointments Committee". ghanaweb. 31 January 2017. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  23. ^ "Gov't will prioritise housing facilities for judges – Atta Akyea". Myjoyfmonline. 31 January 2017. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  24. ^ "2nd Batch Of Ministers Sworn In". thechronicle. 8 February 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2017.[permanent dead link‍]
  25. ^ "From Maxwell Ofori, Jubilee House Accra". The Chronicle. 8 February 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2017.[permanent dead link‍]
  26. ^ "Samuel Ofori Atta Akyea - Zoe, Akyea & Co". zakyea.com. 28 September 2022. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
  27. ^ "Parliament of Ghana". www.parliament.gh. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  28. ^ "Hon. Atta Akyea Wins Noble Award - MINISTRY OF WORKS AND HOUSING". 24 December 2018. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  29. ^ Emmanuel, Kojo (8 March 2022). "Samuel Atta Akyea chased out of community over failed promises". Pulse Ghana. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  30. ^ "Dr Assibey-Yeboah, Samuel Atta Akyea donate sanitary items to their various constituencies - MyJoyOnline.com". Myjoyonline. 31 March 2020. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
Political offices
Preceded by
n/a
 Minister of Works and Housing
Ghana
2017– 		Incumbent
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