Eric Opoku (politician)

Eric Opoku is a Ghanaian politician and member of the Seventh Parliament of the Fourth Republic of Ghana representing the Asunafo South Constituency in the Brong-Ahafo Region on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress.[1]

Hon. Eric Opoku
Member of Parliament for Asunafo South Constituency
In office 7 January 2017 – 6 January 2021
President	Nana Akufo-Addo
Member of the Ghana Parliament for Asunafo South
In office 7 January 2013 – 6 January 2017
President	John Mahama
Preceded by	George Boakye
Member of Parliament for Asunafo South Constituency
In office 7 January 2005 – 6 January 2009
President	John Kufuor
Preceded by	George William Amponsah
Succeeded by	George Boakye
Personal details
Born	(1970-06-05) 5 June 1970
Nationality	Ghanaian
Political party	National Democratic Congress(Ghana)
Alma mater	Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
Profession	Farmer/Agriculturist
Committees	Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs Committee, Privileges Committee & Appointments Committee(7th Parliament of 4th Republic of Ghana)

Early Life and Education

Eric Opoku was born on 5 June 1970.[1][2] He hails from a town called Sankore in the Brong Ahafo region of Ghana.[1][2] He had his Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Science from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in year 2004.[1][2]

Career

Opoku is a farmer/ agriculturist.[2] Prior to his appointment into parliament, he worked as a teacher with the Ghana Education Service at SDA Primary School in Sankore, from 1997 to 2000.[1][2] He has also worked with Kuapa Kookoo Ltd as the Society Dvelopment Secretary from 1998 to 2001.[1]

Political Career

Opoku was first elected into parliament in the 3rd parliament of the 4th republic of Ghana as the member of parliament for the Asunafo South constituency in the Brong Ahafo region of Ghana.[1][2] Though he lost his seat in the subsequent election, he was elected again into parliament on 7 January 2013 after claiming victory at the 2012 Ghanaian General Elections to represent the Asunafo South constituency and served until 6 January 2017. He was then reelected on 7 January 2017 after the 2016 Ghanaian General Elections where he obtained 52.97% of the valid votes cast.
He has worked as the Deputy Brong Ahafo Regional Minister from 2009 to 2013.[2] In the 7th parliament of the 4th republic of Ghana he served on the Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs Committee as a ranking Member.[1] He also served on the Privileges Committee and Appointments Committee in the same parliament.[1]

Opoku received an award as the best member of parliament for communal and rural development for 2017 from the Bureau of Research on Governance, Commerce and Administration (BORGCA). This award was given for his contribution to developmental projects in the Asunafo South constituency.[3]

Elections

Opoku was elected as the member of parliament for the Asunafo South constituency of the Brong Ahafo region in the 2004 Ghanaian general elections.[4][5] He won on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress.[4][5] His constituency was a part of the 10 parliamentary seats out of a total 24 seats won by the National Democratic Congress in that election for the Brong Ahafo Region.[6][7] The Asunafo South constituency saw a ‘skirt and blouse’ voting by electorates in that election as the presidential candidate elected by the constituency electorates was John Kufour of the major opposition New Patriotic Party.[4] The National Democratic Congress won a minority total of 94 parliamentary seats out of 230seats in that elections.[6] Opoku was elected with 14,076votes out of 29,345total valid votes cast, equivalent to 48% of total valid votes cast.[4][5] He was elected over George William Amponsah of the New Patriotic Party, Jack Kennedy Brobbey an indepent candidate and Fredrick Nkrumah of the Convention People's Party.[4][5] These obtained 43.80% , 7.30% and 0.90% respectively of total valid votes cast.[4][5]

Attack

Opoku was attacked in his residence on 25 December 2017 in his residence in Sankore in the Brong Ahafo region of Ghana.[8][9] The National Democratic Congress alleged that the attackers were armed supporters of the opposition New Patriotic Party.9,10 He was attacked for the second time, on 1 April 2018, also in his home in Sankore in by armed men.[10][11] Though left unharmed the attackers allegedly made away with about GHS 10,400.00, a television set and decoder and damaged three of Opoku’s vehicles. 8,11

Personal life

Opoku is a Christian.[1][2] He is married with four children.[1][2]

References

1. https://www.parliament.gh/mps?mp=56
2. "Ghana MPs - MP Details - Opoku, Eric". web.archive.org. 25 April 2016. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
3. "Eric Opoku rewarded Best MP for rural devt". Graphic Online. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
4. FM, Peace. "Ghana Election 2004 Results - Asunafo South Constituency". Ghana Elections - Peace FM. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
5. Elections 2004; Ghana’s Parliamentary and Presidential Elections. Accra: Electoral Commission of Ghana; Friedrich Ebert Stiftung. 2005. p. 131.
6. "Statistics of Presidential and Parliamentary Election Results". Fact Check Ghana. 10 August 2016. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
7. FM, Peace. "Ghana Election 2004 Results - Brong Ahafo Region". Ghana Elections - Peace FM. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
8. "Attack On Asunafo South MP Unfortunate, Sad!". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
9. Addo, Charles (28 December 2017). "Blame NPP, Akufo-Addo over attack on NDC MP Eric Opoku - Minority". Yen.com.gh - Ghana news. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
10. "Asunafo South MP, Eric Opoku and three others attacked". BusinessGhana. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
11. Online, Peace FM. "NDC Delegation Visits Eric Opoku (PHOTO)". Peacefmonline.com - Ghana news. Retrieved 2 August 2020.