Kofi Dzamesi

Kofi Dzamesi (born 1959)[1] is a Ghanaian engineer and politician. He hails from Dzodze in the Volta Region. He was a Volta Regional minister under the John Kufour administration. Since February 2017 he has served as Minister for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs of Ghana, succeeding Henry Seidu Daanaa, who was appointed by the John Dramani Mahama administration. He is a member of the New Patriotic Party.

Kofi Dzamesi
Minister for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs
Assumed office
February 2017
PresidentNana Akuffo-Addo
Preceded byHenry Seidu Daanaa
Volta Regional Minister
In office
February 2005 – January 2009
PresidentJohn Agyekum Kufour
Personal details
Born
Samuel Kofi Ahiave Dzamesi

(1959-04-03) 3 April 1959
Ghana
NationalityGhanaian
Political partyNew Patriotic Party
OccupationPolitician
ProfessionEngineer

Education and political life

Kofi Dzamesi begun schooling at the Kave LA Primary School and the Kpelikorpe LA Primary in Kpelikorpe. He then proceeded to the RC Middle School in Bole. He had his secondary education at St. Martins Secondary School in Nsawam from 1971 to 1977 for his O-level certificate and the Accra Academy from 1978 to 1980 for his A-level certificate. He holds a bachelor of science degree in engineering (from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology) and a diploma in marketing.[2][3]

He first came to public attention in 2000 when he was appointed deputy Volta Regional minister.[4] In 2004 he received popular acclamation at the Ketu North New Patriotic Party primaries. He went on to contest the constituency election.[4] He lost to the National Democratic Congress candidate. He again received popular acclamation in 2012 and 2016 to contest the Ketu North seat.[5] When the New Patriotic Party won the 2004 general election, President John Agyekum Kufour appointed Dzamesi as the substantive regional minister for the Volta Region.[1][3]

Prior to the 2016 general election, he was appointed the chair of the New Patriotic Party's select committee on chieftaincy affairs.[1]

Minister of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs

On 7 January 2017, President Nana Akuffo-Addo nominated Dzamesi for the position of Minister of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs.[6] He was vetted by the appointments committee of the Parliament of Ghana on 8 February 2017.[6] During his vetting he made known to the committee that he would set up a royal college in Ghana to educate chiefs and traditional rulers on the need to avoid partisan politics.[7] Up to that point there was open campaigning and public endorsement of certain political parties during elections.[7]

Dzamesi was approved by parliament and sworn in by Akuffo-Addo on 10 February 2017.[8][9] His appointment was hailed by people of the Volta Region as it demonstrated the all-inclusive agenda of the New Patriotic Party, since traditionally, the people of the Volta Region vote for the National Democratic Congress.[10]

Ministerial work

Dzamesi has engaged feuding factions in various chieftaincy disputes in the country in an effort to find lasting solutions for peace.[11] There are about 352 chieftaincy disputes in Ghana.[11] He has also set up a committee to strategise and promote yearly Christian pilgrimages from Ghana to Israel and other sites in the Christian world.[12]

Assassination attempt

In June 2008, an intruder broke into the residence of the regional minister with the aim of assassinating Dzamesi.[13] The intruder was shot dead by police and house security. Dzamesi was out of town at the time of the incident.[14]

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References
  1. "Governance Kofi Dzamesi – Chieftaincy & Religious Affairs". Government of Ghana. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
  2. Vieta, K. T. (2005). Know your ministers : 2005-2009. Flagbearers Publishers. p. 205.
  3. "Profiles of 3rd batch of ministerial nominees". Citi FM Online. 12 January 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
  4. "Kofi Dzamesi elected Ketu-North NPP candidate by acclamation". Ghana Web. 2 March 2004. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
  5. "NPP primaries: Ketu North endorses Kofi Dzamesi". Citi FM Online. 5 July 2015. Archived from the original on 29 July 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
  6. "LIVESTREAMING: Kofi Dzamesi appears before Appointments Committee". Ghana Web. 8 February 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
  7. "Chiefs will be enlightened to avoid partisanship – Kofi Dzamesi". Citi FM Online. 9 February 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
  8. "Akufo-Addo swears in final batch of Ministerial nominees". My Joy Online. 10 February 2017. Archived from the original on 29 July 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
  9. "President Akufo-Addo swears-in last batch of ministers". Government of Ghana. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
  10. "Voltarians Laud Amewu, Dzamesi Appointments". Daily Guide Africa. 16 January 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
  11. "Find solution to chieftaincy disputes — Kofi Dzamesi". Graphic Ghana. 3 May 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
  12. "Gov't to begin overseeing Christian pilgrimages". Citi FM Online. 16 June 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
  13. "I suspect NDC MP – Kofi Dzamesi". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
  14. "Minister Survives 'Assassination' Attempt". Ghana Web. 5 June 2008. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
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