Mrs Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, incumbent Member of Parliament (MP) for Ablekuma West constituency and Communications minister, has assured that the NPP would cling a massive victory to retain the party in power come December 7.
She said the NPP under the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia leadership had delivered on the party’s campaign promises to transform Ghana mentioning the flagship Free Senior High School policy as a game-changer.
The three-time MP described the Free SHS as a major social intervention bridging the education gap, sharing burden of parents with huge returns to propel Ghana’s development in many years to come.
Ablekuma West was one of 45 constituencies created in 2012, out of the Ablekuma south constituency and covers communities including Gbegbeyise, parts of Chorkor, Shiabu, Glefe and Dansoman and has consistently remained an NPP stronghold.
Mrs Owusu-Ekuful first entered parliament to represent the constituency in 2012 on the ticket of the NPP after beating Ms Victoria Hammah, the NDC candidate with 36,975 votes representing (58.22%) in a close contest.
She retained the seat in 2016 with a slight decreased margin of 34,376 votes (57.0%) whiles her closest contender Ms Diana Twum of the NDC garnered 20,976 (34.8%).
In the 2020 general elections, the MP entrenched her position by winning with 37,363 votes (54.27%) whiles Mr Kwaku Addo of the NDC had 30,733 (44.64).
Mrs Owusu-Ekuful who is vying for the fourth consecutive time, is a lawyer, politician, women’s rights advocate and one of 29 MPs in the eighth parliament who are seeking re-election to serve in the nineth parliament.
She is a product of Mfanstiman Girls School and the University of Ghana with an LLB and a Master’s degree in Conflict, Peace, and Security from the KAIPTC.
Her career as a lawyer which spans decades of legal practice began at the Akufo-Addo, Prempeh & Co. law firm, transitioning to telecommunications where she held key leadership roles including Acting Managing Director of Westel and corporate External Affairs Director at Zain, Ghana.
In pursuing her legal career, she has contributed her expertise in governance and gender through her consultancy firm, N.U. Consult and has served as President of FIDA Ghana and Vice President of the Africa Regional FIDA International, indicating her dedication to advancing women’s rights and legal advocacy.
As the first female Minister of Communications and Digitalisation since 2017, she has spearheaded digital transformation in Ghana, empowering young women in ICT through initiatives like the Girls in ICT Competition.
With her dedication to public service, advocacy for women’s rights, community development and drive for digital innovation, she has been enstooled as the ‘nkosuohemaa’ (development queen) of Akyem Asuom where she hails from.
Mrs Owusu-Ekuful has received several local and international recognition for her sterling performance in public service, politics, and advocacy on national topical issues.
GNA