The struggle, the pain, the joy – OPK pens 2020 memories

The Ambition

My year began with a plan to serve my people as their Member of Parliament. The previous year, I had engaged in some communal work which motivated me to contest.

Near-Fatal Accident

On February 18, I was engaged in a near-fatal accident. A colleague and three assistants were with me in the car. I sustained bilateral femora fractures that meant I was going to find it difficult to walk again. Many medical doctors painted a gloomy picture to me, and some concluded that it was going to be challenging to walk, especially with my left leg. 

Through consistent prayers and the confidence of my surgeon, Dr Rueben Inghissah of Greater Accra Regional Hospital, I successfully went through two surgeries, and I was advised will be in a wheelchair for at least, six months. Six Months??? 😳😳 when I have an election to contest??? An election I was not going to give up even when my legs got amputated??? With determination, support from my good friends and family, I got up, walked with crutches and defied all odds to contest my primaries. 

Primaries Victory

June 20, God gave me an overwhelming victory in a battle pundits thought I was not going to win. I won the primaries and got selected as the NPP Parliamentary candidate for Mpraeso. 

NPP campaign 2020 in Mpraeso

With our campaign’s support, we mapped a strategy to reach out to all the communities in my constituency. My health mattered most to the campaign team members. A leg that needs rest to go to all these communities with bad roads was near impossible. What are people going to say if I refuse to come to them? 

I prayed to God, and He showed the way. There were instances I will have to cancel events because I could not even move my body. I will rush to Accra to meet my doctors and physiotherapist to check whether the pins were coming off. I pushed with my medications and went to every community in my constituency. 

Victory Day

In the dawn of December 8, 2020, it became apparent I had won the elections. I increased the parliamentary votes by 16% and Presidential by 11%, comparing it to 2016 results. God gave me a third victory in 2020 and crowned it with a win for President Akufo Addo. 

Appreciation

I say a big thank you to God. He lifted me on three occasions in 2020 when men thought it was impossible. I thank my pastors and prophets who prayed with me. 

I thank my big brother Bryan Acheampong. God brings people closer to speak to us through them. I believe God brought us closer to support in his plans to lift me. I thank my wife and family. I thank my constituents and polling station officers who continue to keep faith with me. To my friends, who continue to support, I know my God will lift you just like how you raised me in 2020. 

My commitment

Just like I’ve always maintained. I’ve come to serve. I want to help my constituents and support the President to deliver his sterling leadership service to Ghanaians. I know 2021 may be challenging for us as a country, but let us continue to believe in God for He has all solutions. 

Davis Ansah Opoku (OPK) 
MP-Elect, Mpraeso Constituency

Ghana