A former National Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the current Member of Parliament (MP) for Akuapem North in Ghana’s Eastern Region, Sammi Awuku, has been appointed as Vice President for Africa at SME Global.
His appointment was confirmed in a letter dated March 10, 2025, signed by Lilia Heitz, Secretary General of SME Global under the International Democracy Union (IDU).
“On behalf of the Executive Office of SME Global, I am pleased to formally confirm your appointment as Vice-President of SME Global of the IDU.
“We are confident that your contributions will be instrumental in driving our mission forward and fostering impactful initiatives. We appreciate your willingness to take on this responsibility and look forward to working together to strengthen the SME landscape globally. Once again, congratulations, and welcome to SME Global.”
The letter expressed confidence in Awuku’s capacity to advance the organization’s mission and make a meaningful impact on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across Africa.
SME Global serves as the trade and economic wing of the IDU, committed to promoting SMEs and startups on a global scale. It brings together policymakers from IDU-affiliated political parties and business leaders to advocate for economic policies that support enterprise growth, reduced taxation, and sustainable business practices.
As Vice President for Africa, Awuku will lead initiatives to strengthen SME policies, push for regulatory reforms, and support small businesses in playing a more significant role in Africa’s economic transformation. His leadership is expected to reinforce SME Global’s commitment to fostering entrepreneurship and addressing challenges faced by businesses across the continent.
In his new role, Awuku will collaborate with other senior officials at SME Global, including President Jörgen Warborn, MEP (Sweden), and Vice Presidents Randy Hoback, MP (Canada), Todd McClay, MP (New Zealand), Kevin Hollinrake, MP (United Kingdom), and Germana Figueroa Casas, MP (Argentina).
His appointment marks a renewed focus on Africa within SME Global, as the organization aims to drive innovation, advocate for business-friendly policies, and create a more supportive environment for SMEs to thrive.
Akuapem North MP, Sammi Awuku, has rebuked President John Dramani Mahama over his directive to revoke appointments made after December 7, 2024.
In a Facebook statement, Awuku denounced the move as unconstitutional, regressive, and a dangerous precedent that could destabilize job security for young Ghanaians in the public sector.
Citing a similar instance in January 2017, he recalled how then Senior Minister-designate Yaw Osafo-Maafo proposed nullifying late-term appointments by the Mahama administration.
However, the Akufo-Addo government dismissed the proposal, prioritizing constitutional integrity and acknowledging the outgoing administration’s authority.
Awuku questioned why Mahama’s government is now abandoning that stance, asserting that individuals recruited after December 7, 2024, followed due process.
He insisted that these employees should not be unfairly penalized simply because of a change in administration.
“In January 2017, when Hon. Osafo-Maafo during his vetting suggested a revocation of appointments made after the 2016 December elections, the Akufo-Addo government rejected that pronouncement as it considered it unconstitutional. The NPP respected the fact that President Mahama’s mandate ran until January 6, 2017. For that matter , Osafo Maafo’s prescription was not implemented. So, why is it different today?
“In line with that, the Akufo-Addo government did not revoke the appointments of CHRAJ, the Auditor-General, or the NCCE heads, all because we believed in continuity and respect for due process. Why is that principle being abandoned now?”
Sammi Awuku also highlighted legal and human rights ramifications, arguing that restricting individuals from employment on political grounds violates their economic rights, as safeguarded by Article 24 of the 1992 Constitution. He also referenced Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8, which seeks to advance fair employment and sustainable economic progress.
“Ghanaians who received appointments after December 7, 2024, are not second-class citizens. They have a right to work, just like everyone else. They went through a rigorous process before gaining employment with the Government.
“Denying them access to employment is a flagrant violation of their economic rights under Article 24 of the 1992 Constitution and SDG 8 which aims to promote full and productive employment and decent work for all.”
Member of Parliament for Akuapem North, Sammi Awuku, has praised PresidentJohn Dramani Mahama for his recent appointments, especially for choosing young and capable politicians for important government roles.
Speaking on Adom FM, the former CEO of the National Lottery Authority (NLA) said he was impressed by the President’s decisions, calling them a smart way to make use of the skills and knowledge of young leaders.
Awuku particularly praised the appointment of Sammy Gyamfi as head of the Precious Minerals Marketing Company (PMMC), saying it shows the President’s dedication to promoting competence and giving young people a chance in government.
“Let me also commend the president on some of the appointments he has made because he has recruited some young politicians into government. Look at George Opare Addo, he is a solid guy. He’s been the youth organiser, DC, and now the Minister for Youth and Sports.”
“Sammy Gyamfi too has been appointed to oversee the PMMC. A solid guy, and I reject anyone who says he is too small for the position. Who do you expect should be appointed after toiling for his party? Even my successor, Alhaji Mohammed, is a solid man,” he stated.
Reflecting on his tenure as head of the National Lottery Authority (NLA),Awuku noted the challenges he faced and emphasized the significance of the NLA’s contributions to the economy and social welfare.
“When I was appointed to oversee the NLA, I heard people from my church raising concerns. I did my best, and now that Alhaji has replaced me, the same thing is happening. But what I want to say is that the profit made from this lottery is used to support the country’s economy and to help the needy as well.”
The Ghana Betting and Lottery Chamber has entreated the recently appointed Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Lottery Authority (NLA), Mohammed Abdul-Salam, to continue the good work of his immediate predecessor, Mr. Sammi Awuku.
In a press statement congratulating Mr Abdul-Salam on his new role, the Chamber stressed that remarkable progress achieved under the leadership of Mr Awuku, which “saw the NLA earn international recognition as a leader in lottery administration, the establishment of enhanced regulatory frameworks for the industry, and a significant increase in revenue,” must be built on.
The Chamber indicated that it is confident about the qualities of Mr Abdul-Salam and his leadership which would ensure that NLA maintains its operational efficiency as well as funding good causes that uplift communities across Ghana, as witnessed in the past.
“As stakeholders in this industry, we encourage building on these solid foundations by strengthening the gains achieved,” while adding that “we have no doubt that his tenure will be marked by groundbreaking accomplishments and a lasting legacy of success.”
The Ghana Betting and Lottery Chamber has assured of its commitment to partner with Mr Abdul-Salam in championing initiatives that promote integrity, transparency, and growth within the sector.
The Chamber noted that despite the many good works of the NLA, several issues surrounding Banker-to-Banker operators remain outstanding. It also called for innovative strategies to ensure a harmonious and regulated environment for all players in the ecosystem
“Collaborative efforts in this regard will be critical in fostering a fair and sustainable industry,” the statement added.
The appointment of Mohammed Abdul-Salam, effective Wednesday, January 15, 2025, was announced in a statement issued by the Secretary to the President. It was made in accordance with Article 195(1) of the Constitution and Section 45(1) of the National Lotto Act, 2006 (Act 722).
According to the release, the appointment is pending the constitutionally required advice of the Board of the Authority, provided in consultation with the Public Services Commission.
This decision followed the resignation of Samuel Awuku, who stepped down as Director-General of the NLA on January 13, 2025.
In his formal resignation letter addressed to President Mahama, Mr. Awuku expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve as Director-General since his appointment in August 2021 under former President Nana Akufo-Addo.
Samuel Awuku has stepped down as the Director-General of the National Lottery Authority (NLA), with his resignation taking effect from January 13, 2025.
This decision comes after his election as the Member of Parliament for the Akuapem North Constituency, a role he has since assumed following his swearing-in.
In a letter addressed to President John Mahama, Awuku expressed gratitude for his tenure, having served in the NLA’s top role since August 2021. He highlighted that his new parliamentary duties would require his full attention, prompting his resignation.
“I have been elected as the Member of Parliament for the Akuapem North constituency and have been duly sworn in to represent my constituents. In light of this new responsibility, I wish to focus my efforts on serving as a Member of Parliament,” he wrote.
The government is yet to announce a successor to Awuku at the helm of the NLA.
The Parliamentarian-elect for Akuapim North, Sammi Awuku, has assured constituents that he will deliver on his mandate after securing a decisive victory in the December 7 elections.
“I am truly honoured by the trust you’ve placed in me to represent our great constituency in Parliament. This opportunity means so much, and I deeply value your confidence in me. Thank you for your belief in me – I will not let you down,” Awuku wrote in a post on X.
The Director General of the National Lottery Authority (NLA) and former National Youth Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) secured a commanding 28,365 votes, defeating his closest contender, John Evans Kumordzi of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), who garnered 14,217 votes.
Awuku’s victory comes during a challenging election season for the governing NPP, making his win particularly significant. It positions him as one of the few NPP parliamentary candidates to triumph despite widespread electoral losses for the party.
With a strong background in politics, Awuku has been a prominent figure within the NPP. His political journey began during his time at the University of Ghana, where he was deeply involved in student leadership and contested for the presidency of the Student Representative Council.
A campaign pickup truck and sound system belonging to Sammi Awuku, the NPP Parliamentary Candidate for Akuapim North and Director General of the National Lottery Authority, was completely destroyed by fire on the Koforidua Road.
The cause of the fire remains unknown, prompting calls from the public for a thorough police investigation into the incident.
The vehicle and sound equipment were part of Sammi Awuku’s campaign activities, and the incident has raised concerns among supporters and observers alike. Authorities are yet to provide details about the circumstances surrounding the fire.
Director General of the National Lottery Authority (NLA), Sammi Awuku, has confirmed that the 10% tax on betting has not yet been implemented by the government.
In 2023, the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) announced a 10% tax on all winnings from sports betting and lotteries, set to take effect on August 15.
This tax was part of a broader effort to broaden the tax base and boost domestic revenue.
The policy emerged following the passage of three new bills by Parliament in March 2023: the Excise Duty Amendment Bill 2022, the Growth and Sustainability Levy Bill 2022, and the Income Tax Amendment Bill 2022. The GRA subsequently reminded stakeholders of the new tax policy five months after the bills’ passage.
Despite the announcement, which faced considerable public criticism and concerns from Ghanaian sports fans about its impact on their earnings, the tax has yet to be enforced.
In an interview with Oyerepa TV, Awuku explained that his office has not implemented the tax due to difficulties with the framework and process nearly a year after its introduction.
“Even with that, the truth of the matter is that we have not been able to implement it. I am telling you today. As I sit here as the Director General for National Lotteries, I have not been able to implement it. Because, first of all, we have a wide market of illegal operators. So you don’t even know them to go and tax them. We had a meeting with the GRA, and have been in correspondence over the last eight months, along with the Ministry of Finance. Recently, when the NLA was forcing known private lottery operators to come forward for licensing, you saw the reaction in the streets.
“Now that they are licensed, we can go back to them and discuss how to collectively support the government’s plan, ensuring the business survives, the NLA survives, and still generates enough revenue for the government. This is where we are,” Sammi Awuku said.
He further noted that no taxes have been collected from betting activities to date.
“We haven’t been able to collect even a cedi. As I sit here, I have not been able to collect the tax. They wrote to me that, as Director General, I am to collect the tax. But I have not been able to collect the tax because the framework is difficult. We are still in discussions with the GRA and the Ministry of Finance on the modalities because, to be honest, we didn’t even know them [the operators]. We just licensed them two weeks ago, and it is estimated that there are about 380 illegal operators still unaccounted for.”
Sammy Awuku, Director General of the National Lottery Authority, has asserted that the government has not implemented the 10% tax on betting.
Director-General of the National Lottery Authority (NLA), Samuel Awuku, has indicated that an employee cleaner at his outfit does not take home less than GHC1,600 home at the end of the month.
He made this revelation in an interview with Lexis Bill on JoyNews’ Personality Profile show.
In an excerpt of the interview which airs today at 7 pm, Mr Awuku said upon his arrival at the NLA, the amount paid to cleaners was GHC700 – a figure that has increased by over 100 per cent during his tenure.
“When I got to the NLA, the least paid person was a ground operator, those who clean our compound and they were taking GHC700. Today, that JHS graduate or SHS person that we will normally employ as a ground operator now takes home not less than GHC1,600,” he said.
In August 2021, the then-National Organizer of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Samuel Kwabena Awuku was appointed the new Director-General of the National Lottery Authority (NLA). Mr Awuku replaced Mr Kofi Osei Ameyaw.
A cleaner at the NLA takes not less than 1,600 Cedis. – Samuel Awuku, Director-General of National Lottery Authority (NLA). #DriveOnJoy
The Director General of the National Lottery Authority (NLA), Sammi Awuku, has voiced his concern over the growing number of illegal lottery operators in the country.
During an interview with peacefmonline.com on August 8, 2024, he mentioned that the World Lottery Association estimates there are at least 680 unauthorized lotto operators in Ghana.
He further noted that the Association estimates the country’s annual lottery revenues to be no less than 1.8 billion cedis, but illegal operators siphon off 1.2 billion cedis from this amount each year.
Awuku emphasized that many of these illegal operators are a significant threat to the industry and urged them to legitimize their operations.
“So, technically, the markets are for the illegal operators. Ghana will still move on when NPP is not in power and someday when NDC is not in power…But my point is the institution of state must be protected,” he noted.
Director General of the National Lottery Authority (NLA), Sammi Awuku, has raised alarms about the growing issue of illegal lottery operations in Ghana.
In an August 8, 2024 interview with peacefmonline.com, Mr Awuku reported that the World Lottery Association estimates Ghana has approximately 680 illegal lottery operators.
He also revealed that while the country’s annual lottery revenue is estimated to be at least 1.8 billion cedis, these illegal operators divert around 1.2 billion cedis of this revenue each year.
Awuku pointed out that these unlawful operators are a major threat to the industry and urged them to legalize their operations.
“So, technically, the markets are for the illegal operators. Ghana will still move on when NPP is not in power and someday when NDC is not in power…But my point is the institution of state must be protected,” he noted.
The New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) parliamentary candidate for Akuapem North, Sammi Awuku, is mobilizing supporters with a goal to secure 75% of the vote in the upcoming parliamentary elections.
He emphasized that achieving this target would solidify the NPP’s dominance and advance the party’s mission of breaking the eight-year governance cycle—a milestone yet to be reached in Ghana’s Fourth Republic.
During the ‘Mega Ofie Walk’ at Mampong Coronation Park on Saturday, August 3, 2024, Mr. Awuku underscored that reaching this goal would ensure a decisive victory for the NPP, particularly when combined with similar successes across other constituencies in the Eastern Region and beyond.
Recalling the 2020 elections, where the party garnered 65% of the popular vote with former candidate Dokuah Asiamah Agyei, Mr. Awuku urged the crowd to build upon this achievement.
He encouraged supporters to work diligently to surpass this performance and fortify the NPP’s stance against the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
“With your support, we can build on our past achievements and make the goal of breaking the eight-year governance cycle more attainable,” he said.
Mr. Awuku framed the 2024 general elections as a pivotal choice between progress and stagnation, urging voters to consider which party best aligns with their interests.
“Elections have profound implications for our future. A vote for the NDC is a vote for regression. The NDC will undo the solid foundations laid by the NPP, as they have done in the past.”
He expressed confidence in Dr. Bawumia’s ability to introduce innovative policies in the next government and acknowledged the current economic challenges faced by Ghanaians.
“Ghana has been fortunate to have had excellent leadership managing the economy through the challenges of COVID-19 and the Russia-Ukraine war. Signs of economic recovery are clear, and soon Ghanaians will enjoy the benefits they have been waiting for,” he said.
The event saw the presence of prominent figures including Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, NPP Chairman Stephen Ayesu Ntim, Eastern Regional Chairman Jeff Konadu, Eastern Regional Minister Seth Acheampong, National Women’s Organiser Kate Gyamfua, and several parliamentary candidates.
Legal Advisor to the European Lotteries (EL), Phillipe Vlaemminck, has called on governments globally to reconsider the practice of taxing lottery winnings as a method of revenue generation, arguing that it discourages participation and diminishes the appeal of the game.
Speaking during a training session organized by the National Lottery Authority in Ghana, Mr. Vlaemminck emphasized that such taxation is counterproductive.
He was accompanied by Ms. Beata Guzik, EL Public Affairs Director. The session aimed to educate management, Lotto Marketing Companies (LMCs), Private Lottery Operators (PLOs), and third-party collaborators on various aspects of lottery operations and regulations.
The training covered a wide range of topics, including the role of lotteries, responsible gaming, combating illegal lotteries, global lottery trends, the legal framework within the European Union, anti-money laundering practices, the impact of artificial intelligence and new technologies, the world lottery market, and types of multi-jurisdictional games.
Participants were trained on the necessity of enforcing responsible gaming practices, ensuring that profit motives do not overshadow the welfare of patrons. They learned the importance of educating players about the odds of winning to help them make informed decisions and avoid unrealistic expectations and gambling-related problems.
Mr. Vlaemminck highlighted that taxing lottery winnings serves as a deterrent for players and should not be used by governments as a primary means of revenue generation. Instead, he urged a focus on sustainable practices that maintain the attractiveness of the lottery.
“When people play the lottery, they want to see all their money, and so taxing their wins deters the player from participating again, which causes lottery institutions and operators who are already contributing significantly to good causes to lose revenue, and so I believe the Ghanaian government and governments in other parts of the world who practice this should completely abolish taxes on the lottery. Let’s allow the players to enjoy their wins.”
Mr. Phillipe Vlamminck also underscored the crucial role of governments in combating illegal lottery operations, emphasizing that these efforts should support and complement the initiatives of lottery institutions and operators.
Director-General Samuel Awuku stated that the training would enhance the National Lottery Authority’s (NLA) operations and educate its stakeholders, who can then disseminate this knowledge within their teams.
“This training is key for the operations of NLA in our commitment to adhere to and promote Responsible Gaming practices per the standards of the World Lottery Association. (WLA) and we want to carry our retailers and stakeholders along so we can practice ethically and create a safe lottery space for our patrons”. It is also an avenue to deepen our relationship with the WLA and EL”.
The training session follows engagements at the EL Public Order Seminar on Enforcing Gambling Regulation: Significance and Challenges, held in Brussels in February by the European Lotteries Association. At this seminar, Mr. Samuel Awuku, Director-General of the National Lottery Authority (NLA), was invited to speak on illegal gambling in Ghana.
During his presentation, Mr. Awuku outlined measures implemented by the NLA and the Gaming Commission to combat illegal lottery operations and gambling in Ghana.
He called for collaboration with the European Lotteries to tackle illegal activities and hold training sessions for the Authority and its stakeholders. Additionally, he requested Observer status with the European Lotteries to allow the NLA to participate in seminars and training programs organized by the EL to enhance the NLA’s operations.
The NLA has achieved WLA Level 2 Certification in Responsible Gaming and has applied to attain Level 3.
Participants of the EL training, who received certificates in Responsible Gaming, found the sessions enlightening and impactful. They urged the NLA to organize more training to keep them updated on best practices and improve their business operations.
The trainer, Mr. Phillipe Vlamminck, boasts over 40 years of experience in lotteries, betting, and gambling. He represents and advises several European Member States and governments worldwide, their gaming regulators, lottery associations, cooperative structures like EuroMillions, and aspects related to Euro Jackpot & Viking Lotto.
Ms. Beata Guzik, with over 20 years of experience, is involved in various business areas as a lawyer and public affairs expert, following up on EU regulatory developments and court cases.
Director-General of the National Lottery Authority (NLA) and a prominent member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Sammi Awuku, has made notable comments regarding the composition of political parties in Ghana.
Speaking on Peace FM’s ‘Kokrokoo’, Awuku stressed that political parties attract individuals from diverse backgrounds, including those involved in illicit activities.
He emphasized the significance of every vote, regardless of whether it comes from a religious leader or a criminal.
“The vote of a bishop is one and the vote of an armed robber is one. So why should I pretend that I am only campaigning for Bishops and Imams?” he stated during an interview on Peace FM’s morning show, Kokrokoo.
Awuku acknowledged that political campaigns target a wide audience, including individuals from marginalized communities such as “ghettos.”
Furthermore, he highlighted the importance of understanding and supporting individuals who may have engaged in illegal activities, suggesting that their circumstances might have led them to such actions.
Awuku underscored the role of political parties in offering opportunities for redemption and rehabilitation.
“You campaign to bad boys, there are ‘wee’ boys in there, the ‘powder’ boys are there, and etcetera. And so after doing all your campaigning to get the votes, it is not my duty to go and report that when I went to this person, they said they will vote for me, but he is an armed robber. Rather I am supposed to counsel him to get a job. Maybe circumstances pushed them into it,” he noted.
Political parties, according to Awuku, are a mix of “good and bad people” with different behaviors and motivations, adding that not all party members are academicians but include “ those who are level-headed, those who do bad things, and we have those who are willing to accept help to become better.”
The Director-General of the National Lottery Authority (NLA) and a prominent member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Samuel Awuku, popularly known as Sammi Awuku, has made striking remarks about the composition of political parties in Ghana.
Awuku emphasized that political parties attract individuals from various backgrounds, including those who may engage in wrongdoing as part of their daily activities.
He stressed that every vote counts, whether it comes from a bishop or an armed robber.
“The vote of a bishop is one and the vote of an armed robber is one. So why should I pretend that I am only campaigning for Bishops and Imams?” he told host Kwame Sefa Kayi on Peace FM’s morning show, Kokrokoo.
Awuku acknowledged that political campaigns target a diverse audience, including individuals from marginalized communities such as “ghettos.”
Moreover, he emphasized the need for understanding and support for those who may have been involved in illegal activities, suggesting that their circumstances might have driven them to such actions.
Awuku highlighted the role of political parties in providing opportunities for redemption and rehabilitation.
“You campaign to bad boys, there are ‘wee’ boys in there, the ‘powder’ boys are there, and etcetera. And so after doing all your campaigning to get the votes, it is not my duty to go and report that when I went to this person, they said they will vote for me, but he is an armed robber, rather I am supposed to counsel him to get a job. Maybe circumstances pushed them into it,” he noted.
He added that political parties encompass a wide spectrum of individuals, ranging from the level-headed to those who may engage in unlawful behaviour, and as such, each person has their own reasons for affiliating with a political party, emphasizing the diversity within these organizations.
“So the political parties themselves are a cocktail of good and bad people. People should not think that political parties are only made up of academicians, not at all. We have those who are level-headed, and we have those who do bad things, and we have those who are willing to accept help to become better. But the point is that the five fingers are not the same. So everyone has their reasons for joining a political party.” he explained.
Awuku’s remarks come at a pivotal moment as Ghana gears up for the next general election, scheduled for December 2024.
Vice President Bawumia, having been chosen as the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) presidential candidate, is set to announce his running mate in June, as revealed by Awuku.
Campaign aide to the New Patriotic Party’s flagbearer, Sammi Awuku, has affirmed that despite financial challenges, the government will uphold the allowances for nursing and teacher trainees.
This assurance was reiterated by the Director General of the National Lottery Authority (NLA), who acknowledged the government’s fiscal constraints but underscored the importance of these allowances in supporting the education and training of nurses and teachers.
The statement comes amidst complaints from some trainee nurses who have yet to receive their allowances.
In an interview on Eyewitness News on Citi FM with Umaru Sanda Amadu, Mr. Awuku assured that these allowances would be maintained, even under the potential presidency of Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
Additionally, he affirmed the continuity of the Free Senior High School (SHS) program.
Awuku also disclosed the government’s efforts to settle its arrears for trainee nurses, demonstrating a commitment to addressing the concerns of those affected.
“In the face of the extreme challenge that we face, this government is still determined that the nursing training allowance that was restored will stay. The teacher trainee allowance that was restored will stay and stay even in the Bawumia government.”
“The free SHS will stay. I think it is a couple of months or so that we are in arrears and I can confidently say that just as the Vice President also indicated, together withthe Ministry of Finance we are making sure that these candidates, these young adults, get to be paid their full benefits before they say goodbye to school,” he stated.
Prominent member of Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia‘s campaign team, Sammi Awuku has revealed that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer will unveil his running mate to the public in June.
Awuku confirmed that Dr. Bawumia has already chosen his running mate for the upcoming 2024 general elections, dismissing claims of delay and highlighting that they are well within their timeline.
“We are very much within the timeline. Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia was elected barely six months ago, so we still have time. If you recall, his nomination in 2008 was done somewhere in August. So, for us in the NPP, we are very much within our timelines.
“It can be tomorrow, it can be next week, it can be next month, it can be three days from now. The flagbearer at this point is very clear in his mind who his running mate is going to be, and when he is ready, he is going to announce that. I am certain by June, he will announce his vice,” Sammi Awuku stated.
He reiterated that Dr. Bawumia is focused on campaigning vigorously against his main rival, John Dramani Mahama.
“Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia is up against John Mahama. They will be the candidates on the ballot, and we’re familiar with both. Dr. Bawumia’s real contest is with the former president,” Awuku emphasized.
In related news, the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has officially introduced Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang as its presidential running mate for the elections.
Ghanaian politician and former Deputy Communications Director for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Sammi Awuku recently revealed his challenging journey to success during an interview with Peace FM.
Awuku recounted the difficulties he faced in his earlier days, especially in supporting his sisters.
He highlighted the financial struggles and the lack of external support, forcing him to resort to selling pure water to finance his sisters’ education.
“Growing up, things were not easy. I had to sell pure water to support my sisters. I don’t want to dwell on this things because I know this kind of stories resonates with most Ghanaians. I had to support my sisters education to Holy child, it wsn’t easy at all,” Sammi Awuku stated.
Reflecting on his past, Awuku emphasized the need for credible leadership, particularly in the upcoming 2024 elections, to address the economic challenges faced by Ghanaians and reduce the burdens on families.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has completed its campaign structure for the upcoming 2024 national elections by appointing members to various national campaign committees.
This decision was reached during the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) and National Council meetings held on Monday, February 19, 2024, where the party’s flagbearer, Dr Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia was present.
Below is the list of Dr Bawumia’s campaign team ahead of the 2024 general elections slated for December 7.
Four senior members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) are expected to be appointed as senior campaign advisors by the NPP presidential candidate and sitting Vice-President of the Republic, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
The appointed advisors include Fred Oware, Peter Mac Manu, Anthony Karbo, and Sammi Awuku.
They are expected to bring their political and election campaign experience to Dr. Bawumia’s bid for the presidency.
These advisors are also considered key members of Dr. Bawumia’s inner circle, and their selection is seen as a strategic move to maintain a good blend of young NPP stalwarts and other top party officials in the campaign team.
Dr. Bawumia will present the list of his campaign team members to the National Executive Committee for consideration and approval.
“The list to be presented to NEC during its scheduled meeting on Monday will reflect the philosophy, strategy and focus of the NPP’s 2024 campaign,” said a source at the party headquarters in Asylum Down, Accra.
Following the presentation of the list to NEC, and a meeting with other political heavyweights and dynamic individuals, it is expected that “Team Bawumia” will be announced. This team is anticipated to have a mix of experience and youth, aiming to provide the dynamism required for the tough battle ahead.
President Akufo-Addo’s recent radical reshuffle, announced on Wednesday (14 February), saw thirteen ministers and ten deputy ministers losing their jobs.
Additionally, eleven new deputy ministers and nine new ministers-designate were appointed, while five standing ministers and one deputy minister were reassigned. This reshuffle reduced the average age among Akufo-Addo’s government ministers to 47.
Parliamentary candidate for Akuapem North under the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Sammi Awuku, has suggested the potential involvement of Ghanaian football iconAsamoah Gyan in both the campaign team and the prospective government of Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
During an interview with Asempa FM regarding the economic address delivered by the NPP’s presidential aspirant on February 7, 2024, Awuku praised Gyan for attending the event.
When asked about Gyan’s presence, Awuku explained that the renowned footballer is a close associate of Dr. Bawumia and possesses substantial expertise in sports and sports-related investments.
“Watch out for him. Dr. Bawumia likes people with great ideas. He is his good friend, and so watch out for him; you will soon hear from him,” he said.
Sammi Awuku described Gyan as “one guy who has solid ideas and is an iconic figure. Love him or hate him.”
“He may never know. Now that he is in retirement and resting, he should come and show his prowess in politics,” he added.
Gyan’s presence has further fueled rumours of him being a member of the governing New Patriotic Party.
Asamoah Gyan has often been linked with the NPP, with reports that he has been preparing to contest the parliamentary seat on behalf of the party.
Initial reports linked him to the Weija-Gbawe Constituency after the MP for Bortianor Ngleshie Amanfro Constituency, Sylvester Tetteh, alleged that Gyan was being lobbied by the camp of Dr Bawumia to oust him from his role.
He later apologised toAsamoah Gyan and disclosed that no such plan existed by the Bawumia camp to have Gyan contest him.
Sammi Awuku, the Director General of the National Lottery Authority (NLA) , recently underscored the challenges and resilience necessary for active participation in the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Widely recognized for his steadfast commitment to the party, Awuku passionately discussed the demanding nature of political engagement during an interview on Peace FM.
“Managing a party like NPP is not a small matter. I have been at Asylum Down headquarters for 11 years, serving as deputy communications director, National youth organiser, and National organiser. We navigated through challenging situations to ensure the party’s stability. When you are at the party’s headquarters, it takes courage and determination, or else you can’t be there,” remarked Sammy Awuku.
He continued by acknowledging the struggles within the NPP headquarters, advising party members to unite for a resounding victory in the upcoming general elections in 2024.
“My colleagues there, I know what they go through at the regional and national levels. The parliamentary primaries are a crucial step in our journey to the general elections. Let NPP emerge victorious. Acrimonious campaigning should be avoided. Post-January 27, we need people across to help deliver.”
Awuku, who has held pivotal positions within the NPP, including National Youth Organizer, National Organizer, addressed the challenges faced by party members and leaders.
He touched upon the intense scrutiny and public expectations associated with being part of a prominent political party.
As a key figure in the NPP’s organisational structure, Sammi Awuku recognized the sacrifices made by party members to uphold the party’s values and principles.
He commended volunteers, activists, and officials for their dedication to the NPP’s mission and vision.
Awuku’s address comes at a critical juncture for the NPP, with evolving political dynamics in Ghana.
The acknowledgment of the demanding nature of political involvement at the party headquarters serves as a rallying call for unity and commitment among party members.
In a light hearted conversation, politician and member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Sammi Awuku has opened up about a side of himself that few knew existed.
In an exclusive interview on peace fm, Awuku declared, “I’m a politician with the heart of a priest.”
The charismatic and well-respected figure in the political arena has long been known for his dedication to public service, but this recent admission sheds light on a different aspect of his character.
Awuku, who has served in various capacities in Ghanaian politics, made the revelation during a candid conversation about the intersection of his faith and political career.
“I think I have been a good father; I am a politician with the heart of a priest, and Samuel was a prophet, so if you add those two traits, I mean it wouldn’t be bad,” Sammy Awuku stated jokingly in a local dialect.
Samuel Awuku is a Ghanaian politician who was Deputy Communications Director, National Youth Organiser and currently the National Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
He is also the board chairman of the National Youth Employment Agency (YEA).
In 2021, he was appointed as the Director General of the National Lottery Authority.
New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate for Akropong constituency, Sammi Awuku, has recounted the hideous stories told to politicians by citizens in order to syphon money from them.
According to the former NPP Organiser, many politicians are burdened with the task of having to financially assist individuals who come to them for aid.
He noted that while some concerns are genuine, others are not. The Director-General of the National Lottery Authority (NLA) noted that he has been a victim at the hands of tricksters.
In an interview on Peace FM, he recounted the time when an individual came to him to solicit funds for his wife’s funeral. He noted that he had already fallen prey to tricksters; thus, he asked for proof and was provided with an obituary.
He gave in and supported the man, only to find out that he had fabricated his wife’s demise.
“Someone printed a poster of his wife’s obituary, not knowing it was not true. He came to me. I asked when it was because during my time as a youth organizer, people took advantage of me, so I used science and data.
“He was lucky and got to trick me. A month later, I saw him and asked why he was no longer in black, just a short period after his wife’s burial. He was with someone, and the individual asked him when his wife passed. He told his friend that it is not everything I have to tell you.
“I was like, what, your own friend? Later, his friend called and told me that his wife had not passed,” he said.
The Director-General of the National Lottery Authority (NLA), Sammi Awuku, has received unanimous endorsement as the 2024 Parliamentary Candidate for the Akropong Constituency in the Eastern region from the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP).
As the sole nominee in the primary for the constituency, Mr. Awuku was acclaimed by the party during a ceremony held at the Presbyterian College of Education on Saturday.
This development follows the decision of the incumbent NPP MP, Nana Ama Dokua Asiama-Adjei, to contest in the Okaikoi North Constituency of the Greater Accra Region.
The acclamation event, attended by party dignitaries such as Michael Otchere Baafi, MP for New Juaben South and Deputy Trade Minister, Jeff Konadu Addo, the Eastern Regional Chairman of the party, along with some ministers of state and national party executives, took place at the Presbyterian College of Education in Akropong.
Speaking to the delegates after his acclamation, Mr. Awuku, a former National Organizer of the party, expressed that his acclamation represents a call to service.
Mr. Awuku, a former National Organizer of the party on the right
“I believe this allows me to contribute towards the growth and development of the area. It will be an honour to represent the interests, concerns, and aspirations of the constituents. This is a call to service.”
“It has been a long journey. Over ten to eleven years, together with a few friends, we started this. Wonderful people, they rallied behind me. We engaged the party people, and they kept saying that I would be given the opportunity when the time comes,” he stated.
Mr. Awuku pledged to lead developmental initiatives in the region and foster unity within the party when elected as the Member of Parliament after the 2024 general election.
“We will ensure that development in the areas of roads, health, potable water, electricity. All those who left come home, let’s work together, I will be a candidate for all the people, and I want to be an MP when elected for all,” he said.
Director General for the National Lottery Authority (NLA), Sammi Awuku, is set to be acclaimed by delegates of the Akuapem North constituency this weekend.
As of the November 30, 2023, nomination deadline, Sammi Awuku was the sole candidate who had submitted paperwork to contest the Parliamentary candidacy for the constituency.
A letter signed by the Eastern Regional Chairman for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) announced that the acclamation is scheduled for Saturday, December 2, 2023, at a venue yet to be communicated.
Having earlier declared his intention to contest for the Akuapem North seat on Facebook, Sammi Awuku expressed that this decision followed months of consultation. He believes that presenting himself for votes is a significant step towards making himself available to serve his people.
On April 5, 2023, Vice President Dr Bawumia posted a picture that had the Ghanaian flag to the left and the NPP’s red, white, and blue flag to the right, with the inscription “It Is Possible” at the top of the two flags.
This was before he announced his decision to contest the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearership race.
Six months later, Dr Bawumia becomes the NPP flagbearer after beating his closest contender, Assin Central MP, Ken Agyapong during the party’s presidential election on November 4, 2023.
But all this while, much has not been said about his slogan. A member of his campaign team, Sammi Awuku, has provided details explaining the origin of this slogan and its purpose.
In an interview on JoyNews’ The Probe over the weekend, Mr Awuku noted that the slogan was crafted by Dr Bawumia himself due to its significance to him.
According to Mr Awuku, there were naysayers who dismissed Dr Bawumia’s chances of ever becoming NPP’s leader due to his religion and ethnicity, but for the Vice President, his notion remained ‘it is possible’ hence the slogan.
“He mounted a spirited campaign. For many people, when he started, they said it wasn’t possible but he was determined to make history. That slogan ‘it is possible’ was not coined by anybody of the campaign team. It was coined by himself.
“In political campaigns, you test the slogans. Our focus gurus, people coming with all sort of ideas but the ‘It is possible’ slogan came from him. And his belief is that it is possible to also do it together. Many people with the mindset that the NPP will never go for a candidate who is a non-Akan. He believes that is was possible.”
“Many people who believed that it would never get to the point where tbbe party would go for a non-Christian, he believed it was possible,” he added.
A total of 203,439 delegates participated in the election conducted on November 4, in the various constituencies across all 16 regions of Ghana.
Dr Mahamudu Bawumia polled 118,210 votes, representing 61.43 percent, Assin Central MP Kennedy Agyapong garnered 71,991 votes (37.41 percent), former Agric Minister, Dr Afriyie Akoto got 1,459 votes (0.76 percent) and former Mampong MP, Frimpong Addai-Nimoh secured 781 votes, representing (0.41 percent).
Former National Organiser for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and prominent member of the Bawumia campaign team, Sammi Awuku, has congratulated Assin Central MP, Kennedy Agyapong, for the good contest and sportsmanship he exhibited at the just-ended NPP presidential primaries.
According to Mr Awuku, although Mr Agyapong did not end up becoming flagbearer, the performance exhibited was far more outstanding than was expected.
“With all respect, Kennedy Agyapong did very well. I knew it was a tough contest. I kid you not, Ken is a consummate politician. He has been through the very rugged nature of our politics. He’s been multiple times number of Parliament. He has also been one serious advocate for reforms.
“He is a great campaigner. Yesterday, there was a great showing from Ken. Congratulations to him and his team. They did a good job,” he said in an interview on JoyNews’ The Probe.
Ahead of the polls, Mr Awuku projected that Dr Bawumia would win over 70 percent of the votes by that was not the case after a total of 203,439 delegates participated in the election conducted today, November 4, in the various constituencies across all 16 regions of Ghana.
At the end of the race, Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia was declared the winner of the New Patriotic Party’s presidential election to represent the ruling party in the 2024 general elections.
Dr Mahamudu Bawumia polled 118,210 votes, representing 61.43 percent, Assin Central MP Kennedy Agyapong garnered 71,991 votes (37.41 percent), former Agric Minister, Dr Afriyie Akoto got 1,459 votes (0.76 percent) and former Mampong MP, Frimpong Addai-Nimoh secured 781 votes, representing (0.41 percent).
Mr Awuku also acknowledged feeling shell-shocked by the results that trooped in from Volta Region in the party’s just-ended presidential primaries.
In the Volta Region, Assin Central MP, Kennedy Agyapong, led the pack with 5,850 votes. Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia followed with 4,984 votes. The two other contenders, Dr Akoto Afriyie and Francis Addai-Nimoh earned 115 votes and 66 votes, respectively.
Mr Awuku noted that he was perplexed that his candidate lost to Ken Agyapong and now seeks to unravel the strategy used to ensure that.
“I think that is one of the things I’ll be looking at. I have a fair idea of what happened but this is something the rest of the team must also share their opinions on.
“I honestly believe that we have to review the results from Volta. Honestly, it was one of the results that shocked me. In terms of strategy. I don’t doubt the results. What might have gone wrong in the Volta Region. But great showing for Ken,” he said.
Former National Organiser for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and prominent member of the Bawumia campaign team, Sammi Awuku, has acknowledged feeling shell-shocked by the results that trooped in from Volta Region in the party’s just-ended presidential primaries.
In the Volta Region, Assin Central MP, Kennedy Agyapong, led the pack with 5,850 votes. Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia followed with 4,984 votes. The two other contenders, Dr Akoto Afriyie and Francis Addai-Nimoh earned 115 votes and 66 votes, respectively.
In an interview on JoyNews’ The Probe, Mr Awuku noted that he was perplexed that his candidate lost to Ken Agyapong and now seeks to unravel the strategy used to ensure that.
He also acknowledged the good work done by the Ken Agyapong camp and congratulated the candidate for the good work done.
“With all respect, Kennedy Agyapong did very well. I knew it was a tough contest. I kid you not, Ken is a consummate politician. He has been through the very rugged nature of our politics. He’s been multiple times number of Parliament. He has also been one serious advocate for reforms.
“He is a great campaigner. Yesterday, there was a great showing from Ken. Congratulations to him and his team. They did a good job. I think that is one of the things I’ll be looking at. I have a fair idea of what happened but this is something the rest of the team must also share their opinions on.
“I honestly believe that we have to review the results from Volta. Honestly, it was one of the results that shocked me. In terms of strategy. I don’t doubt the results. What might have gone wrong in the Volta Region. But great showing for Ken,” he said.
At the end of the race, Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia was declared the winner of the New Patriotic Party’s presidential election to represent the ruling party in the 2024 general elections.
A total of 203,439 delegates participated in the election conducted on November 4, in the various constituencies across all 16 regions of Ghana.
Dr Mahamudu Bawumia polled 118,210 votes, representing 61.43 percent, Assin Central MP Kennedy Agyapong garnered 71,991 votes (37.41 percent), former Agric Minister, Dr Afriyie Akoto got 1,459 votes (0.76 percent) and former Mampong MP, Frimpong Addai-Nimoh secured 781 votes, representing (0.41 percent).
He will subsequently compete against the candidate from the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, in the upcoming December 2024 general election.
Former National Organiser for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and prominent member of the Bawumia campaign team, Sammi Awuku, has openly recognized the strong competition posed by the opposition party’s candidate, John Dramani Mahama.
In an interview on JoyNews’ The Probe, he acknowledged that securing victory in the 2024 election won’t be a straightforward endeavor for their party.
He emphasized that while the NPP will primarily face off against Mr Mahama, he remains confident that their candidate will prevail in the 2024 elections. Mr. Awuku attributed this potential success to the strategic approach the NPP intends to implement.
Former President John Dramani Mahama
“We are up against a very formidable opponent, but the NPP will win 2024 based on superior strategy – our message and our ability,” he admitted.
“I am confident of NPP victory in 2024 because what is the alternative? The alternative must also tell us what they intend to do. They are not new to the politics of our country,” he added.
On Saturday, November 4, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia was elected to lead the NPP in a closely contested presidential primary.
In his victory speech, he urged his fellow contenders and party members to unite and collaborate in pursuit of the NPP’s goal to ‘break the 8.’
Our paths crossed for the first time in 2006 at the University of Ghana, specifically Commonwealth Hall. I had gone to ‘City’ to see a course mate of mine. He walked in, said a few words and checked out.
My course mate would later reveal to me that the gentleman had started the journey of aspiring to lead the students front as the SRC President. Legon has often been littered with young, vibrant and ambitious young men and women with a desire to lead the students front. Some of them had gone on to have great political careers.
It’s a long list. President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Rt. Hon. Peter Ala Adjetey, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, Freddie Blay and more come to mind. The Political careers of these gentlemen started long before they became the popular names we heard on radio and television. The University of Ghana served as a platform for them to nurture their leadership skills to hit the ‘road’ after school.
I thought it was always great to test one’s mettle for a leadership position and that it was really up to him (Sammy) to push that agenda if he so wished. Months later, I saw his posters pop up all over campus. To the best of my recollection as a student of the Premier University, a strong ‘City’ affinity appeared to give student leaders who vied for positions a cushion for success.
They were good at mobilizing the brothers on election day and be supportive of the entire campaign process. When they found a candidate good enough from their quarters, they rallied around the individual with unmatched support. There was a challenge he would however have to surmount. Lord Koranteng Hammah.
A charismatic, vocal, populist, magnetic, eloquent speaker. He was the man Sammy had to get past for the ultimate. In Lords corner was DM Ofori-Atta, another top guy. A duo who could arouse the emotions of the student’s body and get them onside. A duo that gave the school authorities one hell of a time in dealing with the needs and wants of students.
How I vividly recall that night on the campaign front when Hammah and DM visited Sarbah Main Hall, my Hall of residence at the time, and electrified the place with their presence. Readers who were students of the Hall would not forget that night quickly. At a point in his speech, Hammah took out a white handkerchief from his pocket, akin to Kwame Nkrumah, and made that famous statement. ‘They are few, but we are many.’
The entire electoral campaign was so intense that a decision was taken by the school authorities to literally discontinue the process. The wishes of Sam, Hammah and others to lead the students front did not materialize. They probably got on with their lives after all that intense campaign to pursue other dreams I reckon. Well, that was what I thought. Sam had other ideas though. The Legon saga was not going to end a dream.
A few years down the line, I bumped into him at the compound of one of the Media Houses in Accra where he had appeared as a guest on a political program representing the New Patriotic Party.
I got into another office at that station and the lads in there were incidentally glued to that Political program. He spoke with a lot verve and strongly. He articulated his views in a clear and dispassionate manner and seemed to be on top of a lot of issues. I just watched.
He would appear on many political shows subsequently and gradually appear to be winning the hearts and minds of many especially the Youth. He would later vie for the National Youth Organiser position and win the elections in 2014 with 471 votes. Now this was at the time the NPP was in opposition with many party faithful especially the Youth disillusioned with the outcome of the 2012 election petition and looking for that young and dynamic voice who could rally the numbers together with the support of the National Organiser. Enter Sammi Awuku.
Together with then National Organiser John Boadu who later transitioned to hold the General Secretary’s position, the duo would comb the hook and crannies of this country to solicit for votes and mounted multiple platforms with then candidate Nana Akufo-Addo. He would earn all kinds of names and titles in the process. Some he has maintained till this day. Capo appears to be the defining one.
For me, what defined Sam’s political career was the presser he addressed early on the 9th of December, 2016 with the election results filtering in. A young, confident and assertive Awuku told the world at a presser by the Youth Wing of the party that with over 80% of the votes counted, the NPP had a sizeable lead and called on the Electoral Commission to declare the party victors in the election.
He was not forcing the hand of the Electoral Commission in declaring the results. He seemed to have the numbers we were all waiting for. He knew something that many didn’t know. We know what happened later that day. Madam Charlotte Osei would announce the results in favour of the NPP.
Many young political guys appear to come out rude, disrespectful or worse after aligning with parties in power. I have seen and met loads of them across the Political divide. Some who could not afford three square meals speak with embarrassing levels of arrogance and crass. Not Sam. Polite, respectful and accommodating. He appears to have time for anyone and everything. And oh, we have crossed paths on multiple occasions since.
I was in Koforidua to cover the NPP delegates election as a media person in 2018 when he aspired for the position of National Organiser. I recall interviewing him before the vote. His message was poignant. He had set himself the task of leading the NPP to glory in 2020 as the lead organiser and he was going to make that happen if given the nod. The results of that election were announced at dawn the following morning.
He walked to our stand (Class 91.3fm) and respectfully engaged us. I asked him a simple question centered on how quickly he was rising in the party. At 3:36am, he smiled and responded courteously. ‘For God and country. This is only part of the process. I together with my other executives have a responsibility of helping the party retain power and that is the ultimate, he stressed.’
Sam may have since moved on to work with the Youth Employment Agency as Board Chairman and National Lotteries as Chief Executive but his influence and relevance is not lost on the Party faithful. His political ambitions are clear. Next step, Parliament. He is vying for the Akwapim North seat, a traditional NPP seat in the 4th republic. Agyare Koi Larbi, Lawyer William Ofori Boafo and Nana Dokua Bissue have held the seat since 1996. Looks like a done deal from what I gather.
If the numbers I saw on the 4th of August for the Ofie Walk is anything to go by, then he is in a comfortable lead. He is a grassroots man delivering on multiple fronts in the constituency and beyond. To get the sitting MP Nana Dokua move out and contest another seat in Accra (Okaikoi North) tells a story. He is the man of the locals.
His works must have culminated in landing the job as Campaign Manager of Dr Mahamadu Bawumia ahead of the NPP Presidential Primaries. You don’t get such top jobs everyday if you are not cut out for the position. I have no idea how the Vice President settled oh him as his campaign capo. What I do know however is that Sam is a go getter, a man of the people and a man who can work the electoral numbers for victory.
In recent times when the campaign has became a bit too intense with salvos being fired from opposing camps, he has dealt with them with tact and finesse with his comments and behind the scenes diplomacy. Indeed, Hon Ken Agyepong has since revealed that following his showdown comments, a telephone conversation was facilitated by Sammy for the two(Hon Agyepong and Dr Bawumia) to iron out any issues that may have arisen.
He has already gone past the Special Delegates conference as Capo with over 66% of the votes for candidate Dr Bawumia. Can he get past November 4th and put the icing on the cake on December 7th, 2024? On the evidence of his works, it must be tough to bet against him leading his candidate to glory. Time would tell.
The writer, Kwame Dwomoh-Agyemang is a Communications and International Relations Professional and an Adjunct Lecturer at African University College of Communications, Pentecost and Knutsford Universities.
Former National Organiser of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) Sammi Awuku has dispelled swirling rumours that electing Dr Mahamudu Bawumia as flagbearer and President ostensibly is a third for President Akufo-Addo.
According to Mr Awuku, Dr Bawumia is a man of his own right and mind and has his vision for Ghana.
Speaking on Citi FM’s Eye Witness on November 2, 2023, Sammi Awuku asserted that he’s only supporting Bawumia because of his passion to create opportunities for the youth
Campaign Manager for Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential bid, Sammi Awuku, remains steadfast in his belief that his candidate presents the party’s best opportunity for success in the 2024 general elections.
In Mr. Awuku’s view, Dr. Bawumia possesses the capability to make significant headway in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) strongholds, particularly within the Ashanti region, where NDC support has been on the rise. He underlines the importance of Dr. Bawumia’s leadership qualities and his potential to secure more votes in the Ashanti region, while also posing a challenge to the NDC’s dominance in their traditional strongholds.
Furthermore, Mr. Awuku expresses his skepticism that any amount of mathematical calculations could lead to an NPP victory in the Volta region in 2024, but having Dr. Bawumia as the candidate transforms the political landscape.
“There is no mathematical gymnastics that can convince me that the NPP can win the Volta region in 2024. But the two other strongholds of the NDC then become a battleground when you have a candidate like Dr Bawumia.”
As the New Patriotic Party (NPP) prepares to select its flagbearer for the upcoming elections, the field of candidates includes Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Dr. Afriyie Akoto, Kennedy Agyapong, and Francis Addai-Nimoh.
A recent poll conducted by the Institute of Research Innovation & Development at Kumasi Technical University revealed that Dr. Bawumia is the favored candidate among NPP delegates, with a high likelihood of winning the party’s presidential nomination.
The poll findings showed that 71.1% of NPP delegates believe Dr. Bawumia has a strong chance of securing victory, while 26.8% believe Kennedy Agyapong has a better chance.
Moreover, 69.9% of delegates see Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia as the most unifying candidate, with 19.4% considering Kennedy Agyapong as the most unifying.
When it comes to visible leadership qualities, 70.5% of participating delegates chose Dr. Bawumia, with 19.4% naming Mr. Kennedy Agyapong.
The poll indicates that Dr. Bawumia enjoys robust support among NPP delegates and is well-positioned to secure the party’s presidential nomination.
The campaign team of Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has contested the results of a Global Info Analytics survey, which suggests that Vice President Dr. Bawumia is leading with 43.5% of delegates’ votes in the upcoming New Patriotic Party’s presidential race on November 4.
According to the survey, none of the candidates in the race, including the frontrunner Vice President Bawumia, has garnered the required majority of over 50% of the votes for an outright win.
Additionally, the survey indicates that Kennedy Agyapong, Member of Parliament for Assin Central, has gained substantial support, securing 23.5% of delegates’ backing.
These findings suggest that the NPP race may be more closely contested than initially expected, with 18.3% of delegates yet to make a decision.
During an appearance on Joy FM’s Top Story on Thursday, October 26, in response to the survey findings, Sammy Awuku, the spokesperson for Dr. Bawumia’s campaign team, expressed their belief that Dr. Bawumia’s popularity remains strong.
He pointed out that, following the withdrawal and resignation of former presidential aspirant Alan Kyerematen, several key members of Kyerematen’s team have declared their support for Dr. Bawumia. According to Awuku, this development should strengthen the Vice President’s support base rather than diminish it to the reported 43.5%.
He contends that this should actually bolster the Vice President’s support base rather than cause it to decline to 43.5%.
For this reason, Mr Awuku noted that “any polls that predict that the Vice President will get less than 75% on the 4th of November – trust me is not any credible poll,” he said.
He emphasized that their team is confident in their candidate’s ability to secure a substantial victory, aiming for a range between 75% to 80%.
He stated that their team has diligently conducted its campaign efforts throughout the country, actively disseminating the candidate’s message of unity, with the goal of ensuring the New Patriotic Party retains power in the 2024 election.
“We entered into this race clearly knowing our red, yellow and green. As we speak today, I can tell you that we are working towards a 75% to 80% win on November 4, and I would be surprised to see the Vice President get anything below 75%,” he maintained.
“Any polling that for me, puts Dr Bawumia below 75% I will not treat it seriously,” he reiterated.
Meanwhile, the campaign team supporting former Food and Agric Minister, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, is expressing optimism that their candidate will deliver a major surprise in the race.
Dr. Prince Amuzu, the spokesperson for the team, believes that their candidate’s campaign message strongly resonates with the delegates.
In addition, George Obeng Antwi, who serves as the spokesperson for the Addai-Nimoh campaign team, confidently asserts that Mr. Nimoh will ultimately emerge victorious. He points out that his candidate faced unfavorable odds during the super delegates conference but managed to advance to the final four aspirants. Consequently, he holds reservations regarding the Global Info Analytics survey results concerning his candidate.
“We cannot go by the polls because we do not know who they interviewed. We are very certain that Mr Addai-Nimoh will be victorious. People are tired and want to see a new face lead the country,” he said.
The National Organiser of the Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG), Yaw Asani Tano, has backed President Akufo-Addo’s assertion that not every leader in the country is corrupt.
President Akufo-Addo made the utterance during a meeting with the new Chairman of the Christian Council, Right Rev. Dr. Hilliad Della Dogbe, and his delegation at the Jubilee House.
He expressed his disappointment with the negative perceptions of leadership, highlighting that some of them might have thrived in the private sector.
In reaction to the president’s comment during an interview on Hello FM, Mr Tano noted that he can vouch for a number of appointees in past and present governments who have been shown to be incorruptible.
He mentioned the likes of former Special Prosecutor Martin Amidu, former Auditor General, Daniel Yaw Domelovo, Director-General for the National Lottery Authority (NLA), Sammi Awuku as some of the individuals who have proven that not all appointees are corrupt.
“For the very first time, I agree with the president that it is not every appointee that is corrupt. If not for anything, I know Frimpong-Boateng is not corrupt. I know Domelevo is not corrupt. I know Martin Amidu is not corrupt. In fact, anyone you appoint who adds value to the portfolio you have given, create more room for revenue, like Sammi Awuku, you see when he came, he didn’t stick to the status quo, he has found other avenues of raising money into the portfolio given him,” he said.
“I know Kingsley Agyeman he is not corrupt. I know some people in the NPP, I cannot sit back, I don’t know what they do in their homes, but from where I sit, I can’t say they are corrupt. So what the President has said is the truth. Likewise in the previous administration, there were some people who were not corrupt,” he added.
Meanwhile, President Akufo-Addo has reassured the public that there are anti-corruption institutions and agencies in place to hold the government accountable.
Our paths crossed for the first time in 2006 at the University of Ghana, specifically Commonwealth Hall. I had gone to ‘City’ to see a course mate of mine. He walked in, said a few words and checked out. My course mate would later reveal to me that the gentleman had started the journey of aspiring to lead the students front as the SRC President. Legon has often been littered with young, vibrant and ambitious young men and women with a desire to lead the students front. Some of them had gone on to have great political careers. It’s a long list. President Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo, Rt. Hon. Peter Ala Adjetey, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, Freddie Blay and more come to mind. The Political careers of these gentlemen started long before they became the popular names we heard on radio and television. The University of Ghana served as a platform for them to nurture their leadership skills to hit the ‘road’ after school.
I thought it was always great to test one’s mettle for a leadership position and that it was really up to him (Sammy) to push that agenda if he so wished. Months later, I saw his posters pop up all over campus. To the best of my recollection as a student of the Premier University, a strong ‘City’ affinity appeared to give student leaders who vied for positions a cushion for success. They were good at mobilizing the brothers on election day and be supportive of the entire campaign process. When they found a candidate good enough from their quarters, they rallied around the individual with unmatched support. There was a challenge he would however have to surmount. Lord Koranteng Hammah.
A Charismatic, vocal, populist, magnetic, eloquent speaker. He was the man Sammy had to get past for the ultimate. In Lords corner was DM Ofori-Atta, another top guy. A duo who could arouse the emotions of the student’s body and get them onside. A duo that gave the school authorities one hell of a time in dealing with the needs and wants of students. How I vividly recall that night on the campaign front when Hammah and DM visited Sarbah Main Hall, my Hall of residence at the time, and electrified the place with their presence. Readers who were students of the Hall would not forget that night quickly. At a point in his speech, Hammah took out a white handkerchief from his pocket, akin to Kwame Nkrumah, and made that famous statement. ‘They are few, but we are many.’
The entire electoral campaign was so intense that a decision was taken by the school authorities to literally discontinue the process. The wishes of Sam, Hammah and others to lead the students front did not materialize. They probably got on with their lives after all that intense campaign to pursue other dreams I reckon. Well, that was what I thought. Sam had other ideas though. The Legon saga was not going to end a dream.
A few years down the line, I bumped into him at the compound of one of the Media Houses in Accra where he had appeared as a guest on a political program representing the New Patriotic Party. I got into another office at that station and the lads in there were incidentally glued to that Political program. He spoke with a lot verve and strongly. He articulated his views in a clear and dispassionate manner and seemed to be on top of a lot of issues. I just watched.
He would appear on many political shows subsequently and gradually appear to be winning the hearts and minds of many especially the Youth. He would later vie for the National Youth Organiser position and win the elections in 2014 with 471 votes. Now this was at the time the NPP was in opposition with many party faithful especially the Youth disillusioned with the outcome of the 2012 election petition and looking for that young and dynamic voice who could rally the numbers together with the support of the National Organiser. Enter Sammy Awuku.
Together with then National Organiser John Boadu who later transitioned to hold the General Secretary’s position, the duo would comb the hook and crannies of this country to solicit for votes and mounted multiple platforms with then candidate Nana Akufo-Addo. He would earn all kinds of names and titles in the process. Some he has maintained till this day. Capo appears to be the defining one.
For me, what defined Sam’s political career was the presser he addressed early on the 9th of December, 2016 with the election results filtering in. A young, confident and assertive Awuku told the world at a presser by the Youth Wing of the party that with over 80% of the votes counted, the NPP had a sizeable lead and called on the Electoral Commission to declare the party victors in the election. He was not forcing the hand of the Electoral Commission in declaring the results. He seemed to have the numbers we were all waiting for. He knew something that many didn’t know. We know what happened later that day. Madam Charlotte Osei would announce the results in favour of the NPP.
Many young political guys appear to come out rude, disrespectful or worse after aligning with parties in power. I have seen and met loads of them across the Political divide. Some who could not afford three square meals speak with embarrassing levels of arrogance and crass. Not Sam. Polite, respectful and accommodating. He appears to have time for anyone and everything. And oh, we have crossed paths on multiple occasions since.
Our paths crossed for the first time in 2006 at the University of Ghana, specifically Commonwealth Hall. I had gone to ‘City’ to see a course mate of mine. He walked in, said a few words and checked out. My course mate would later reveal to me that the gentleman had started the journey of aspiring to lead the students front as the SRC President. Legon has often been littered with young, vibrant and ambitious young men and women with a desire to lead the students front. Some of them had gone on to have great political careers. It’s a long list. President Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo, Rt. Hon. Peter Ala Adjetey, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, Freddie Blay and more come to mind. The Political careers of these gentlemen started long before they became the popular names we heard on radio and television. The University of Ghana served as a platform for them to nurture their leadership skills to hit the ‘road’ after school.
I thought it was always great to test one’s mettle for a leadership position and that it was really up to him (Sammy) to push that agenda if he so wished. Months later, I saw his posters pop up all over campus. To the best of my recollection as a student of the Premier University, a strong ‘City’ affinity appeared to give student leaders who vied for positions a cushion for success. They were good at mobilizing the brothers on election day and be supportive of the entire campaign process. When they found a candidate good enough from their quarters, they rallied around the individual with unmatched support. There was a challenge he would however have to surmount. Lord Koranteng Hammah.
A Charismatic, vocal, populist, magnetic, eloquent speaker. He was the man Sammy had to get past for the ultimate. In Lords corner was DM Ofori-Atta, another top guy. A duo who could arouse the emotions of the student’s body and get them onside. A duo that gave the school authorities one hell of a time in dealing with the needs and wants of students. How I vividly recall that night on the campaign front when Hammah and DM visited Sarbah Main Hall, my Hall of residence at the time, and electrified the place with their presence. Readers who were students of the Hall would not forget that night quickly. At a point in his speech, Hammah took out a white handkerchief from his pocket, akin to Kwame Nkrumah, and made that famous statement. ‘They are few, but we are many.’
The entire electoral campaign was so intense that a decision was taken by the school authorities to literally discontinue the process. The wishes of Sam, Hammah and others to lead the students front did not materialize. They probably got on with their lives after all that intense campaign to pursue other dreams I reckon. Well, that was what I thought. Sam had other ideas though. The Legon saga was not going to end a dream.
A few years down the line, I bumped into him at the compound of one of the Media Houses in Accra where he had appeared as a guest on a political program representing the New Patriotic Party. I got into another office at that station and the lads in there were incidentally glued to that Political program. He spoke with a lot verve and strongly. He articulated his views in a clear and dispassionate manner and seemed to be on top of a lot of issues. I just watched.
He would appear on many political shows subsequently and gradually appear to be winning the hearts and minds of many especially the Youth. He would later vie for the National Youth Organiser position and win the elections in 2014 with 471 votes. Now this was at the time the NPP was in opposition with many party faithful especially the Youth disillusioned with the outcome of the 2012 election petition and looking for that young and dynamic voice who could rally the numbers together with the support of the National Organiser. Enter Sammy Awuku.
Together with then National Organiser John Boadu who later transitioned to hold the General Secretary’s position, the duo would comb the hook and crannies of this country to solicit for votes and mounted multiple platforms with then candidate Nana Akufo-Addo. He would earn all kinds of names and titles in the process. Some he has maintained till this day. Capo appears to be the defining one.
For me, what defined Sam’s political career was the presser he addressed early on the 9th of December, 2016 with the election results filtering in. A young, confident and assertive Awuku told the world at a presser by the Youth Wing of the party that with over 80% of the votes counted, the NPP had a sizeable lead and called on the Electoral Commission to declare the party victors in the election. He was not forcing the hand of the Electoral Commission in declaring the results. He seemed to have the numbers we were all waiting for. He knew something that many didn’t know. We know what happened later that day. Madam Charlotte Osei would announce the results in favour of the NPP.
Many young political guys appear to come out rude, disrespectful or worse after aligning with parties in power. I have seen and met loads of them across the Political divide. Some who could not afford three square meals speak with embarrassing levels of arrogance and crass. Not Sam. Polite, respectful and accommodating. He appears to have time for anyone and everything. And oh, we have crossed paths on multiple occasions since.
I was in Koforidua to cover the NPP delegates election as a media person in 2018 when he aspired for the position of National Organiser. I recall interviewing him before the vote. His message was poignant. He had set himself the task of leading the NPP to glory in 2020 as the lead organiser and he was going to make that happen if given the nod. The results of that election were announced at dawn the following morning. He walked to our stand (Class 91.3fm) and respectfully engaged us. I asked him a simple question centered on how quickly he was rising in the party. At 3:36am, he smiled and responded courteously. ‘For God and country. This is only part of the process. I together with my other executives have a responsibility of helping the party retain power and that is the ultimate, he stressed.’
Sam may have since moved on to work with the Youth Employment Agency as Board Chairman and National Lotteries as Chief Executive but his influence and relevance is not lost on the Party faithful. His political ambitions are clear. Next step, Parliament. He is vying for the Akwapim North seat, a traditional NPP seat in the 4th republic. Agyare Koi Larbi, Lawyer William Ofori Boafo and Nana Dokua Bissue have held the seat since 1996. Looks like a done deal from what I gather. If the numbers I saw on the 4th of August for the Ofie Walk is anything to go by, then he is in a comfortable lead. He is a grassroots man delivering on multiple fronts in the constituency and beyond. To get the sitting MP Nana Dokua move out and contest another seat in Accra (Okaikoi North) tells a story. He is the man of the locals.
His works must have culminated in landing the job as Campaign Manager of Dr Mahamadu Bawumia ahead of the NPP Presidential Primaries. You don’t get such top jobs everyday if you are not cut out for the position. I have no idea how the Vice President settled oh him as his campaign capo. What I do know however is that Sam is a go getter, a man of the people and a man who can work the electoral numbers for victory. In recent times when the campaign has became a bit too intense with salvos being fired from opposing camps, he has dealt with them with tact and finesse with his comments and behind the scenes diplomacy. Indeed, Hon Ken Agyepong has since revealed that following his showdown comments, a telephone conversation was facilitated by Sammy for the two(Hon Agyepong and Dr Bawumia) to iron out any issues that may have arisen.
He has already gone past the Special Delegates conference as Capo with over 66% of the votes for candidate Dr Bawumia. Can he get past November 4th and put the icing on the cake on December 7th, 2024? On the evidence of his works, it must be tough to bet against him leading his candidate to glory. Time would tell.
The writer, Kwame Dwomoh-Agyemang is a Communications and International Relations Professional and an Adjunct Lecturer at African University College of Communications, Pentecost and Knutsford Universities.
I was in Koforidua to cover the NPP delegates election as a media person in 2018 when he aspired for the position of National Organiser. I recall interviewing him before the vote. His message was poignant. He had set himself the task of leading the NPP to glory in 2020 as the lead organiser and he was going to make that happen if given the nod. The results of that election were announced at dawn the following morning. He walked to our stand (Class 91.3fm) and respectfully engaged us. I asked him a simple question centered on how quickly he was rising in the party. At 3:36am, he smiled and responded courteously. ‘For God and country. This is only part of the process. I together with my other executives have a responsibility of helping the party retain power and that is the ultimate, he stressed.’
Sam may have since moved on to work with the Youth Employment Agency as Board Chairman and National Lotteries as Chief Executive but his influence and relevance is not lost on the Party faithful. His political ambitions are clear. Next step, Parliament. He is vying for the Akwapim North seat, a traditional NPP seat in the 4th republic. Agyare Koi Larbi, Lawyer William Ofori Boafo and Nana Dokua Bissue have held the seat since 1996. Looks like a done deal from what I gather. If the numbers I saw on the 4th of August for the Ofie Walk is anything to go by, then he is in a comfortable lead. He is a grassroots man delivering on multiple fronts in the constituency and beyond. To get the sitting MP Nana Dokua move out and contest another seat in Accra (Okaikoi North) tells a story. He is the man of the locals.
His works must have culminated in landing the job as Campaign Manager of Dr Mahamadu Bawumia ahead of the NPP Presidential Primaries. You don’t get such top jobs everyday if you are not cut out for the position. I have no idea how the Vice President settled oh him as his campaign capo. What I do know however is that Sam is a go getter, a man of the people and a man who can work the electoral numbers for victory. In recent times when the campaign has became a bit too intense with salvos being fired from opposing camps, he has dealt with them with tact and finesse with his comments and behind the scenes diplomacy. Indeed, Hon Ken Agyepong has since revealed that following his showdown comments, a telephone conversation was facilitated by Sammy for the two(Hon Agyepong and Dr Bawumia) to iron out any issues that may have arisen.
He has already gone past the Special Delegates conference as Capo with over 66% of the votes for candidate Dr Bawumia. Can he get past November 4th and put the icing on the cake on December 7th, 2024? On the evidence of his works, it must be tough to bet against him leading his candidate to glory. Time would tell.
The writer, Kwame Dwomoh-Agyemang is a Communications and International Relations Professional and an Adjunct Lecturer at African University College of Communications, Pentecost and Knutsford Universities.
DISCLAIMER: Independentghana.com will not be liable for any inaccuracies contained in this article. The views expressed in the article are solely those of the author’s, and do not reflect those of The Independent Ghana
Former National Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Sammi Awuku, has refuted allegations that Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia is utilizing state resources to advance his candidacy for the NPP flagbearer position.
Ahead of the NPP Presidential Primaries slated for November 4, there have been claims the Vice President is financing his campaign with state funds.
In June this year, before his candidate, Alan Kyerematen broke away from the NPP, Yaw Buaben Asamoa accused Dr Mahamudu Bawumia of using government resources and personnel to get delegates to accept him as a candidate.
But in an interview on Peace FM’s morning programme “Kokrokoo”, Mr Awuku noted that such claims are false and demanded proof from the accusers.
“What is the proof?””I reject any assertion that we are also using State funds. Where are we going to get it from? What happens is that Dr. Bawumia has enormous goodwill,” he said.
He however, explained that the Vice President is accessing individuals he is entitled to as a statesman.
“Let’s be clear. Former President John Mahama will be campaigning for the Presidency of Ghana next year still as a former President with all the protocols accorded him still given. He is entitled to a dispatch. He is entitled to state security protection. The fact that Dr. Bawumia is contesting to be flagbearer doesn’t mean he is still not the Vice President.
“And in 2024, when Dr. Bawumia becomes the candidate for NPP, he and the President will be campaigning with the support of the State Security because they are all entitled to that,” he established.
The Director General of the National Lottery Authority (NLA) and former National Youth Organiser for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Sammi Awuku, has conveyed his confidence in Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia’s potential victory in the upcoming NPP presidential primaries scheduled for November 4.
Speaking in a recent interview on Peace FM’s Kokrokoo with Kwame Sefa Kayi, Awuku lauded Dr Bawumia as a competent and visionary leader capable of steering Ghana towards the next phase of development.
The basis for Awuku’s confidence stems from the outcomes of the party’s super delegates conference on August 6, which aimed to narrow down the field of 10 flagbearer aspirants to 5. Dr Bawumia emerged as a frontrunner, securing an impressive 68.15% of the total valid votes, amounting to 629 votes.
Awuku underlined the significance of the superdelegates’ votes on August 26 in shaping the final decision on November 4. He asserted that the superdelegates, representing diverse opinions within the party, echoed the sentiments of the grassroots by endorsing Dr Bawumia.
In acknowledging the extensive reach of the NPP across the nation, Awuku emphasised the party’s presence in nearly 40,000 polling stations, each serving as a microcosm of diverse communities. He urged the delegates to consider the broader impact of their choice on the nation and their respective localities.
“On November 4th, I am confident that the delegates of the New Patriotic Party, as we head to the polls, have to make a decision of electing not just a potential flagbearer but electing a potential president for Ghana,” Awuku urged. “Because the NPP is represented in all the polling stations in Ghana, almost 40,000, and these are communities. So, you take a decision and vote.”
Awuku concluded with a resolute statement, “Those who voted during the superdelegates will also vote on November 4th, and those who voted during the superdelegates represent the shades of opinions in the party, all the structures. I think the victory of Dr Bawumia on August 26 will be more profound on November 4th.” His optimism suggests a prevailing momentum that could shape the trajectory of the NPP’s leadership come November 4.
Kennedy Agyapong, a hopeful flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has praised Sammi Awuku, the Director of the National Lottery Authority (NLA) and former NPP National Organizer, for his efforts in promoting peace within the party.
In an interview on Kessben TV on September 16, 2023, Agyapong disclosed that Sammi Awuku facilitated a discussion between himself and Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia to address the issues surrounding his previous confrontational remarks.
During the interview, Agyapong highlighted his positive interactions with specific individuals associated with the vice president’s presidential campaign, with particular appreciation for Sammi Awuku, whom he credits with playing a significant role in diffusing tensions.
“I am fine with him (Bawumia), one sensible person within his camp is Sammi Awuku. He is a young boy, and he knows how to play his cards well. Because of our relationship, sometimes he comes to my house, and we discuss things.
“Another person is Fred Oware. They come to me, and we talk. Sammy Awuku, when I gave the showdown, he called the Vice President for me to talk to him and explain things to him, and today, see the way he has taken the issue playfully and repeats showdown everywhere.”
Kennedy Agyapong will vie for the flagbearer position alongside three other contenders: Dr. Bawumia, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, and Addiah Nimoh.
The NPP has scheduled November 4, 2023, for the election to choose a successor to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as the party’s leader.
Seven months into the second tenure of the sitting President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, had made some new appointments and reshuffled a few appointees, but the retorts that will follow the announcement of the then National Organiser, Sammi Awuku, as Director-General of the National Lottery Authority (NLA) could deter even the hard-nosed from taking the job.
It spanned assertions of his inexperience in corporate governance, his incapacity to handle an organisation previously managed by military men and technocrats, his lack of experience in lottery and revenue generation, to warnings from a church youth to reject an “indecent and ungodly appointment.”
Perhaps the only empathetic voice in the public space would be that of the appointing Authority, President Akufo-Addo, who believed in the choice he had made and thus urged his appointee with the words, “Sammi, I think you can make a difference. Go out there and show the world what you can do.”
After 12 months of managing the NLA, has Sammi Awuku proven his critics right or wrong? Has he justified the confidence reposed in him? Is the NLA any better than it used to be, or worse off than he met it?
Let’s put the NLA in perspective, shall we?
Global House
Fortune House, one of the iconic buildings on the high street of Accra, credited with transforming the lives of many Ghanaians, now exemplified an organization with a battered image riddled with deep-seated problems and needed its fortunes turned around. Still, like a man on a mission, Mr. Awuku was determined to rewrite the story of the NLA when he walked onto the premises on August 9, 2021.
He hit the ground running by embarking on a trip to one of the most prosperous lottery bodies in the West African sub-region, the Lotterie Nationale De Cote d’Ivoire (LONACI).
His objective? Carry out a fact-finding mission to understudy what the Ivorian lottery body was doing differently to gain so much profit.
Several trips to Ivory Coast would develop a relationship that would endear NLA to the Ivorians and win their unwavering support.
This support is seen in a delegation led by the Director-General of LONACI, Dramane Coulibaly, who also doubles as the President of the African Lotteries Association (ALA) attending the relaunch of NLA’s Caritas Lottery Platform and the launch of the NLA Good Causes Foundation in October 2021 and presenting the Foundation with Sixty thousand Dollars ($60,000.00). This relationship will also help the NLA get re-accepted into ALA, having been kicked out from the Association a couple of years ago.
At an annual event that celebrates and highlights the importance of horse racing in sports lottery on the African Continent in Morocco, the Grand Prix d’Afrique, Mr. Awuku pitched for NLA to host the next African Lotteries Association Seminar on Responsible Gaming and won the bid.
NLA, therefore, got to host the seminar on Responsible Gaming as part of its 60th Anniversary Celebration in December 2022, drawing over 20 lottery bodies and about 150 people across Africa, Europe, and North America to Ghana.
The President of the World Lottery Association (WLA), Rebecca Paul, and her General Secretary, Lynne Roiter, visited Africa for the first time to attend this event.
For the next four days in Accra, they were thrilled to a series of events that culminated in the Grand Durbar of NLA’s 60th Anniversary Celebration, with President Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo as the Special Guest of Honour. President Akufo-Addo repeated history by pressing the knob for the first winning number as Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah did 60 years ago for the first winning number and prize money of Five Thousand Pounds (5,000.00).
Hosting about 150 people in Ghana, most of whom were experiencing the Ghanaian culture, food, music, dance, and hospitality for the first time, not only put NLA on the global lottery map but also contributed to our tourism industry, ultimately generating revenue for our country.
NLA has since attained Level 2 Certification in Responsible Gaming from the World Lottery Association and is working to achieve Level by the end of the year.
While visiting the Ivory Coast on the assumption of office, Mr. Awuku and some management members also paid working visits to Nigeria to have discussions with the Director-General of the National Lottery Regulatory Commission, Lanre Gbajabiamila, on how NLA can receive some royalties for Nigeria’s use of its Draw numbers.
These visits would, almost two years on, earn NLA Eighteen Million Ghana Cedis. (¢18,000.000.000) in royalties, Thirteen Million Ghana Cedis. (GHS 13,000.000.000) from Ivory Coast. NLA’s 5/90 Game has been exported to Ivory Coast and Nigeria and is now being officially played there via NLA’s online partner, KGL Technology Limited.
Conversations held on the side-lines of a trip to Morocco in March 2023 with the Director Generals of Liberia and Burkina Faso will set the tone for NLA’s 5/90 Game to be exported to both countries for royalties by the end of 2023.
Icreased revenue generation
KGL Technology Limited, one of the leading companies of the KGL Group, online partner, and Third Party Collaborator of the NLA, contributed to Mr. Awuku’s woes on the assumption of office. It was professed as one of the banes of the Authority’s dwindling business; thus, cancelling the contract would restore the Authority’s fortunes.
In examining the state of affairs, Mr. Awuku, with the support of the Governing Board, decided to renegotiate the contract sum from ¢25,000,000.00) to ¢55,000,000.
A deal that not only doubled the contract sum but also contributed ¢2,000,000.00 to the Authority’s Good Causes Foundation ¢3,000,000.00 as a Stabilization Fund to the Lotto Marketing Companies (LMCs) to cushion their business.
In 2023, the KGL Sum Contract moved up to Sixty-Five Million Ghana Cedis ¢65,000,000 and, together with the royalties from Ivory Coast and Nigeria, is paying NLA a total sum of ¢96,000,000.
NLA has also signed on new Third-Party Collaborators, including Afri Lotto Systems Limited, operator of the Afriluck 6/57 Mega Jackpot; Zeta Technologies Ltd., operator of the Mega6 Lotto; Game Park Limited, operator of the Pick 4 and Pick 1 Games, Blue Star Hi-Tech Company Ltd and Fortune Synergy Limited, operator of the Mega Fortune.
Apart from generating revenue for NLA, these wholly owned Ghanaian businesses, operating Games that are not 5/90, have injected some excitement and variety into the lottery space.
NLA’s licensed Private Lotto Operators (PLOs) operating under the frameworks of the National Lotto Act, 2006 (Act 722) and Veterans Administration Act, 2012 (Act 844) pay a current annual renewable license fee of One million, Five Hundred Thousand ¢1,500,000 and ¢500,000.00 respectively.
Mr. Awuku has stated on several platforms that the NLA is working in collaboration with the security agencies to clamp down on all unlicensed illegal lottery operators, and no friend or foe will be spared when caught as the NLA will only be fulfilling its obligations of raising revenue for the state.
The Caritas Lottery Platform and The Good Causes Foundation
“This promotion is regulated by the National Lottery Authority on the Caritas Lottery Platform” must be a familiar refrain on most consumer promotions on our airwaves.
The Caritas Lottery Platform, established in 2012 to regulate consumer promotions, suddenly dropped, giving the Gaming Commission the upper hand to regulate the space.
Three months into Office, in October 2021, NLA relaunched the Caritas Lottery Platform and launched the Good Causes Foundation, graciously done by the Chief of Staff, Hon. Akosua Frema Osei-Opare.
NLA also petitioned the Office of the Attorney General to clarify who should regulate the consumer promotion space. In an advice from the Office of the Attorney General and Minister for Justice in August 2022, NLA was named as the sole statutory body, to the exclusion of all others, to regulate all consumer promotional schemes with elements of chance (raffles, draws, points-based selection criteria, etc.).
The Caritas Lottery Platform has since bounced back, giving legitimacy and credibility to promotions by Corporate Ghana and assurance to consumers. Managers of the Platform have gone beyond raising revenue to provide clients with essential feedback from the market regarding what people are thinking about their brands and products.
The good thing is proceeds from the Caritas Lottery Platform fund the NLA Good Causes Foundation.
The Good Causes Foundation stems from Section 2(3) of the National Lotto Act – stipulates, “NLA conducts, as part of the operation of National Lotto, a lottery to provide care and protection for the physically or mentally afflicted, the needy, the aged, orphans, and destitute children.”
NLA, therefore, operates its Good Causes Foundation under four pillars: Education, Health, Youth and Sports Development, and Arts and Culture.
The Foundation has built recreational centres, sanitary facilities, mechanized boreholes, refurbished schools and hospitals, granted scholarships to brilliant but needy students, and provided educational and medical equipment, amongst many others, for communities, individuals, and institutions nationwide.
NLA says it invests in these projects to fulfil its statutory obligation, give back to the communities in which it operates, and let our patrons know that when patrons do not win, their money supports national development.
Mr Awuku’s critics, however, say the Good Causes Foundation is concentrated in the Eastern Region to help him win the Akuapem-North seat. He refutes that the records of projects undertaken since 2021 and ongoing projects have been made public in several publications by the Authority and can be easily verified.
As the local slang goes, is it a case of “outside gentility, home cry,” where the Authority, albeit fulfilling its mandate in Section 2 (3) of its National Lotto Act, gives to society at the expense of the welfare of Staff?
According to the Coordinator of the Good Causes Foundation, Amma Frimpong, over 70 Staff who have applied to the Foundation, primarily for medical aid and scholarships, have all received support with outstanding requests to be granted in the last quarter of the year.
Employee engagements and staff development
“I am not here to inherit anybody’s enemies; I am here to generate revenue; let us put our hands to the wheel and work together…” This statement by Mr Awuku on his first day at NLA undoubtedly endeared many of the Staff to him, yet some of his worst critics have been the NLA Staff. In his own words, he is loved and hated in equal measure.
Staff and salary upgrades for Staff who had been on the same grade at NLA for over ten years and more, the Institution of the Cola Scheme, Medical insurance, Team bonding activities, Fuel subsidies, and Training Opportunities both locally and abroad are reasons some Staff appreciate the Director-General.
Yet, some staff have alleged the award of contracts to family members of the Director-General and the sole source of such agreements. For instance, the building of a Data Centre, Monitoring System, and ERP have emerged.
According to Mr. Awuku, one of the challenges he noticed NLA grappling with on assumption of office in August 2021 was the absence of a Data Centre and an automated platform.
Some of the challenges identified include:
1. Systemic weakness due to lack of real-time transparency regarding transactional data.
2. Revenue generation and cash flow management due to the volume of transactions that the automated platform permits and the opacity that the current system brings, causing huge risks for large pay-outs due to nefarious internal or external actors who take advantage of the disorganized information flow of the system.
3. Different software systems that the NLA depends on, which are owned by its partners and collaborators, put the NLA at a disadvantage during disputes and resolutions—for instance, a shutdown by technical partners, which happened in the past.
After analysing various alternatives,’ financial and non-financial benefits and risks, Management decided to invest in an NLA-owned custom-built comprehensive Lotto Monitoring Enterprise Resource Planning Solution that will provide direct and easier access to real-time data and transparency of its operations.
In the long run, the solution will save the institution an estimated ¢48,000,000 over the next 10 years.
After multiple presentations, the NLA Governing Board approved the solution’s procurement.
Owing to the security implications of procuring an IT solution and NLA being a government agency, it was not prudent to open this bid up, a fact PPA acknowledges, thus granting NLA approval, particularly to a service provider who had understudied and identified the systemic challenges the Authority was faced with.
One would wonder if the Staff crying foul belongs to the camp of those who take advantage of the lapses in the system to steal from the company, some of whom have recently been indicted by the National Signals Bureau.
An audit of the Authority revealed that about ¢18,000,000 had been lost between 2021 and March 2023 due to these lapses in the system.
The Governing Board directed a complete investigation of all Staff to ensure that others were not involved in the misconduct, inviting the presence of the NSB to the NLA premises, with Staff duly informed of their presence.
Even though the Authority has approval to build the Data Center, the project has been shelved until the Authority is in a great position to do so.
Mr Awuku debunks the assertion that about 90% of contracts awarded are sole-sourced and says, on the contrary, a recent audit pegs the figure to 20%. Other Contractual Agreements attributed to the Director-General’s family have also proven untrue, and can easily be verified from the Public Procurement Authority, Registrar General and the NLA.
Checks revealed that Sammi Awuku has personally decided not to take salaries over the last two years and has been using his own vehicle as a cost-cutting measure.
Some staff commend him for instilling a sense of discipline, punctuality, and industrial peace in the NLA and reviving its corporate status.
While Mr. Awuku acknowledges the challenges, in his words, the tragedies and triumphs of the past two years, he believes with the guidance of the Governing Board, and the support of the Deputy Director-General, Anna Horma Miezah, Management and Staff, the NLA has greatly improved its lot and will seek to do more
With the Authority recently modernising its operations with new state-of-the-art draw machines, an ultra-modern draw studio, and a French presenter for its French Community in Ivory Coast, Mr. Awuku believes the NLA can only get better from here and should get ready to partner with investors to improve its operations and generate revenue for the Authority.
So, has Sammi Awuku justified the confidence reposed in him or should the appointing authority not have bothered? As is said in Latin, res ipsa loquitur, meaning “the thing speaks for itself.
The President of UTAG-UG, Professor Ransford Gyampo, has characterized the Chief Executive Officer of the National Lotteries Authority (NLA), Sammi Awuku, as a civil individual.
Professor Gyampo stated that he appreciated the manner in which Sammi Awuku responded to Alan Kyeremanteng’s resignation from the NPP primaries.
Following Alan’s withdrawal from the primaries, Sammi Awuku called for unity among party members and asked the supporters of the presidential candidate aspirants to not use inflammatory words against themselves.
In an interview with Citi News’s Point of View, Prof Gyampo said “ I must commend Sammi Awuku, he is very mature and civil, even when he disagrees with you. And this is the posture that those who speak for Dr.Bawumia should have. I am proud to have taught him”
His comments come at the back of the resignation of Alan Kyeremanten from the NPP primaries.
In a statement released on Tuesday, September 5, NPP flagbearer hopeful Alan Kyerematen announced his withdrawal from the NPP’s flagbearer race citing several reasons
He mentioned intimidation, and violence against a member of his campaign team and claimed that the party strategically organised the super delegates conference to favour one candidate over the others as some of the reasons for his decision.
Mr Kyerematen stated that pronouncements made by some leading members of the party before and after the elections lend weight to his observations.
“After having carefully analysed the results of the said elections, it is absolutely clear to me from events leading to, during and after the elections, that the Special Delegates Conference was strategically and tactically skewed in favour of one particular aspirant.”
“The level of intimidation of varying intensity, directly and indirectly, unleashed on a significant number of Delegates at various Voting Centers across the sixteen regions, is unprecedented in the history of our Party,” parts of the statement read.
However, Professor Gyampo has advised the party to promptly address his concerns in order to prevent any potential issues of disunity from arising.
Former National Organiser for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Sammi Awuku, has thrown a word of caution to the campaign team of the Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia following the withdrawal of former Trade Minister, Alan Kyerematen, from the party’s presidential candidate race as announced on September 5.
Sammi Awuku wants all factions of the ruling party to unite ahead of the 2024 general elections when they go up against the National Democratic Congress and its flagbearer, former President John Dramani Mahama.
Below is Mr. Awuku’s message to the Bawumia camp;
To Team Bawumia, this is definitely not the time for us to make it “us vrs others” in our party or a time to pass uncomplimentary remarks to aggravate wounds as Dr. Bawumia has admonished us his campaigners.
Instead, this is a time to reach out to each and everyone to make the 2024 campaign and election victory a possibility.
To all the supporters of the candidates who couldn’t make it to the top 5 and supporters of aspirants who made it to the top 5, please let’s come together.Let’s solve our problems together and once again position the NPP still as the party of choice ahead of the 2024 General Elections to deliver economic prosperity for our nation, Ghana.
The challenges we face today as a party and country may be fearsome, but so are our strengths.
Dr. Bawumia and his team will work hand in hand with each and everyone within the NPP and outside the party to once again deliver victory in 2024.
I miss my brothers and sisters in all the camps of our party.Please come and let’s work together!
To my very own astute communicator and sister Hon. Catherine Abelema Afeku,Yaw Buaben Asamoa Esq. Hopeson Adorye,Davis Ansah Opoku MP, Hon. Dr. Samiu Kwadwo Nuamah,Collins Randy Owusu Amankwah, Richard Barima Sarpong you have done a good job and been greatly missed ,
Come join us, and let’s all work for another emphatic New Patriotic Party (NPP: Development in Freedom) victory in 2024.
The journey won’t be easy, but with you all playing a role, Dr. Bawumia can surely lead us all to Break the 8.
I kindly call on you all on behalf of DMB to hit the road together!
ITISPOSSIBLETOGETHER.
Below is a video on why Alan Kyerematen withdrew from NPP presidential candidate race;
Former National Organizer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Sammi Awuku, has called on flagbearer contender Dr Afriyie Akoto to provide the public with a list of contractors who, in his view, are not receiving payment from the government.
Sammi Awuku expressed his astonishment at the remarks made by the ex-Minister of Food and Agriculture, in which he alleged that the government was neglecting contractors who have openly shown their allegiance to him.
His statement follows Dr Afriyie Akoto’s comments in which he criticized the government for failing to compensate contractors who are recognized for backing his aspiration as the prospective flagbearer of the NPP.
Speaking in an interview with Oyerepa TV on Wednesday, August 23, 2023, the former National Organizer of the NPP challenged Dr Afriyie Akoto to release the list of contractors who have not been paid for declaring support for him.
“When it comes to campaign issues of this sort, it is beyond me. First of all, I don’t know the particular contractors. secondly, I don’t work at the Ministry of Finance. I don’t want to believe Dr. Afriyie Akoto said that [ gov’t not saying contractors supporting him]. I don’t have knowledge about what he said. I can’t verify that there are contractors who are not being paid because of him.
“In any case, do we have a list of Dr. Afriyie Akoto’s contractors? or a list of Kennedy Agyapong or Dr. Bawumia’s contractors? So I want to see the list and follow up to find out why there are contractors for Alan, Dr. Bawumia, or Dr. Afriyie Akoto who have not been paid. With this, I am unable to find out because I don’t know where to tackle it. So maybe when I meet my uncle, Dr. Afriyie Akoto, I will ask for the details of the contractors and follow up with him. Once again, I do not want to believe he ever said that,” Sammi Awuku said in Twi on Oyerepa TV.
Background
Former Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer hopeful, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, has slammed the leadership of the party for failing to get a grip of happenings in the race to choose the party’s presidential candidate for 2024 elections.
Speaking in a JoyNews interview, Dr Afriyie Akoto, a former Minister of Food and Agriculture, accused the party’s leadership of being partial in dealing with persons flouting the roles of the party; adding that the happenings in the campaign for the primaries tells that there is no discipline in the NPP.
He said that while top officials of the party and the government are declaring their support for a certain contender without consequences, persons declaring their support for him and the other candidates are being punished.
He alleged the contractors who are declaring their support for some of the candidates in the race are being denied payment.
“There is some sort of force being used – intimidation… those contractors who do not seem to be for this candidate are not paid when they complete their jobs. And they have taken huge sums of money from the banks and the interest rates are 35%, 40%. They are not paid and are being punished for supporting someone else.”
“But if somebody has done a job or a contract with the government, and they are not paid, while those who declare for that particular candidate are paid,” he said.
Director-General for the National Lotteries Authority (NLA), Sammi Awuku, has revealed that an amount of Gh¢3 million would be paid this week to settle outstanding debts.
He assured that the NLA is committed to clearing all debts within the next two weeks.
The announcement was made during the unveiling of new draw machines at the NLA, raising hope for timely resolution of financial obligations owed by the authority.
Awuku stated, “We inherited some debts when I became Director-General, almost 50 million…today we have brought it down to just around six something million cedis, and this week we are paying ¢3 million out of that. Within the next two weeks, we will clear all those outstanding debts.”
He also mentioned that the NLA will now play within the 15-day expiration period of the ticket, starting from the middle of August, bringing excitement to players and lotto marketing companies.
Moreover, the NLA, in collaboration with other stakeholders, will crack down on illegal lotto operators, who illegally earn around ¢600 million each year without contributing to the state or supporting good causes.
They plan to pursue these operators and clamp down on their illegal activities.
“We are going to go tough on the illegal lotto operators. The NLA together with the military, the Ghana Revenue Authority and the State Enforcement Agencies. We are going to go after all these illegal lotto operators who are wielding almost ¢600milion every year illegally by operating lotto and do not contribute in any form or shape by using their taxes to support the state nor do they support good causes. So we are going to go after these people hoarding,” he stressed.
Director General at the National Lottery Authority (NLA), Sammi Awuku after a period of keeping his intentions private, Sammi Awuku, has finally broken his silence regarding his ambition to enter Parliament.
In an interview with Peace FM,he openly addressed his aspirations to become a Member of Parliament, putting an end to the speculation surrounding his political ambitions.
In a brief comment, Sammi Awuku revealed he would pick a nomination form once the New Patriotic Party allowed members who wished to run in its parliamentary elections to do so.
He revealed he will run for the parliamentary seat in Akuapem North.
“When the party opens nominations, I’m clear in my mind that I will pick forms to contest,” he stated.
The National Lottery Authority (NLA) has expressed its excitement about the introduction of a new lottery game that is expected to bring about a revolution in the lottery industry in Ghana.
Zeta Technologies Ltd, a Ghanaian software development company on July 14, 2023, launched its highly anticipated MEGA6 Lotto game.
Unlike traditional lottery games, Mega6 offers players higher chances of winning.
Players play by simply selecting 6 numbers out of 49 and win prizes if any 2 or more of the numbers they selected appear in the draw. Players can win life-changing prizes of up to 1 million Cedis with stakes as low as 2 Cedis.
Engaging the media, Director General of the NLA, Sammy Awuku hinted of plans to open up the lottery third party space to other Ghanaian entrepreneurs to take advantage of the game.
He also announced plans of building an advisory unit which will ensure that the revenue being generated from the game could be useful to stakeholders in building more business ventures.
At the launch, attendees had the opportunity to witness a live demonstration of the MEGA6 Lotto game while engaging with representatives of both Zeta Technology and the National Lottery Authority (NLA) who provide regulatory oversight for the game.
The Paramount Chief of the Edina Traditional Area, Nana Kwadwo Conduah VI, have led a procession of chiefs in a palanquin to the durbar grounds as part of the climax of the Bakatue festival.
The festival, celebrated in the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem (KEEA) Municipality of the Central Region, had a theme focused on promoting local industries and youth employment.
The durbar, characterized by vibrant displays of tradition and culture, featured Asafo dances and attracted a diverse audience from within and outside the country.
In his address, Nana Kwadwo Conduah VI expressed gratitude to the ancestors and residents of the area for their support throughout his 25-year reign.
He also acknowledged the government’s role in the construction of the Elmina Fishing Harbor, emphasizing its potential to boost economic activities in the region.
Nana Kwadwo Conduah VI called on the government to facilitate the dredging of the Brenya Lagoon in Elmina, complementing the fishing harbor project and enhancing the tourism and fishing prospects of the area. He also appealed for a review of the law on transshipment (“saiko”) to recognize its positive impact on local fishing communities.
Additionally, Nana Kwadwo Conduah VI urged the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem (KEEA) Municipal Assembly to collaborate with the Edina Traditional Council in regulating the allocation of spots for kiosks and other facilities to ensure planned development and promote Edina as a preferred tourism destination.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Lottery Authority (NLA), Sammi Awuku, representing Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, encouraged corporate bodies and individuals to partner with the government in providing employment opportunities for the youth.
He also assured that the appeal for dredging the Benya Lagoon would be forwarded to the government for consideration.
CEO of the National Lottery Authority (NLA), Sammi Awuku, has funded a mock examination for approximately 2,400 BECE candidates in Akuapem North Municipality, Eastern Region.
The sponsorship covers students from both public and private schools.
Sammi Awuku, in his sponsorship of the mock examination, covered the printing of question papers and answer booklets, as well as procuring 2,400 mathematical sets for the candidates.
He also provided financial support for the supervision of the examination. During the handover of the items to the Akuapem North District Directorate of Education, Sammi Awuku emphasized the significance of the mock examination in boosting candidates’ confidence and helping teachers identify their strengths and weaknesses for targeted interventions.
As someone aspiring to the parliamentary seat in the area, he highlighted the importance of educational support in the community.
“We expecting that this mock examination will prepare the candidates well, build their confidence into the main exams to impact and improve upon the results even though last year was impressive we expect this year to be of greater impact. What I personally seek to achieve is to build confidence of the people before they take the exams because for many of them they may get to experience how to use the mathematical set on the day of their exams and it will be new to them how to use the compass and all those things,” said Sammy Awuku
He added that “the tension alone in exams room can let you fail at the sight of of these mathematical instruments but once they have their confidence built ,practice on how to use this mathematical set and with the mock exams on all subjects that they are going to be examined on it will help know their strength.This mock exams are questions set by their own teachers and external examiners so these are standard questions they may end up facing it in the BECE.”
Sammi Awuku, prioritizing education in Akuapem North, has undertaken various interventions such as constructing sports facilities, providing generator plants, school buses, and roofing support, as well as recommending schools for government initiatives.
The sponsorship of the mock examination was commended by Lawrence Dzah, the Akuapem North municipal Education Director, who expressed plans to organize a simulation mock in the future.
The performance of BECE candidates in the municipality has been historically poor, with a significant number of failures and low aggregate scores. Although there was improvement in the pass rate in 2022, it still fell short of the municipality’s target of 70%.
Former National Youth Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Sammi Awuku, has assured that Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia only owes allegiance to Ghana and no other country.
The citizenship status of Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has recently become a topic of heated debate, as allegations of dual citizenship have been raised by his political adversaries.
The controversy was sparked by assertions made by former ambassador Sam Pee Yalley, who accused Bawumia of holding British citizenship while serving as a director at the Ghana International Bank Plc in London.
Yalley based his claims on information sourced from the UK Companies House website, which listed Bawumia as a British national and a former director of the bank. According to the records, Bawumia was appointed as a director on October 18, 2006, and resigned on April 15, 2009.
But addressing NPP faithful at the party’s headquarters today, June 16, when the Vice President filed his nomination forms for the flagbearer race, Mr Awuku noted that such spurious statements only seek to cast aspersions on the reputation of the Vice President.
“I am going to present to you our former running mate, fully Ghanaian, our Vice President who is also fully Ghanaian, I present to you the man who makes it happen, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia,” he said.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Vice President Bawumia, Dr Gideon Boako, vehemently denied the allegations and clarified that his boss neither holds nor has ever held British citizenship.
Dr Boako emphasized that Bawumia was only seconded to the Ghana International Bank Plc by the Bank of Ghana and did not require British citizenship to fulfil his responsibilities there.
Students of Okuapeman SHS in Akropong are set to benefit from an ultramodern basketball and volleyball court yet to be constructed by Director-General of the National Lottery Authority (NLA), Sammi Awuku.
On Tuesday, May 30, 2023, Mr Awuku cut sod for the construction of the project which was requested by Osabarima Ansah Sadraku III early this year during his 25th anniversary celebration.
In his speech, the NLA Boss noted that taking up the task placed on his shoulders by Osabarima Ansah Sadraku III stems from personal interest as he shares a bond with the people of Akuapem.
Following the completion of the project, the basketball and volleyball court would be named after the very man who appealed for its existence, Osabarima Ansah Sadraku III, Mr Awuku revealed.
In attendance at the sod-cutting ceremony were Headmaster of Okuapeman SHS, Rev. Daniel Afari, staff and students as well as Heads from other sister-schools within Akuapem North Municipality.
Sammi Awuku interacts with students of Okuapeman school
On his part, Rev. Daniel Afari thanked Mr. Sammi Awuku for his support towards education in the Akuapem municipality.
Sammi Awuku engages Okuapeman school students
He further mentioned that the facility has come very timely, and will go a long way to serve the school and the good people of Akuapem.
Sammi Awuku tours Okuapeman school
An emotional Osabarima Ansah Sasraku was awe-shocked by the development and was only able to extend his appreciation to Mr Sammi Awuku.
Away from that, Mr. Sammi Awuku has pledged to renovate parts of the Salem Basic School in Akropong that have worn-out.
