Profile of Presidential Candidates
Abu Sakara Foster
Dr. Michael Abu Sakara Foster, popularly known as Dr. Abu Sakara, is an agronomist (Agricultural Scientist).
Dr. Sakara is committed to rebuilding the CPP to provide Ghanaians an alternative choice to the two dominant parties. This will hopefully free the country from the antagonism between the two major parties which seem to be mired in the politics of acrimony to the detriment of the country.
Abu Sakara's current and past efforts are firmly rooted in the belief that Ghana's democracy will benefit from a process that depolarizes the political landscape to produce a more mature constructive opposition that emerges an alternative third force in Government.
Dr Sakara has supported parliamentarians in four constituencies in northern Ghana since 1996 and participated in two election campaigns. He has also been an active member of the Patriots whose efforts were aimed at rebuilding the CPP. Dr. Sakara contested in the 2007 congress and won a position as the first National Vice Chairperson of the CPP. He considers it a privilege that it is his generation's turn to take on the mantle of responsibility to move the vision of the founding fathers from political liberation to achieve economic emancipation.
Dr. Sakara's experience includes technical, managerial and policy roles over a twenty five year career, with postings to Central America (Mexico), Southern Africa (Zambia), Eastern Africa (Tanzania, Uganda) and West Africa (Nigeria). He has also visited more than 30 countries on the five continents in his professional capacity on a range of projects and programs.
CPP Party Symbol
They have four Children aged 28, 25, 22 and 21. Their eldest daughter Miama Weppia (MSc) is an economist who now works as an Executive Assistant to the CEO of international Bank based in Ghana. Seidu Sakara (MSc), their only son, completed with distinction an M.Sc. in Information Technology and Business at the London School of Economics and now works for in international Oil and Gas industry and is based in Ghana. Yomba Biba (BSc.) the third born has completed a degree in Biology and Business at the University of London, Queen Marys' College and is on an internship year in Ghana.
The last born Alexia-Michelle returned from London School of Arts and is on an exploratory year in Accra. Dr. Sakara and his wife have been married for 29 years and are now settled in Ghana. Their joint focus areas are in consultancy, real estate development and community services. Dr. Sakara maintains links with his extended family in Bole-Mankuma, Kpembe-Salaga and also with his in-laws who hail from Kasem- Nankani in Navrongo. His sense of family and community is a strong driving force for him.
Hassan Ayariga
Hassan Ayariga has a remarkable record of leadership and experience in business that embodies an unwavering passion and commitment to service. Hassan was born on 4th September 1971 in Bawku in the Upper East Region of Ghana.
His father Frank Abdulai Ayariga, was a member of parliament for the Bawku constituency during the third republic administration of Dr. Hilla Limann and his mother Anatu Ayariga, a business woman, whose passion for child education in the then impoverished northern sector of Ghana, made her stand her ground to ensure all her children and those in the community were educated. Hassan grew up partly in Accra and Bawku before settling in Nigeria when his parents went on Exile after the overthrow of the Limann Administration. All through his childhood his parents taught him the values of service and responsibility and the blessings of his faith, Hassan Ayariga carries with him to this day.
Due to the moving around by his father Hassan went to schools in Accra, Bawku and Tamale where he had his secondary education at Ghana Secondary School before moving to Nigeria where he attended Barewa College in Zaria, where he studied ACCA and then to the London School of Accountancy.
Hassan is an entrepreneur with many business interests both in Ghana and abroad, however, he started out as an accountant with WaffenSchimdt GmBH in Germany and the as Quality Control manager at Peter Huppertz Ford motors in Germany for 10 years before going into business. He is currently the chairman and CEO of Hassan Ayariga & Co. Haulage Company, which deal in trucks for infrastructural development.
PNC Party Symbol
Being born into the Nkrumah-Egala-Limann tradition, Hassan has never forgotten his political roots and in 2002 he joined the PNC, a political party formed by Dr. Hilla Limann in 1992 when the ban on party politics in Ghana was lifted. His leadership skills immediately came to the fore and was elected chairman of the Germany (Koln) Chapter.
In 2004 he contested for the vice chairmanship of the PNC but later withdrew from the contest and supported Hon. John Ndebugri.
Hassan Ayariga believes this country deserves better and he is seeking the leadership reins of the PNC to seek the mandate of the people of Ghana for an inspiring leadership and rapid development.
Hassan Ayariga is married to Anita Ayariga, a graduate from KNUST who has a deep passion for child education and is working towards ensuring children of school going age in the community get that right. They have a blended family that includes three daughters, two sons and live together in Accra.
John Dramani Mahama
H.E. President John Dramani Mahama, was born at Bole Bamboi in the Northern Region on the 29th November, 1958. He is married to Mrs. Lordina Mahama and has seven children.
President Mahama started his primary education at the Achimota Primary School and went on to secondary school at the Ghana Secondary School in Tamale in the Northern Region. He proceeded thereafter to the University of Ghana, Legon, where he obtained a BA Degree in History in 1981.
In 1986, he obtained a Postgraduate Diploma in Communication Studies at the University of Ghana, Legon. He also undertook further Postgraduate Studies in Social Psychology at the Institute of Social Sciences in Moscow Russia in 1988.
President Mahama was employed as an Information Officer at the Embassy of Japan in the Republic of Ghana from 1991 to 1995. He moved on to join the non-governmental organisation, Plan International, as Sponsorship and Grants Manager in the Ghana Country Office from 1995 to 1996.
He was elected to his first term as Member of Parliament (MP) for the Bole-Bamboi Constituency in the Northern Region on the ticket of the NDC in December 1996. Mr. Mahama served as Deputy Minister of Communications from April 1997 to November 1998 and then served as the substantive Minister of Communications from November 1998 to January 2001.
NDC Party Symbol
President John Mahama was re-elected MP for Bole-Bamboi Constituency in December 2000 and in December 2004. He served as Director of Communication for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) as well as Spokesman on Communications for the Minority in Parliament between 2001 and 2004.
In 2005, President Mahama was the Minority Parliamentary Spokesman for Foreign Affairs. He has been a Member of the Pan African Parliament based in Pretoria, South Africa from 2004 to date where he served as the Chairman of the West Africa Caucus.
On Wednesday, January 7, 2009, Hon. John Dramani Mahama was sworn into office as the Vice-President of the Republic of Ghana.
Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo
Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is the eldest of the four children of the late Mr Justice Edward Akufo-Addo, former Chief Justice and President of the Second Republic of Ghana.
Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo (born March 29, 1944) was the Foreign Minister of Ghana from April 2003 to July 2007, when, in accordance with his political party's rules, he resigned, along with seven others, to seek the presidential nomination of his party. He was previously the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice from 2001 to 2003.
Akufo-Addo was one of the founding members of the New Patriotic Party - the current ruling party of Ghana - in 1992, and was also the founder and first chairperson of the Ghana Committee on Human and People's Rights.
Honorable Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and Rebecca (nee Griffiths-Randolph) Akufo-Addo have five children.
NPP Party Symbol
He is the eldest of the four children of Adeline and Edward Akufo-Addo. His father, Edward Akufo-Addo was the Chief Justice and President of Ghana.
Nana was educated at Lancing College, Sussex, England and the University of Ghana, Legon. In 1967, he graduated from the University of Ghana with a Bachelor of Science Honors degree in Economics.
He trained as a lawyer in England and was called to the English Bar in July 1971 and the Ghanaian Bar in July 1975.
He worked as an associate counsel with the Coudert Freres in France between 1971 and 1975. He also worked as a junior partner at the law firm of U.V. Campbell. In 1979, he co-founded the law firm of Akufo-Addo, Prempeh and Company in Accra.
Papa Kwesi Nduom
Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom is a practising Catholic with beliefs strongly rooted in family values and social responsibility, with a larger commitment to ensure the living conditions of Ghanaians are improved.
As someone who believes in family values, Dr. Nduom is successfully married to Mrs. Yvonne Nduom, a management specialist. They have four children.
In private life, Dr. Nduom has created businesses that employ over 4,000 Ghanaians in all the ten regions of Ghana. His active role in politics started in 1997 when he was elected as the Assembly member of the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abirem District Assembly for the Akotobinsin Electoral Area in the Central Region. In December 2000, he contested the parliamentary elections for the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abirem Constituency on the ticket of the CPP. He lost to the incumbent MP at the time, Ato Quarshie, of the National Democratic Congress in a disputed race by a margin of 2.6% of the valid votes cast.
PPP Party Symbol
Dr. Nduom also served as the Minister of Economic Planning and Regional Cooperation under the erstwhile Kufuor administration. He was also the chairman of the Millennium Development Authority (MiDA), where his efforts brought Ghana GH¢547million Millennium Challenge Account grant In December 2007, Nduom was elected by the CPP to contest the December 2008 presidential elections. As the 2008 presidential candidate of the CPP, Dr. Nduom put up a vigorous campaign but that could not translate into votes as the party performed poorly once again. That abysmal performance was attributable to elements within the CPP who worked against him. Even after that, Dr. Nduom did not relent in his efforts to ensure that the party becomes well organised at the grassroots and polling station levels. Shortly after the party had elected new executives at the Trade Fair Site, Accra, Dr. Nduom promised to open 60 new party offices throughout the country.
That genuine support by Dr. Nduom to see a vibrant and formidable CPP to contest and win elections was misinterpreted by some CPP would-be leaders as a means by him to take over the party. Events afterwards saw the CPP national executive joining the fray and accusing Dr. Nduom of creating disaffection in the party. With these developments and the obvious fact that the new CPP executives were not in tandem with Dr. Nduom's effort to build a vibrant CPP through polling station organisation, Dr. Nduom was compelled to take the hard decision of quitting the party. That development enabled like-minded people who wanted to build a strong, purposeful alternative to the NDC and NPP parties to decide to start a new progressive political movement. Dr. Nduom at a well attended press conference organised at the Ghana International Press Centre on 28th December, 2011 declared his decision to quit the CPP and move on. "…When the Convention People's Party opens its nominations next month to elect a presidential candidate, I will not participate in that process." Giving reasons for his decision, Dr. Nduom explained that he aims to look forward to a new and different political order," Dr. Nduom announced at the press conference. And it was along this line that he declared his resolve to work with like-minded people across the country to form a much focused, vibrant, independent-minded and progressive political movement to contest the 2012 General Election. Dr. Nduom however wished the CPP well in its activities. Shortly after quitting the party, Dr. Nduom hit the ground running urging like-minded and independent minded Ghanaians to join forces to form a new Independent Progressive Movement that would be broad-based and offer Ghanaians the change that they have been yearning for. And as part of the process of forming a real third force to the NDC and the NPP, a collective of progressive minded Ghanaians formed the Progressive People's Party (PPP).
Dr. Nduom joined the leadership of the PPP to embark upon a nation-wide field organisation where regional and constituency executives were elected in interim capacities to run affairs of the party. That exercise ended with the inauguration of Greater Accra PPP regional and constituency executives at the Kama Conference Centre on January 11th 2012. Within a period of just two months of bursting onto the political scene, the PPP is making a lot of inroads by winning and attracting lots of Ghanaians at home and abroad, who have expressed their strong desire to become members of the new political party, and expect to work hard to contest keenly the 2012 General Elections. The PPP aims to implement an Agenda for Change when the party's candidate is made President of the Republic of Ghana come January 2013.
Dr. Henry Herbert Lartey
Dr. Henry Herbert Lartey is Flagbearer of the Great Consolidated Popular Party, a champion for the economic improvement of the people of Ghana, and an inspired Pan-Africanist and visionair with hopes for a United Africa.
Since becoming leader of the G.C.P.P., Henry has begun travelling across every corner of Ghana, listening to the stories and the experiences of the People, talking to them about their hopes, dreams and expectations for the future. It is the same interactive approach he has taken during his long career as a scholar, business man, and as a leading Black executive on the world stage.
Deep Agricultural Roots
Agriculture is a cornerstone within the Ghanaian economy, and strategic placement of agricultural exports has always been a major source of domestic revenue. Since 1987, Henry has been the chief executive officer at Lartey Associates Ghana Ltd., which is a leading exporter of fruits to European markets. Under Henry's leadership, Lartey Associates has received innumerable awards of recognition, and has helped place Ghana as a top provider of fruits to Europe. Some of the earned awards include: GOLDEN AWARD FOR QUALITY AND BUSINESS PRESTIGE (GENEVE 2007), International Golden Trophy for Quality New Millennium Award (Paris 2006), WQC International Star Awards in the Gold Category (Paris 2005), Golden Award for Quality and Business Prestige (Beirut 2002), Ghana Export Promotion Council Award (1999, 2000, and 2002).
Prior to being a leading fruit exporter, Henry was based in the United Kingdom where he was a manager at Royal Life Assurance PLC which is one of the largest insurance companies in the world. Henry's success in the assurance industry was such that he qualified as a member of the Million Dollar Round Table in 1983, which represents the membership of the top 1% of industry participants world-wide.
Strong Political Family Background
Henry was raised in a politically active household. He is the Eldest son of the late Dan Lartey, who was founder and leader of the Great Consolidated Popular Party.
His father was not only a veteran Pan-Africanist but also the exponent of Ghana Industrialisation, and the propounder of the concept of DOMESTICATION; his father was also the main architect of the OPERATION FEED YOUSELF during the General I.K.Acheampong regime (1972-1978).
His mother, Ms. Sarah Rosetta Lartey (nee Malm), has always been a strong community female activist and advocate for the DOMESTICATION ideas espoused by her husband. Henry was born at Osu, Christianborg, Accra on the 13th of February 1954, and was named after his grandfather, the late Henry Herbert Malm MBE who was Assistant Colonial Secretary/Deputy Governor (1932-1947).
A Man of Values
Henry's commitment to African liberation values and the economic improvement of his people has defined him throughout his career: from his undergraduate years at the University of the West of England to his postgraduate MBA work at the University of Bath, or from his first career as a financial consultant at Brookdale-Hutton Brokerage in Cardiff to his leadership at Lartey Associates and the dynamic career that followed.
Henry has been a leading advocate for human rights, democracy, and international law, and has been recognized by the black community and around the world for his leadership and scholarship.
Henry reinvested the full of his foreign earning to assist in the funding of his father's political career. He did this with the hope of political change at home, the manifestation of democratic principles, and in the fight for the economic improvement of the people of Ghana.
Mr. Jacob Osei Yeboah
Jacob Osei Yeboah 44 years old (28 October, 1968), is married to Hilda Osei Yeboah (Mrs.) in 1996, with four (4) children, Jacobel, Janice, Jeremy and Jeffrey. He is an Engineer, Entrepreneur, Strategist, Philanthropist, a Social Thinker and a transformational leader.
Jacob Osei Yeboah is the founder for Mpontuo Mining in 2010, a small scale mining and consulting services for small scale miners (galamsey) with the view to providing Technology and Financial assistance to the industry so as to mine gold safely without environmental degradation and mercury pollution.
Jacob Osei Yeboah is also the founder and West Africa Director of Vital Source Limited (VSL), in 2006, a procurement and logistics company focused on the gold mining and Oil & Gas industries within West Africa.
VSL provides consulting services for engineering, oil contamination and filtration, logistic and supply chain management for companies focused on the mining and oil sectors in West Africa.
Jacob has firsthand experience in logistic and supply chain management in the West Africa mining industry, having worked for over 4 years as the West Africa Manager for Sherwood International (2002-2006), a division of the Super Group Company of South Africa, covering Ghana, Guinea and Mali.
He also worked for Ashanti Goldfields Company (AGC) over a period of 7 years, as Director and leader of Senior Staff of the Obuasi Mine Divisional Board barely a year after his national service in 1996.
His period saw a review of the company’s procedures and processes that led to a very significant transformation and cost reduction from USD320/ounce to USD178/ounce (Jan 2001-June 2002) and he was the Special Projects Coordinator, having practiced as Instrumentation Superintendent of the Processing Plant.
Jacob holds an MBA from Warwick University, UK with Masters in Global Supply Chain Management from Mannheim University, Germany.
Jacob holds an Electric/Electronic Engineering Degree from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology where his outstanding contributions to JCR meetings of Katanga Hall were imbibed by fellow Kantangese as astute and discerning Christian leader.
Jacob was a chamber Overseer and a House Prefect (1984 & 1988) of St. Paul’s House at Opoku Ware School in Kumasi, where he became Scripture Union (SU) member in 1984. His sportsmanship saw him to play hockey for the school team, a javelin thrower and a triple jumper.
Jacob co-founded United Movement for Change (UMC) in April 2010, an Association to bring about real change in Ghana, sensing the dangers pose by Political Parties to lives, properties and businesses.
He was awarded by the Lay Movement of the Methodist Church, Ghana, in 2009 during the laity 60th Anniversary for his sterling leadership to the Youth and again was awarded by the Accra Diocese of the Methodist Church in 2009 during the Diocese’s 60th Anniversary for exceptional leadership and contribution to the Diocese.
Jacob was the National President for the Ghana Methodist Student Union (GHAMSU) from 1991-93, a period. Where the Methodist Church experienced unprecedented shakeup and a foundation for transformation.
Jacob Osei Yeboah (JOY2012) is motivated by what John Ruskin, an art critic, a social thinker, poet and artist once said:
“Therefore , when we build, let us think that we build forever, let it not be for the present delight, nor for present use alone; let it be such work as our descendant will thank us for, and let us think as we lay stone on stone, that a time is to come, when these stones will be held sacred because our hands have touched them. And that man will say as they look upon our labour and wrought substance of them. See! This our fathers did for us “.
Jacob Osei Yeboah (JOY2012) is mentored with the leadership style of Mahatma Gandhi, Kwame Nkrumah, Martin Luther King Jr, and Nelson Mandela
Mr. Akwasi Addai
Akwasi Addai was born on the 13th of September 1964 at Adwumakase- Kese in the Ashanti Region.
He attended Aduman Secondary School where he completed his ‘O’ level education.
Soon after Mr. Akwasi Addai ventured into business and he is now the Chief Executive Officer of Odike Ventures.
He is married.