Who is Owusu Afriyie Akoto?
Owusu Afriyie Akoto (born October 19, 1949) is a Ghanaian agricultural economist and politician. He is a member of the New Patriotic Party and was a Member of Parliament for the Kwadaso Constituency from 2009 to 2017. He was the cabinet minister in the Nana Akufo-Addo administration and served as Minister of Food and Agriculture of Ghana. He resigned on 10 January 2023 to focus on his presidential ambition. He holds MSc and PHD Degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Cambridge, England.
Profile Summary
| Name: | Owusu Afriyie Akoto |
| Date of Birth: | October 19, 1949 |
| Age: | 75 years (2024) |
| Place of Birth: | Ghana |
| Wife: | Married |
| Children: | Saven Children |
| Net Worth: | $7 millions |
Early Life and Education
Owusu Afriyie Akoto was born on October 19, 1949, to Bafuor Osei Akoto, the founder and leader of the pre-independence National Liberation Movement and also a chief linguist at the Manhyia Palace.
Akoto had his secondary school education at Opoku Ware School, Kumasi. He continued to the University of Ghana, Legon and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in agriculture. He then studied at Cambridge University, where he obtained a Master of Science in agricultural economics. He earned his Doctor of Philosophy degree at Cambridge in 1985.
Owusu Afriyie Akoto Career
Afriyie Akoto was employed by the International Coffee Organization in London, England, for more than a decade. Among the positions he held include economist, senior economist, principal economist, and chief economic advisor.
He also served as a consultant to the World Bank(a United Nations agency) on soft commodities—namely, cocoa, coffee, and sugar. After working for over 18 years abroad, he returned to Ghana where from 1995 to 2008 he served as the CEO of Goldcrest Commodities Limited and Plantation Resources Limited.
Afriyie Akoto first contested the Kwadaso constituency seat in 2004 and received 20 of the total votes cast by delegates. He lost to fellow political newcomer Josephine Hilda Addo, who won with 26 votes. Addo went on to win the constituency election in the 2004 general election. Afriyie Akoto again contested the 2007 constituency primary and beat the incumbent.
He served two terms as the Member of Parliament for Kwadaso from 2009 to 2016. While at Parliament, Afriyie Akoto was the Deputy Ranking Member for the Committee on Food and Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs. He was succeeded by Samiu Kwadwo Nuamah when he lost the NPP parliamentary primary in 2015.
In June 2015, Afriyie Akoto contested the constituency primary with the hope of securing enough votes to allow him to contest the constituency parliamentary election. Five other candidates including Addo, a former Member of Parliament for the constituency, contested the election.
The eventual winner was Nuamah, who pulled 191 of the total votes cast. Afriyie Akoto obtained 95 of the total votes. In his concession speech, Afriyie Akoto promised to work together with Nuamah to maintain the parliamentary seat and asserted that Nuamah had won the seat on merit.
In January 2017, President Nana Akufo-Addo nominated Afriyie Akoto for the position of Minister of Food and Agriculture. He was approved the same month. During his vetting, he made it known that investors from South Africa and the United States who had visited the Afram plains, Kintampo, and other places in the country were excited about the animal-rearing opportunities those places offer and had expressed interest in investing in the sector.
On Tuesday, 10 January 2023, Afriyie Akoto resigned as Minister of Food and Agriculture by presenting his resignation letter to the President of the Republic of Ghana; Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo at the Jubilee House, Accra. In a press statement issued by the Director of Communications at the Presidency, Republic of Ghana, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo accepted his resignation letter and thanked Afriyie Akoto for his services to the country.
Hence, appointing Hon. Mavis Hawa Koomson, Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture, and Member of Parliament for Awutu Senya East to be caretaker Minister at the Ministry of Food and Agriculture until a permanent Minister is appointed. Afriyie Akoto presented his handover notes to the caretaker Minister, Hon. Mavis Hawa Koomson whose appointment takes effect on Monday, 24 January 2023.
Following his resignation from his role as Minister of Food and Agriculture, Afriyie Akoto has disclosed his ambition to run for President of the Republic of Ghana under the ticket of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the 2024 General Elections. Afriyie Akoto has outlined seven (7) campaign policies to spearhead the total transformation of the country when elected as President with agricultural transformation as the paradigm shift for his agenda.
On Monday, 19 June 2023, Afriyie Akoto officially filed for nomination at the NPP party headquarters at Asylum Down as a flagbearer hopeful for the party in the 2024 General Elections. After filing his nomination forms, he indicated that the NPP party cannot ‘Break the 8’ with a divided front and hence the need to constitutionally allow delegates to make the decision.
On July 26, 2023, Afriyie Akoto picked number five during the balloting process for the NPP flagbearer hopefuls. This balloting took place in anticipation of the special delegates conference, which is scheduled to be held on the 26th of August, 2023.
Personal Life
According to the report, Afriyie Akoto is married with seven children. He is a member of the Catholic Church of Ghana.
Owusu Afriyie Akoto Net worth
Owusu Afriyie Akoto has an estimated net worth of $7 millions. Owusu Afriyie Akoto is a Ghanaian agricultural economist and politician.
Frequently Asked Questions(FAQ)
Who is Owusu Afriyie Akoto?
Owusu Afriyie Akoto is a Ghanaian agricultural economist and politician. He is a member of the New Patriotic Party and was a Member of Parliament for the Kwadaso Constituency from 2009 to 2017.
When was Owusu Afriyie Akoto born?
He was born on October 19, 1949.
How old is Owusu Afriyie Akoto?
He is currently 75 years old as of 2024.
Where was Owusu Afriyie Akoto born?
He was born in Ghana.
What is Owusu Afriyie Akoto net worth?
Owusu Afriyie Akoto has an estimated net worth of $7 millions.
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