Akua Donkor (c. February 1952 – 28 October 2024) was a Ghanaian farmer and politician.[2] She was the founder and leader of Ghana Freedom Party (GFP).[3][4]
Akua Donkor | |
|---|---|
| Ghana Freedom Party candidate for President of Ghana | |
| Running mate | Kwabena Agyeman Appiah Kubi |
| Opponent(s) | Nana Akufo-Addo John Mahama and 9 others |
| Incumbent | Nana Akufo-Addo |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 1952 Ejuratia |
| Died | 28 October 2024 (aged 72)[1] Accra, Ghana |
| Nationality | Ghanaian |
| Political party | Ghana Freedom Party |
| Children | Ama Serwaa Bonsu |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Profession | Cocoa farmer |
Early life
editDonkor was born in February 1952, and hailed from Ejuratia in the Afigya Kwabre District[5] in the Ashanti Region of Ghana (then the Gold Coast). She was a Cocoa farmer by profession and was not known to have had any formal education.[6]
Personal life
editDonkor had a daughter called Ama Serwaa Bonsu.[5]
Politics
editDonkor was elected an assembly woman for Heman.[6] She applied to contest as an independent candidate in the 2012 election to become president of Ghana, but was disqualified by the electoral commission on accounts of not meeting the requirements set for the election. She later decided to give her support to Paa Kwesi Nduom of the Progressive People's Party.[7] Her party was disqualified by the Electoral Commission from contesting in the 2016 election.[8] Despite not being able to contest any election, Akua Donkor insisted that she should be addressed as Her Excellency, a title for the president.
In January 2016, Donkor's GFP headquarters located at Kabu in the Eastern Region was gutted by fire.[9] Speaking on the incident, Donkor said the disaster was a test which would not deter her quest to become the president of Ghana.
In 2020, Donkor was among the three female presidential candidates to be cleared to contest the 2020 presidential elections.[10] Out of the 12 candidates that contested, she came fifth.[11]
In 2024, Donkor announced Mr Kwabena Agyeman Appiah Kubi,[12] known in the media as Roman Fada, as her running mate for the general election.[13][14]
Donkor successfully filed her nomination to contest in the 2024 presidential elections,[15] and placed number 3 on the ballot paper.[16]
Akua Donkor threatened to drag John Dramani Mahama, the 2024 presidential candidate for the National Democratic Congress, to court over derogatory comments on her qualification as a presidential candidate during an Inter Party Advisory Committee meeting which was held on 15 October 2024 in Accra.[17][18]
Campaign promises
editDonkor promised to make free education from primary to secondary level.[19] She also promised to eliminate import taxes to enable people to import more. She would establish a free zone at the Tema Port to attract more businesses into the country.[6] This, she said, were achievable through the judicious use of Ghana's natural resources such as gold, cocoa, shea butter and salt.[19] She also advocated that Ghana refine its own resources, especially crude oil.
Donkor has claimed Muammar Gaddafi of Libya as her political icon. Inspired by the late Libyan leader, Donkor stated Ghana should be "rubbing shoulders" with the northern African country.[19]
She also wanted the country to elect its first female president, stating women had the capacity to "help change the fortunes of the country for the better".[19]
Disqualification
editOn 10 October 2016, the Ghana Electoral Commission announced the disqualification of Akua Donkor, together with 12 other presidential candidates from contesting the 7th December election.[20][4] She admitted that her nomination form was fraught with errors, as pointed out by the Electoral Commission. She called on members and executives of the party not to lose hope as the party would come back in 2020 to contest the presidential race.[21]
Death
editDonkor died on 28 October 2024 at the Ridge Hospital Accra, where she was receiving medical treatment for an undisclosed condition after experiencing illness during her campaign activities in preparation for the 2024 Ghanaian general election.[1][22] She had been diagnosed with abdominal complications two days prior.[23]
References
edit- ^ a b "Akua Donkor, Presidential Candidate of Ghana Freedom Party dies at age 72 - MyJoyOnline". www.myjoyonline.com. 29 October 2024.
- ^ Otchere, Gertrude Owireduwaah (29 October 2024). "What you probably didn't know about Akua Donkor - Adomonline.com". Retrieved 29 October 2024.
- ^ "Akua Donkor, 'Otumfuo is my husband' - Now Ghana!". Now Ghana!. Archived from the original on 24 April 2016. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
- ^ a b "Ghana Freedom Party Leader Akua Donkor dead". 29 October 2024. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
- ^ a b "Akua Donkor: Ejuratia residents mourn as daughter calls for state burial". 29 October 2024. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
- ^ a b c Kanyarwunga (7 July 2011). "History of Africa Otherwise: Ms. Akua Donkor, illiterate President of Ghana ?". History of Africa Otherwise. Archived from the original on 19 January 2023. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
- ^ "Disqualified Akua Donkor Joins Nduom's PPP". Peacefmonline.com. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
- ^ "RACE TO FLAGSTAFF HOUSE: EC says no to Akua Donkor". Kasapa102.5FM. 10 October 2016. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
- ^ "Akua Donkor party office burnt". ghanaweb.com. 23 January 2016. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
- ^ "Akua Donkor, Konadu Rawlings, Dzogbenuku cleared to contest 2020 election". GhanaWeb.
- ^ "2020 PRESIDENTIAL RESULTS". ec.gov.gh. 8 December 2020. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
- ^ "Kwabena Agyemang Biography". www.peacefmonline.com. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
- ^ "Akua Donkor Names Roman Fada As Her Running Mate".
- ^ "Akua Donkor selects another radio presenter as running mate - Adomonline.com". 18 September 2024. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
- ^ "2024 Elections: Akua Donkor and two others file nomination". GhanaWeb.
- ^ "Akua Donkor Jubilates Over Number 3 Position On Presidential Ballot". DailyGuide Network. 23 September 2024. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
- ^ "Akua Donkor threatens to sue Mahama over derogatory comment on her presidential candidate qualifications - Graphic Online".
- ^ Otchere, Gertrude Owireduwaah (15 October 2024). "Akua Donkor threatens to sue Mahama - Adomonline.com". Retrieved 29 October 2024.
- ^ a b c d Rebecca Quaicoe Duho. "Ghana must not be in difficulty — Akua Donkor - Graphic Online". www.graphic.com.gh. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
- ^ "EC disqualifies Nduom, Konadu, 11 others; accepts 4 - MyJoyOnline". Archived from the original on 9 February 2017. Retrieved 12 October 2016.
- ^ "Akua Donkor calms supporters, says 2020 is her surest bet". 12 October 2016.
- ^ "Akua Donkor: Ghana presidential candidate die about a month to elections". BBC News Pidgin. 29 October 2024. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
- ^ "Ghana presidential candidate Akua Donkor passes away". Africanews. 30 October 2024. Retrieved 30 October 2024.