By Bertha Badu-Agyei//Eugenia Otenwaa
Accra, Nov 22, Accra – Ms Darkoa Newman, incumbent Member of Parliament for Okaikwei South, has appealed to her constituents to vote for her in the December 7, 2024, parliamentary elections, to continue an unfinished business.
She said in the past four years she had lobbied for developmental projects such as asphalting of roads, construction of school blocks and other educational facilities and construction of astro turfs for recreation, among others.
Ms Newman, who is also the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection is seeking re-election for the second time after she successfully entered parliament in 2020 as one of the 40 female MPs and the 29 who secured the candidature of their respective parties’ primaries.
She emerged as one of the prominent political figures representing the Okakwei South Constituency, bringing a dynamic and focused approach to parliamentary representation.
In June 2020, Ms Newman entered the NPP Okaikwei South primaries in a keen contest with Mr Arthur Ahmed, the incumbent MP for the area then and Nana Fredua Agyeman and won with 440 votes, whiles the other two received 327 and 27 votes respectively.
She went ahead to retain the Okaikwei South seat for the NPP in the 2020 general elections with 40,393 votes, representing 60.82%, whiles her closest contender Mr Abraham Kotei Neequaye of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), polled 26,019 votes, representing 39.18%.
Ms Newman was one of the few parliamentary candidates who polled more votes than in the party’s presidential candidate in the general elections.
She was appointed as the Gender Minister early this year and was instrumental in the passage of the Affirmative Action Bill which had transcended more than four Gender Ministers in the last two decades.
She also has distinguished herself as an active and engaged legislator on critical issues affecting her constituency and broader national issues.
Ms Newman, a product of the Wesley Girls High School holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Ghana, a master’s degree in Program and Project management from the University of Warwick and a certified Project Management and Risk Management professional.
The Okaikwei South Constituency has consistently voted for the NPP since 1996 in both presidential and parliamentary with NPPs Nana Akomea blazing the trail as the first MP for the area since 1996 until 2012 when Mr Ahmed Arthur continued the baton.
In 1996, former President Kufuor polled 36,641 (58.42%), Nana Akomea polled 35,294 (44.70%), elections 2000 Former President Kufuor had 35,589 (65.61%), Nana Akomea 34,179 (64.50%), In the 2004 elections Former President Kufuor 43,445 (63.03%).
President Nana Akufo-Addo polled 36,628 (55.98%), in the 2008 elections, whiles Nana Akomea polled 36,628 (55.98%), In 2012 President Akufo-Addo had 39,690 (56.29%), Mr Ahmed Arthur, 39,399 (55.06%).
In 2016 President Akufo-Addo polled 39,955 (61.35%), Mr Ahmed Arthur 33,820 (58.80%) and in 2020 President Akufo-Addo polled 38,117 (57.05%) whiles Darkoa Newman polled 40,393 (60.82%).
GNA