Samuel Nuamah Donkor (5 September 1958 – 14 August 2022) was a

Ghanaian Ghana (; tw, Gaana, ee, Gana), officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country in West Africa. It abuts the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean to the south, sharing borders with Ivory Coast in Ghana–Ivory Coast border, the west, Burkina ...

politician and social worker. He was a Minister for Health, Minister for Ashanti Region and a member of the first parliament of the fourth republic of Ghana representing New Juaben North constituency under the membership of the National Convention Party (NCP). In 1982, he was appointed by chairman

Jerry John Rawlings Jerry John Rawlings (22 June 194712 November 2020) was a Ghanaian military officer and politician who led the country for a brief period in 1979, and then from 1981 to 2001. He led a military junta until 1992, and then served two terms as the de ...

of the

Provisional National Defence Council The Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) was the name of the Ghanaian government after the People's National Party's elected government was overthrown by Jerry Rawlings, the former head of the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council, in a coup ...

(PNDC) as the Deputy regional coordinator for Peoples Defence Committees and Workers Defence Committees (PDCs / WDCs) and additional position as coordinator for New Juaben 1982 to 1992. Under

administration in 1996 he was appointed Deputy Minister of Health of Ghana before becoming the substantive Minister of Health in 1998. In 1999, he was appointed the Ashanti Regional Minister position which he held until January 2001, when the National Democratic Congress handed over government to the opposition party, the

New Patriotic Party , logo = , colorcode = #132f7a , founder = , founded = 28 July 1992 , dissolved = , leader = Nana Akufo-Addo , chairman = Stephen Ayensu Ntim Stephen Ntim elected NPP National Chairman on fifth attempt http://www.gna.org.gh/1.2152672 ...

. In March 2014, he was appointed the managing director of the Intercity State Transport Company limited (STC) in the National Democratic Congress, under

John Mahama John Dramani Mahama (; born 29 November 1958) is a Ghanaian politician who served as President of Ghana from 24 July 2012 to 7 January 2017. He previously served as Vice President of Ghana from January 2009 to July 2012, and took office as presi ...

administration from 2014 to 2017.

Early life and education

Samuel Nuamah Donkor was born on 5 September 1958 to Opanin Kwabena Agyekum, Gyaasehene of Asokore-Koforidua in the Eastern Region of Ghana and Madam Abena Akyaamah also from Asokore- Koforidua. He schooled in

Pope John Senior High School and Minor Seminary Pope John Senior High School and Minor Seminary (formerly St John's Seminary and College, nicknamed POJOSS), is an all-boys boarding school, located at Effiduase, Koforidua, in the Eastern Region of Ghana. It was established in 1958 by Bishop ...

for his

GCE O level The O-Level (Ordinary Level) is a subject-based qualification conferred as part of the General Certificate of Education. It was introduced in place of the School Certificate in 1951 as part of an educational reform alongside the more in-depth ...

. Having completed his O level studies in 1978, he continued his studies at Koforidua Secondary Technical for his

GCE Advanced level The A-Level (Advanced Level) is a subject-based qualification conferred as part of the General Certificate of Education, as well as a school leaving qualification offered by the educational bodies in the United Kingdom and the educational aut ...

certificate in

physics Physics is the natural science that studies matter, its fundamental constituents, its motion and behavior through space and time, and the related entities of energy and force. "Physical science is that department of knowledge which r ...

chemistry Chemistry is the science, scientific study of the properties and behavior of matter. It is a natural science that covers the Chemical element, elements that make up matter to the chemical compound, compounds made of atoms, molecules and ions ...

and

biology Biology is the scientific study of life. It is a natural science with a broad scope but has several unifying themes that tie it together as a single, coherent field. For instance, all organisms are made up of cells that process hereditary i ...

. He attended Escuela National De Cuadros, Management Development and Productivity Institute where he obtained his

Diploma A diploma is a document awarded by an educational institution (such as a college or university) testifying the recipient has graduated by successfully completing their courses of studies. Historically, it has also referred to a charter or offici ...

and Certificate in Social Science and Management Studies respectively. He worked as a social worker before going into parliament.

Career

In March 2014 Donkor was appointed the managing director of the state transport company limited.

Politics

He began his political career in 1982, appointed by chairman

of the

PNDC as the Deputy regional coordinator for Peoples Defence Committees and Workers Defence Committees (PDCs / WDCs) and additional position as coordinator for New Juaben North 1982 to 1992, when he became the parliamentary candidate for the National Convention Party (NCP) to represent his constituency in the Eastern Region of Ghana prior to the commencement of the

1992 Ghanaian parliamentary election Parliamentary elections were held in Ghana on 29 December 1992, the first since 1979. Voter turnout was just 28.1% amidst a boycott by opposition parties, who had claimed the preceding presidential elections in November – won by former military ...

. Under the Jerry John Rawlings administration, he served as minister for health.

Member of parliament

He was sworn into the First Parliament of the Fourth Republic of Ghana on 7 January 1993 after being pronounced winner at the 1992 Ghanaian election held on 29 December 1992. After serving his four years tenure in office, Samuel Nuamah Donkor lost his seat in the 1996 Ghanaian General Elections to his counterpart in the

(NPP), Hackman Owusu Agyemang who polled 11,629 votes which represented 52.60% of the total votes cast. Donkor who represented National Democratic Congress (NDC) polled 7,494 votes representing 33.90% of the total valid votes cast, Michael Adu-Bonsu of the People's National Convention (PNC) polled 264 votes representing 1.20% of the total valid votes cast, John Buabeng of the

Convention People's Party The Convention People's Party (CPP) is a Socialism, socialist political party in Ghana based on the ideas of the first President of Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah. The CPP was formed in June 1949 after Nkrumah broke away from the United Gold Coast Conven ...

(CPP) polled 77 votes representing 0.30% of the total valid votes cast and Samuel Osei-Owusu of the National Convention Party polled 43 votes representing 0.20% of the total votes cast. In parliament, he was appointed the ''deputy minority leader'' of Parliament from 1983 to 1996. He also served on the Parliamentary committees of defence and interior, finance and foreign affairs. In 1995, he was appointed the chairman of the foreign affairs committee of Parliament.

Minister of state

In 1996, he was appointed Deputy Minister of Health of Ghana in the

administration. He assisted the minister in introducing reforms in the health sector. It was during that period that

guinea worm ''Dracunculus medinensis'', or Guinea worm, is a nematode that causes dracunculiasis, also known as guinea worm disease. The disease is caused by the female which, at up to in length, is among the longest nematodes infecting humans. In contra ...

was eradicated from Ghana. In 1998, as Minister for Health of Ghana, he introduced the popular Addition Duty Hours Allowance (ADHA) for doctors and health professionals. This allowance served as motivation for doctors and health professionals which reduce incidence of "strike actions" from such professionals. He was awarded a certificate of honour by the

Ghana medical Association The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) represents physicians, surgeons and dentists working throughout Ghana. It was established in 1958 and is divided into ten divisions representing each region of Ghana as at the end of 2018. History The earliest ...

(GMA) in its annual conference held in Suyani in the Brong Ahafo Region. The nurses used to call him "''The darling boy of the Nurses''". In 1999, he was appointed the Ashanti Regional Minister, a position he held till January, 2001.

Personal life

Donkor identified as a Christian.

Death

Samuel Nuamah Donkor passed away on Sunday 14 August 2022. He left behind a wife, Irene Nuamah Donkor, and five children, Raphael Nuamah, Abena Nuamah Yeboah, Princess Terry Nuamah, Samuel Einstein Nuamah Donkor and Oti Boateng Nuamah.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Donkor, Samuel Nuamah 1958 births 2022 deaths Ghanaian MPs 1993–1997 Health ministers of Ghana People from Eastern Region (Ghana) National Democratic Congress (Ghana) politicians Koforidua Senior High Technical School alumni Pope John Senior High School and Minor Seminary alumni