Nana Akwasi Awuah
Nana Akwasi Awuah is a Ghanaian politician, activist and lawyer. He has been the managing director of the Precious Minerals Marketing Company, Ghana’s gold assaying agency, since 2021.[1] In 2014, he co-founded and was convener for Occupy Ghana which actively criticized governance in Ghana under the John Mahama presidency and organized two famous mass protests; Occupy Ghana and Occupy Flagstaff House. Awuah also founded the Citizen Ghana movement in 2015.
Early life and education
[edit]Awuah graduated in 2006 from Mfantsipim School, a high school in Cape Coast. In 2011, he graduated from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology with a Bachelor of Law (LL.B) degree. He received the Qualifying Certificate in Law (Q.C.L.) from the Ghana School of Law in 2013. In 2015, Awuah was awarded a Mandela Washington Fellowship at the University of Delaware where he obtained a certificate in civic leadership.[2] In 2021, he graduated with a master of science in international business from the University of Ghana after a year of studies.[3]
Career
[edit]Awuah worked at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs under the national service scheme from August 2011 to October 2011, when he gained admission to the Ghana School of Law. After graduating from the Ghana School of Law, he interned at Ghartey and Ghartey Law Chambers, which was led by Efua Ghartey and Joe Ghartey, from July 2013 to October 2013.
In 2014, Awuah co-founded Occupy Ghana, a social pressure group alongside Kofi Bentil, Sydney Casely-Hayford and Ace Ankomah. The group organized a well-attended street protest dubbed Occupy Flagstaff on July 1, 2014.[4][5] Occupy Ghana established a website and made press releases on political happenings as they occurred. During its active period, Occupy Ghana threatened and carried out legal suits against various state bodies for inaction on its demands.[6][7][8] In July 2017, Awuah has said he believed the protests yielded results.[9]
In 2015, Awuah and Kofi Bentil served as lawyers to actress Yvonne Nelson and musician Sarkodie for the organization of a series of street protests dubbed #DumsorMustStop. These street protests aimed to pressure the Ghanaian government to resolve the power cut crisis at the time.[10][11][12]
In 2015, Awuah founded the Citizen Ghana Movement. In that year, the platform, represented by Awuah in court, sued the Ghanaian Ministry of Power, the attorney general and the Speaker of Parliament over a deal the Ghanaian government had signed off with AMERI, an energy group.[13] In 2016, the platform, led in court by Awuah, secured a judgement which compelled state authorities to release information on the Smattys bus branding contract.[14][15] In 2017, the platform advocated for the passage of the Right to Information Bill, a legislation which compelled state agencies to release information to the Ghanaian public.[16]
In 2019, Awuah co-founded a law firm, Parkwood and Mossane.[17]
In August 2021, Awuah was appointed by President Nana Akufo-Addo as managing director of the Precious Minerals and Mining Company.[18] Since 2017, Awuah had been serving as a secretary to the company’s board before the appointment as managing director.[19][20] Awuah has claimed that the PMMC does not engage in irresponsible gold sourcing citing a change of licensing regime as a preventive step.[21]
References
[edit]- ^ "PMMC sets sights on making Ghana a global gold leader". Ghanaweb.com. 26 November 2024.
- ^ "Senators Coons and Carper inspire, advise young global leaders during UD visit". udel.edu. 25 August 2015.
- ^ "One-on-One with Nana Akwasi Awuah". Adom. 13 February 2023.
- ^ "Flagstaff House Demo Takes Off". ghanareview.com. 1 July 2014.
- ^ Manasseh Awuni Azure (2 April 2015). "Manasseh's Folder: OccupyGhana or Occupy Partisan Politics?". modernghana.com.
- ^ "Occupy protestors to sue Auditor, Attorney Generals". citifmonline.com. 16 October 2014.
- ^ "OccupyGhana threatens to drag A-G, Auditor-General to court if…". myjoyonline.com. 15 October 2014.
- ^ "Reduce fuel prices or face court action - OccupyGhana tells NPA". graphic.com.gh. 24 December 2014.
- ^ "Occupy Flagstaff House yielded results - Nana Akwasi Awuah". ghanaweb.com.
- ^ "Yvonne Nelson, Sarkodie to lead 'Dumsor vigil' on May 1". graphic.com.gh. 5 May 2015.
- ^ "How successful was #DumsorMustStopVirgil ?". globalvoices.org. 1 November 2015.
- ^ "Ghana's celebrities lead protest marches against ongoing energy crisis". theguardian.com. 17 May 2015.
- ^ "Pressure group sues Power Ministry, Speaker and AG over controversial AMERI deal". modernghana.com.
- ^ "We will make ourselves available to citizens seeking to access information – Movement". ghanabusinessnews.com. 9 April 2016.
- ^ "Bureau to help Ghanaians access information". businessghana.com. 2 October 2017.
- ^ "Parliament urged to pass Right to Information Bill". Ghanaweb.com. 30 September 2017.
- ^ "Nana Akwasi Awuah Esq". parkwoodmossane.com. Retrieved 4 December 2024.
- ^ "New MD of PMMC promises to make firm profitable". 3news.com. 9 August 2021.
- ^ "Make PMMC profitable governing board tasked". modernghana.com. 26 September 2017.
- ^ "OccupyGhana's Akwasi Awuah gets PMMC appointment". ghheadlines.com. 22 November 2021.
- ^ "PMMC will not engage in irresponsible gold sourcing". asaaseradio.com. 15 July 2023.