I'm the best to lead Kumawu constituency - Dr. Aboagye Da-Costa

Dr. Aboagye Da-Costa, the Director of Health Promotion at the Ghana Health Service who is aspiring to become the next NPP MP for the vacant Kumawu seat, says he is the right man for the job.

According to the aspirant, who is a native of Kumawu, he is convinced of winning the upcoming by-elections to lead as the MP for the area.

He is placed on the 3rd position on the ballot paper.

Candidates Lawyer Edward Osei and Dr. Philip Bannor have withdrawn from the race, an indication Dr. Dacosta Aboagye, who hailed from Bodomasi, the second largest electoral area in the Kumawu constituency is halfway through to winning the election.

"Just recently after I declared my intention to contest the vacant seat, almost, everybody in the constituency is calling and asking me to go all out as I have their full support; they are the ones demanding I contest," he said after balloting.

According to him, "And if you analyze the dynamics, it is encouraging because just last weekend when I visited the constituency the residents greeted me massively, everyone just wanted to see me – they can attest to my outstanding job done during the coronavirus era in the country".

He indicated that his youthful exuberance coupled with the vast experience gathered in the health sector, and the humanitarian field among others at both local and the international front, make him fits to lead the NPP when given the nod.

“I’m known everywhere in this country whenever my name is mentioned, so I can help the constituency and that is exactly what they [constituents] want. Looking at my youthful exuberance, they need someone to learn from, they need someone who will guide them because at most times they lack direction,” Dr. Da-Costa added.

He was hopeful the love shown him by the people in the leadup to the by-election would translate into votes to enable him to represent the constituency in Parliament and serve them diligently.

Dr. Aboagye Da-Costa, in 2021 was honored by the chief of Kumawu with a “Golden Citizen Award” for his philanthropic and humanitarian work.

The award seeks to recognize his numerous contributions towards the Socio-Economic Development of Kumawu-Bodomase and its environs.

The by-election has been necessitated following the demise of the sitting MP, Philip Atta Basoah, who died on March 27, 2023, at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.

Parliament, before adjourning sittings for the Easter holidays, through the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, on April 3, declared the Kumawu seat vacant and directed the Electoral Commission (EC) to commence processes for a by-election.

Eight people including five NPP members— Dr. Aboagye inclusive—will contest the seat. The rest are a former Kumawu MP Yaw Baah, Edward Kofi Osei, Dr. Philip Bannor, Ernest Yaw Anim, Madam Ama Serwaa, Kwame Appiah-Kubi, and Osei Hweree Kwame Bempah.

Background

Dr. Aboagye is a national figure in Risk Communication and Community Engagement response for COVID-19. He led Ghana’s national risk communication efforts during COVID pandemic and created the National Risk Communication and Misinformation Taskforce for COVID-19.

He is currently the President of the ECOWAS risk communication and community engagement network with a responsibility to facilitate experience sharing, advocacy, learning, and promotion of better health through building stronger risk communication systems in the 15 ECOWAS member states.

Dr. Aboagye is a fellow of the Higher Education Academy of England and Wales, an international consultant, an external examiner for both the University of Salford and the London Metropolitan University and a reviewer for the Global Health Promotion Journal.

In 2021, he was nominated to be a member of the Partnership for Evidence-based Response to COVID-19, a consortium made up of organizations such as the World Economic Forum, African Union, Resolve to Save Lives, the World Health Organization ,and private sector actors. He was later designated by the consortium to present research evidence on human impact, public health, and social measures in Africa.

In 2022, the United States Government through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) launched a new, five-year $29 million partnership with Dr. Aboagye’s division of the Ghana Health Service to support the widespread adoption of life-saving health behaviors across Ghana. Under the leadership of Dr. Aboagye, the project continues to produce many successes including a launch of a National Health Promotion Strategy for Ghana.

He has received many prestigious awards and citations including the MTN Young Professionals Role Model in Health, Gold Category, in 2020, and the Golden Citizen Award in 2021, conferred on him by the Traditional Authority of Kumawu-Bodomase for his humanitarian work.