Papa Kwesi Nduom

Papa Kwesi Nduom is a notable figure in Ghanaian politics and business born on February 15th, 1953, in Elmina, Central Region. A business consultant by profession, Nduom is best known as the founder of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP). He has served as a Member of Parliament, a minister, and has contested Ghana’s presidential elections three times.

Papa Kwesi Nduom’s foray into politics began in 1997 when he was elected as an Assembly Member for the Akotobinsin Electoral Area within the Komenda-Edina-Abirem District Assembly in the Central Region. His political footprint quickly expanded as he aimed for a parliamentary seat in the December 2000 elections. Running under the banner of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), Nduom contested in the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abirem constituency but narrowly lost to the incumbent, Ato Quarshie of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Despite his affiliation with the CPP, Nduom’s expertise and reputation led to an appointment by then-President John Agyekum Kuffuor of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) during his first term. Nduom was made Minister for Economic Planning and concurrently served as Chairman of the National Development Planning Commission. His role in the cabinet expanded in 2003 when, following a reshuffle, he was appointed Minister for Energy.

Undeterred by his earlier electoral defeat, Nduom once again sought a parliamentary seat in the 2004 elections. Running again under the CPP, this time his efforts bore fruit as he secured a resounding victory, garnering 30,981 votes to his opponent's 15,427. Following this success, President Kufuor, now in his second term, appointed Nduom as Minister for Public Sector Reforms. In 2007, Nduom resigned from his ministerial role to pursue a presidential bid in the 2008 general elections on ticket of the CPP. Unfortunately, his presidential aspirations were not realized, as he secured less than 1% of the valid votes cast.

Following the 2008 elections, internal conflicts arose within the CPP, with some members accusing Nduom of defying party regulations. This discord prompted Nduom to resign from the CPP in 2012 and establish his own political party, the Progressive People’s Party (PPP). He became the PPP’s flagbearer in the 2012 presidential elections.