Queenstar Maame Pokua Sawyerr (born 1 July 1964) is a Ghanaian politician and the former deputy Central Regional Minister of Ghana.[1][2][3] She has been the member of parliament of the Agona East Constituency since 2013.[4]
Hon. Queenster Maame Pokuah Sawyerr | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of Parliament for Agona East Constituency | |
| In office 2013–present | |
| Deputy Central Regional Minister | |
| In office 2013–2017 | |
| President | John Dramani Mahama |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1 July 1964 Agona Kwanyako, Central Region, Ghana |
| Political party | NDC |
| Alma mater | Accra Polytechnic, Atlantic International University |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Profession | Businesswoman |
| Committees | Youth, Sports and Culture Committee; Public Accounts Committee; Education Committee |
Early life and education edit
Sawyerr was born on 1 July 1964 and hails from Agona Kwanyako in the Central Region of Ghana.[4] She received her higher national diploma from Accra Polytechnic and received a bachelor's degree in Business Administration and master's in Public Administration from Atlantic International University.[5][6] Atlantic International University is an unaccredited distance learning institution that has been characterized as a degree mill,[7] and its degrees have been widely dismissed as "fake."[8]
Career edit
Sawyerr is a business woman.[6] She was CEO of Queenstar Real Estates Company Limited before assuming her position as a member of parliament.[9]
Politics edit
Sawyerr is the member of the National Democratic Congress. She is currently the Member of parliament for Agona East Constituency in the Central Region of Ghana.[9]
2020 elections edit
In the 2020 Ghanaian general elections, Sawyerr won the Agona East parliamentary seat with 23,247 votes making 50.6% of the total votes cast whilst the NPP parliamentary candidate Kwesi Yankah had 22,292 votes making 48.5% of the total votes cast and the LPG parliamentary candidate Samuel Aryeequaye had 204 votes making 0.4% of the total votes cast, the CPP parliamentary candidate Appiah Kubi Sharfiu had 139 votes making 0.3% of the total votes cast and an Independent parliamentary candidate Anthony Adjetey Adjei had 97 votes making 0.2% of the total votes cast.[10][11][12]
Committees edit
Sawyerr is a member of the Youth, Sports and Culture Committee; a member of the Public Accounts Committee; and also a member of the Education Committee.[4]
Personal life edit
Sawyerr is married with four children.[6] She is a Christian and worships as an Anglican.[4]
Philanthropy edit
For over 10 years, Sawyerr developed the Maame Pokua Loan Scheme (MPLS) to distribute money and support women traders in her constituency.[13] The scheme is an interest free loan aimed to cushion women to expand their businesses.[14]
In 2014, she presented mathematical sets to over 1400 students in her constituency who wrote the BECE.[15]
In 2017, she also organized health screening for the widows and elderly at Gomoa Adzentum in the Gomoa East Constituency in the Central Region.[16]
In 2017, she presented food items to Muslims in Agona East Constituency during the month of Ramadan.[17]
In 2018, she also presented building materials and desks to about five schools in the Agona East Constituency.[18]
Controversy edit
In October 2020, Sawyerr was banned from campaigning on the land of Agona by Nana Kojo Amuakwa V (the Chief of Agona Duakwa). She allegedly claimed to have paid the chief some amount of money for a project which the chief denied.[19]
References edit
- ^ "List of Regional Ministers in Ghana with Their Deputies". ModernGhana. Retrieved 23 November 2013.
- ^ "List of Regional Ministers in Ghana with Their Deputies". GhanaWeb. Retrieved 23 November 2013.
- ^ "Regional Ministers". Government of Ghana. Archived from the original on 14 October 2013. Retrieved 23 November 2013.
- ^ a b c d "Parliament of Ghana". Parliament of Ghana. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
- ^ "HON. QUEENSTAR POKUAH SAWYERR". UK-Ghana Chamber of Commerce. 5 July 2018. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
- ^ a b c "Ghana MPs – MP Details – Sawyerr, Queenstar Pokuah". Ghana MPs. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
- ^ "Probe IGP's 'Fake' doctorate degree - Academics". GhanaWeb. 28 October 2016. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
- ^ quist (3 August 2016). "Gifty Anti, IGP, Hassan Ayariga and others indicted in fake doctorate degree scandal". Pulse Ghana. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
- ^ a b "Ghana MPs – MP Details – Sawyerr, Queenstar Pokuah". Ghana MPs. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
- ^ FM, Peace. "2020 Election - Agona East Constituency Results". Ghana Elections - Peace FM. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
- ^ "Parliamentary Results for Agona East". GhanaWeb. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
- ^ "NDC's Pokuah Sawyerr retains Agona East seat". Graphic Online. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
- ^ Online, Peace FM. "Agona East: Queenstar Pokua Sawyerr Explains Reason Behind Sharing Money". Peacefmonline - Ghana news. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
- ^ "Agona East MP Assists Traders With Interest Free Loan". The Publisher Online. 18 November 2017. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
- ^ Africa, Daily Guide. "Queenster Pokuah Sawyerr | News Ghana". Ghana news. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
- ^ "Queenstar Pokuah Sawyerr supports Gomoa Adzentem". BusinessGhana. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
- ^ "MP gives to Muslims in Agona East". Ghanadistricts. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
- ^ "Agona East MP supports five basic schools". BusinessGhana. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
- ^ Emmanuel, Kojo (4 October 2020). "Agona Duakwa: Chief bans NDC MP from campaigning for disrespecting them". Pulse Ghana. Retrieved 20 November 2022.