Debate, leadership and governance drew me to politics – Ekua Amoakoh

Spokesperson for NPP flagbearer Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Health Committee, Dr Ekua Amoakoh, says her lifelong interest in debate, governance and leadership inspired her to pursue a career in politics.

In a personality profile interview on JoyNews’ PM Express with Emefa Adeti, she said she had always been vocal about how institutions and society should be run and wanted to contribute to decisions affecting Ghana’s development.

“I always enjoyed debates and, you know, governance. And I always had opinions on stuff. So I think that’s why I wanted to be a politician. I always had opinions on what to do, how everything should be run,” she said.

Dr Amoakoh said she frequently found herself in leadership positions during her education, from junior secondary school through senior secondary school.

“At every point in my life, whether in JSS or secondary school, I always end up in some position of leadership because I’m very verbose,” she said.

She recalled an incident from medical school involving a lecturer known among students as “Captain”, whom she described as intimidating.

Dr Amoakoh said students were sometimes too frightened to approach him with difficult issues, prompting them to ask her to speak on their behalf.

“We all needed to tell Captain something that he really wouldn’t understand. But everybody was just too frightened to tell him. They’d say, ‘Akua, go and do it,’” she recounted.

She said the experience reflected a pattern in her life in which she often became the person expected to speak up when others were reluctant to do so.

“So I always knew that I always had that ability to be able to speak when I needed to. And I had opinions on everything,” she said.

Dr Amoakoh said her political ambition was also driven by a desire to contribute directly to Ghana’s development.

She explained that she did not want to remain outside the decision-making process when she believed she could help shape the country’s direction.

“I didn’t want to be in a position where I couldn’t influence the growth of this country, for instance,” she said.