Likpalimor Kwajo Tawiah

Likpalimor Kwajo Tawiah (9 September 1960 – 19 September 2023) was a Ghanaian politician and a member of the First, Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth Parliament of the Fourth Republic of Ghana representing the Kpandai constituency in the Northern Region of Ghana.[1][2][3]

Hon.
Likpalimor Kwadwo Tawiah
Member of Ghana Parliament for
Kpandai constituency
In office
7 January 1993 – 6 January 2013
Succeeded byMatthew Nyindam
Personal details
Born(1960-09-09)9 September 1960
Nanjuro, Saboba, Northern Region, Ghana
Died19 September 2023(2023-09-19) (aged 63)
Tamale, Ghana
Political partyNational Democratic Congress
Alma materUniversity of Education, Winneba
Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration
OccupationPolitician
ProfessionTeacher

Early life and education

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Tawiah was born on 9 September 1960 in Nanjuro-Saboba in the Northern Region of Ghana.[1] He attended the University of Education, Winneba and studied to obtain a Bachelor of Education degree in English in 2002. He also attended the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration in 2008. He also had a Teachers' Training Certificate in English at Advance Teacher Training College.[4][5]

Career

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Prior to becoming a member of parliament, Tawiah worked with the Ghana Education Service as a Tutor at T.I Ahmadiyya Secondary School in Salaga. He was the member of parliament for the Kpandai Constituency in the Northern Region of Ghana from 1993 to 2013.[1] Likpalimor is a former minister of state at the presidency and who had been Principal Superintendent of the Ghana Education Service.[6][dead link][7]

Politics

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Tawiah was first elected into parliament during the 1992 Ghanaian general election on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).[8] During the 1996 election, he polled 18,698 votes out of the 32,508 valid votes cast representing 50.30%.[9][10] He defeated Konde Paul Evans Dawuni an Independent who obtained 9,729 votes representing 26.20% of the share and Kpajal Kwasi James of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) who obtained 4,081 votes representing 11.00% of the share. He contested again in 2000 and polled 13,368 votes out of the 24,674 valid votes cast representing 54.20%.[11]

Tawiah retained his seat again from 2004 to 2012 obtaining 17,233 votes representing 59.61%,[12] and 15,126 votes representing 55.15% respectively.[13] However, he was defeated by Matthew Nyindam in the 2012 Ghanaian general elections who won with 16,221 votes (42.48%) against Tawiah with 13,794 votes (36.12%); Alfred Donkor Odzidzator, an independent with 7,795 votes (20.41%), Bumarck Braimah Friko of the Convention People's Party with 156 votes (0.41%), Mboko Mkrajimamo Yaw of the Progressive People's Party with 154 votes (0.40%), and Aniwaba Kwaku Bediako Jeremiah of the National Democratic Party with 68 votes (0.18%).[14][15]

In 2011, Tawiah was criticised as incompetent, with his administration being said to have failed to improve the living situation of the people in his constituency. "Kpandai Constituency has one of the lowest and worst education standards, very high poverty level, high youth unemployment, worst deplorable roads, lack of health facilities and lack of good drinking water in the country. It's pretty obvious; the MP has nothing new to offer to his constituents. He has no plans for constituency and neither has he influenced successive governments since 1992 to bring developmental projects to the constituency" wrote Kwadwo Num, a constituent.[16]

In 2014, Tawiah urged E&P firms[further explanation needed] to be mindful of the environmental impact of oil and gas on plant and animal lives as well as potential conflicts at the Ghana Hosts Peace and Environment Conference. The conference was held by Center for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ). He said: "I believe you can all join me to confirm the fact that environmental issues have been regarded by many as matters of low politics. As a result, environmental conservation and sustainability have not received much attention across the world."[17]

Personal life and death

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Tawiah was married with five children. He was a Christian and a member of the Catholic Church.[1] Tawiah died on 19 September 2023, at the age of 63.[18]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Ghana MPs – MP Details – Likpalimor, Kwajo Tawiah". GhanaMps. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  2. ^ "MPs: Northern Region". GhanaWeb. 1 December 2000. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  3. ^ "MPs: Northern Region". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  4. ^ "Odekro | What has your MP done for you?". stagingodekro. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  5. ^ Ghana Parliamentary Register 1992-1996.
  6. ^ "President Mills nominates 23 Deputy Ministers". BusinessGhana. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  7. ^ Africa, Daily Guide (11 December 2012). "3 ?Mugabes? Survive In Parliament". News Ghana. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  8. ^ FM, Peace. "Ghana Election 1992 Results - Kpandai Constituency". Ghana Elections - Peace FM. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  9. ^ FM, Peace. "Ghana Election 1996 Results – Kpandai Constituency". Ghana Elections – Peace FM. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  10. ^ Ephson, Ben (1992). Elections '92.
  11. ^ FM, Peace. "Parliament – Kpandai Constituency Election 2000 Results". Ghana Elections – Peace FM. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  12. ^ FM, Peace. "Ghana Election 2004 Results – Kpandai Constituency". Ghana Elections – Peace FM. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  13. ^ FM, Peace. "Ghana Election 2008 Results – Kpandai Constituency". Ghana Elections – Peace FM. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  14. ^ FM, Peace. "Ghana Election 2012 Results – Kpandai Constituency". Ghana Elections – Peace FM. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  15. ^ Admin (21 October 2019). "Hon Matthew Nyindam To Go Unopposed In The Kpandai Constituency". Ghana News Portal. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  16. ^ "Kpandai Constituency Deserves A Better MP". GhanaWeb. 7 June 2011. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  17. ^ "Ghana Hosts Peace and Environment Conference | Petroleum Africa". Petroleum Africa. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  18. ^ "Former Kpandai MP, Tawiah Likpalmor dead". Joy Online. 20 September 2023. Retrieved 20 September 2023.