Alhaji Collins Dauda has become the longest-serving Member of Parliament (MP) in Ghana’s history following his swearing-in on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, as a member of the 9th Parliament.
This is the eighth term he is serving as a Member of Parliament representing the people of Asutifi South in the Ahafo Region, formerly the Brong Ahafo Region.
Before this, he had the same record as Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, for MP for Suame, for having served seven terms each.
Apart from the 2001 to 2005 Parliament where Ghanaian educator, diplomat and politician Cecilia Djan Amoah on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) beat him at the polls to represent the Asutifi South Constituency in the Parliament, Collins Dauda has been part of all other Parliaments on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
He was a member of the first Parliament of the 4th Republic from 1993 to 1997.
He got re-elected and served in the 1997 to 2001 Parliament.
But was defeated in the 2000 parliamentary election that brought the NPP into power under the leadership of President John Agyekum Kufuor.
Collins Dauda bounced back in the 2004 election and joined the 2005 to 2009 Parliament and has consistently been re-elected.
Prior to becoming an MP, he was a member of the Consultative Assembly that worked on the 1992 Constitution,
He was born on February 13, 1957, in Mehame in the Ahafo Region, the same year Ghana attained independence.
Following closely to Collins Dauda’s record is Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, the former MP for Suame and Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, the current Speaker both of whom hold the record for serving seven terms.
Bagbin on his part holds the record for being part of all Parliaments under the 4th Republic for serving seven terms as MP and two terms as Speaker.
Who is Collins Dauda?
The 67-year-old Collins Dauda is a teacher, politician, former Minister of Lands and Natural Resources; and Water Resources, Works and Housing.
He was born on February 13, 1957 at Mehame in the Ahafo region.
His parents were Issaka Naaba and Mariama Issah.
He had his secondary school education at Mim Senior High School where he obtained both the GCE Ordinary Level and the GCE Advanced Level certificates between 1973 and 1981.
He served as a teacher at the Kukuom Agricultural Senior High School from 1985.
In 1986, he joined the teaching staff at the Ahafoman Senior High School where he continued to teach until 1992.
In addition to serving as a member of the Consultative Assembly, he worked for the Asutifi District Assembly.
Prior to being moved to the Ministry of Water Resources, Works, and Housing under John Dramani Mahama’s administration as President, he served as the Minister of Lands and Mineral Resources in February 2009 under the late President J.E.A. Mills.
In Parliament, he has served on the Finance, Lands and Forestry committees and is also a member of the Committee of Selection.
He is married with two wives and eleven children.