While awaiting the appointment of a minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, some industry stakeholders have expressed their opinions on who best fits the position.
The Chief Operations Officer (COO) of Plugin Digital Limited and host of the Africa Rising Podcast, Francis Doku, has suggested that former boss of Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, Kojo Bonsu, will best serve as Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts.
He told Kwame Dadzie on Joy FM‘s Showbiz A-Z that Kojo is someone who has the business acumen and experience to handle a portfolio of that nature.
“The person in my view who fits that role, the person who has that experience, who has managed projects on a bigger scale, who can sit and talk to investors on things that need to happen in that space is Kojo Bonsu,” he said.
Francis, however, mentioned that it is likely Dzifa Abla Gomashie will be given the nod.
“The pattern shows that the mantle might land on Abla Dzifa Gomashie,” he added.
Some stakeholders of the industry have suggested other people such as creative entrepreneur Baba Sadiq, musician Rex Omar, actress Abla Dzifa Gomashie, actor John Dumelo, and actress Ebi Bright.
About Kojo Bonsu
Michael Kojo Bonsu) is a Ghanaian businessman, sports administrator, and politician, who served as the Metropolitan Chief Executive of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly from 2013 to 2017.
Bonsu is a native of Offinso, a town in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. He had his Ordinary Level education at the Tamale Secondary School, between 1974 and 1979.
In 1981, Bonsu then moved to the Drayton School in London, England where he acquired his Advanced Level Certificate. Between 1985 and 1990, when Bonsu joined giant sports kit manufacturers, Adidas, he enrolled into their football Business Unit at Herzogenaurach, Germany, and in the process obtained a Diploma in Sports Business and Marketing.
After completing his training in sports Business and marketing, Bonsu worked with Adidas and became their first representative in West Africa and served as an Assistant Marketing Officer. He rose to become the kit maker’s manager in Ghana and the whole of West Africa. Within which period he brokered deals between the company and the Ghana football Association specifically the Ghana football national team.
Football administration
He is a former director of Tamale-based club Real Tamale United. Bonsu was also an executive member of Asante Kotoko.
In 2003, he launched his bid to be the Ghana Football Association’s President. He went against former president of the GFA Kwesi Nyantakyi, politician and executive member of Accra Hearts of Oak, Vincent Odotei Sowah, a former FA vice-chairman, Joseph Ade Coker and former executive council chairman, Y.A Ibrahim. He subsequently lost to Kwesi Nyantakyi in the elections in December 2005.
Mayor Kojo Bonsu interacting with US Ambassador Robert P. Jackson during his visit to Kumasi.
In January 2010, Bonsu was appointed board chairman of the National Sports Authority then a council under the Ministry of Youth and Sports. Bonsu is known to have spearheaded the re-branding of the sports council until it subsequently became a sports authority.
Managing Director of Goil
Bonsu served as a board member for Ghana Oil Company (GOIL) from July 2009 to April 2015. He also became acting managing director of the company after their long serving managing director Yaw Agyemang-Duah retired after serving with the company for 16 years.
He served as managing director role from July 2011 to February 2012. In October 2015, He was acknowledged and honoured by the company for playing a key role in the company’s rebranding process.
Mayor of Kumasi
In 2013, President, John Dramani Mahama nominated Bonsu for the position of Metropolitan Chief Executive for the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly.
In July 2016, he vacated his office and resigned after the Kumasi Traditional Council called him to order for his decision to take Nana Agyenim Boateng the Amoamanhene off the Kejetia project board without giving a notice to Otumfuo Nana Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene.
He is the founder and former publisher of Agoo Magazine an African lifestyle magazine that was founded in 2001.
Political career
Ahead of the 2020 elections, in September 2018 towards the National Democratic Congress’ Presidential primaries he declared his intention to contest as Party’s president flagbearership role.
In December 2018, he announced his decision to drop out of the race for the role and threw his support to whoever would emerge winner at the end of the primaries.
Again, ahead of the 2024 elections, Kojo Bonsu expressed confidence in his ability to lead the National Democratic Congress (NDC) into the general election of 2024 by winning the party’s presidential primary.
After delegates voted in the primaries on 13th May, 2023, Mahama received 98.9% of the vote, while Kojo Bonsu, received 1.1%, making Mahama the clear winner.
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