Otiko Afisah Djaba - a remarkable and dynamic politician and ambassador for peace in the Northern Region

Who is Otiko Afisah Chrissie Djaba? Otiko is standing as a candidate in the forthcoming elections on 7th December in an NDC stronghold. She is a new "kid on the block" and her maternal uncles are the late Professor Yakubu Saaka and Hon. John 'Obama' Mahama, the current NDC Vice-Presidential candidate. Hon. John Mahama has been an MP for the Bole-Bamboi constituency for the past 16 years and was a minister in the NDC regime. Otiko aims to wrestle the seat from the NDC candidate. Otiko is a mother of 4 children. If she succeeds in winning the seat it will be a remarkable achievement. The tide is turning in Ghanaian politics, with 13 female candidates in the Northern Region. It is worth keeping an eye on this fantastic, extremely intelligent and beautiful lady. She is a force to be reckoned with.

It is worth taking a trip to the Bole-Bamboi constituency. You will discover that the facts speak for themselves. Sometimes it takes three days for newspapers to reach the area. They do not have a radio station and have to tune in to other stations in surrounding areas. Communication is very slow, although the honourable MP is a communications consultant!! Basic education is free, and has always been free, however, instead of taking advantage of this, some of the children do not attend because they are too tired after working on farms and sometimes have to walk several kilometres to get to school. The youth are disgruntled and complain of unemployment. What has been done to address this over the years? In September, Otiko accompanied 6 Ghanaian child ambassadors to New York and Washington. They met other children of similar age and aspirations. They discovered that given a level playing field, we have a similar curriculum and similar level of intelligence. She believes in empowering children and women to achieve their full potential. The trip was sponsored by Plan International and Plan Ghana. She has been working tirelessly within her constituency for over several years, in particular with the women and children. The deprivation and impoverished nature of the region is startling. They have been affected by floods over the past 2 years. She is a leading children's rights advocate and media presenter. She was the producer of Kokrokoo on GBC TV.

Otiko will act as an ambassador for peace in the Northern Region by using her mediation, negotiation, alternative dispute resolution skills, advocacy, charm and multi-lingual skills. The residents love and admire her. She has a calm disposition, is extremely articulate and eloquent and at the same time an assertive personality. She is the product of Madam Rosalind Shiata Bawa, a teacher of Tamale Teacher's Training College and former ambassador's wife and Mr. Henry Kwadjo Djaba Snr, a retired international businessman and NPP activist and campaigner.

Mr Henry Djaba was the Ghana Football Association Chairman in the Busia regime. He was also the patron of the Abuakwa Susubiribi Football club. In June 1979, Djaba was arrested, beaten and tortured with allegations that he had too much wealth. "How could one person have so many cars and houses ?", the soldiers asked when they arrived at his Tesano residence? Djaba managed to escape to the United Kingdom with some of this children including Otiko for several years. He was sentenced to 10 years in absentia during the AFRC regime. That sentence was overturned by the 3 judges, who were murdered in 1982. Djaba established Ghana Agricultural Machinery Company and the Neoplan Bus Manufacturing Plant in Achimota and Kumasi to assist with the transportation system in Ghana. His businesses were destroyed, thus stifling progress, and all his assets, together with those of his wives and children were confiscated for over 20 years by the previous Government. As a consequence, some of Djaba's children were forced to drop out of Millfield School, Somerset in England at a crucial time due to his inability to continue paying the fees. It is indeed ironic that the former president, Jerry John Rawlings' children were later educated at the same schools ( Morning Star, followed by Millfield School, England) for £20,000 per child per year.

Otiko is strongly supported by the NPP USA, other organisations, women's groups, professionals and individuals round the world. She has been interviewed several times on Fontomfrom radio, based in Tennessee USA, Ghana Waves based in Germany, with a worldwide audience.

She believes in moving Ghana forward. Bole-Bamboi has never had a female candidate. Otiko won the primaries due to her popularity with the grass-root members in the constituency. She has a very strong chance of winning a landslide victory in the Parliamentary elections.

She has a world-wide fan club, including media personalities, football stars, musicians and professionals in Ghana and in the diaspora. It is envisaged that Otiko will act as a catalyst for change and rural development in Bole-Bamboi. She will change the political landscape and the voting pattern of the region. She will make a real difference in the lives of the constituents. They definitely need change for the better. They deserve better.

For press interviews, donations or sponsorship for the flood victims in Bole-Bamboi or to join her campaign, please contact the Camapaign Manager .

email: [email protected] or

[email protected]

Tel: 00 233 208 123 263

By Ms A. Djaba