Kojo Bonsu

Kojo Bonsu (born Michael Kojo Bonsu or Mensah Bonsu) is a Ghanaian businessman, sports administrator, and politician, who served as the Metropolitan Chief Executive of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly from 2013 to 2016. He is a member of the National Democratic Congress.[1][2][3]

Hon.
Kojo Bonsu
A picture of Kojo Bonsu
Mayor of Kumasi
In office
March 2013 – July 2016
Preceded bySamuel Sarpong
Succeeded byOsei Assibey Antwi
Personal details
Nationality Ghanaian
Political partyNational Democratic Congress
ProfessionSports administrator, marketing personnel

Early life and education

Bonsu is a native of Offinso, a town in the Ashanti Region of Ghana.[3][4] He had his Ordinary Level education at the Tamale Secondary School, between 1974 and 1979.[5][6] Lack of water was one of the challenges he experienced on campus.[3] It was there that his dream of becoming a football administrator begun.[3] 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.[7]

Career

Early career

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.[8] Within which period he brokered deals between the company and the Ghana football Association specifically the Ghana football national team.[7][8]

Family

Bonsu has nine biological siblings. They shared a home in Offinso, a town in Ghana's Ashanti region, but as they grew older, their lives started to diverge.[3] His mother was a respected Offinso Queen Mother who was wed to a rigid military officer.[3]

Football administration

"You were the key advocate on the board when the monumental decision to rebrand GOIL was taken – the results of which have seen GOIL being propelled to the number one position (retail) among oil marketing companies in Ghana”.

– Citation of Honour by managing director of GOIL, Mr. Patrick A.K. Akorli, 19 October 2015.[9]

He is a former director of Tamale-based club Real Tamale United.[10] Bonsu was also an executive member of Asante Kotoko.[11][12] In 2003 he launched his bid to be the Ghana Football Association's President.[11][13] 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.[14] He subsequently lost to Kwesi Nyantakyi in the elections in December 2005.[15][16]

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.[17][18] Bonsu is known to have spearheaded the re-branding of the sports council until it subsequently became a sports authority.[18][19]

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.[20]

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.[21][22]

Mayor of Kumasi

In 2013, President, John Dramani Mahama nominated Bonsu for the position of Metropolitan Chief Executive for the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly.[23][24] 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.[25]

He is the founder and former publisher of Agoo Magazine an African lifestyle magazine that was founded in 2001.[26][27][28]

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.[8] 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.[29]

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.[30] After delegates voted in the primaries on 13th May, 2023,[31] Mahama received 98.9% of the vote, while Kojo Bonsu, received 1.1%, making Mahama the clear winner.[32]

Personal life

He is an avid supporter of Ghanaian-based club Asante Kotoko.[33][34] He is fluent in French.[3]

Kojo Bonsu is divorced after 30 years of marriage.[35]

References
  1. "I'm not incompetent – Kojo Bonsu". Graphic Online. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  2. "I joined NDC because of my 'cousin, godmother and mentor' Konadu Rawlings- Kojo Bonsu opens up". MyNewsGh. 20 October 2018. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  3. Bonney, Abigail (25 September 2021). "Check out interesting facts about Former Kumasi Mayor, Kojo Bonsu". Adomonline.com. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  4. "Offinso chiefs hail 'true son' Kojo Bonsu". MyJoyOnline.com. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  5. "'I've never been to the university' - Former NDC flagbearer aspirant Kojo Bonsu". GhanaWeb. 26 May 2023. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  6. "Tamale Secondary School and 60 years of secondary education in northern Ghana". MyJoyOnline.com. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  7. "Kojo Bonsu Breeezes Into Town". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  8. "Former KMA Boss, Kojo Bonsu joins NDC Flagbearer race". Citinewsroom – Comprehensive News in Ghana. 28 September 2018. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  9. "'GOIL honours Kumasi Mayor, Kojo Bonsu | myjoyonline.com". www.myjoyonline.com. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  10. Abayateye, Felix (12 January 2010). Graphic Sports: Issue 2,773 January 12–14 2010. Graphic Communications Group.
  11. "Kojo Bonsu Bids For GFA Chairmanship". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  12. "Ghana could have won the 2014 World Cup in Brazil- Ex-Kotoko board member Kojo Bonsu claims". Primenews.com.gh. 5 December 2018. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  13. Boadu-Ayeboafoh, Yaw (10 December 2005). Daily Graphic: Issue 149608 December 10 2005. Graphic Communications Group.
  14. "GFA votes for new president today". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  15. "Nyantakyi wins GFA election". www.ghanaweb.com. 30 December 2005. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  16. "Nyantakyi's fairytale reign". Graphic Online. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  17. Abayateye, Felix (12 January 2010). Graphic Sports: Issue 2,773 January 12–14 2010. Graphic Communications Group.
  18. "National Sports Council unveils new logo". AfricaNewsAnalysis. 5 November 2010. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  19. "I feel vindicated over Public Interest Committee set up- Kojo Bonsu". MyJoyOnline.com. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  20. Ghana News Agency (10 August 2011). "GOIL gets new Managing Director". www.ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  21. "GOIL honours Kumasi Mayor, Kojo Bonsu". MyJoyOnline.com. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  22. "GOIL honours Kojo Bonsu for role in rebranding". Graphic Online. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  23. "Mr Kojo Bonsu has been nominated by President Mahama as Kumasi Mayor". News Ghana. 29 March 2013. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  24. Frimpong, Enoch Darfah (29 March 2013). "Kojo Bonsu nominated as Kumasi Mayor". Graphic Online. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  25. "Kojo Bonsu resigns as KMA Boss". Citi 97.3 FM – Relevant Radio. Always. 12 July 2016. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  26. Acquah, Edward (20 April 2018). "Agoo Magazine unveils its new look". Kasapa102.5FM. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  27. "Agoo Magazine unveils its new look with Yvonne Nelson & daughter on cover". LiveXtra Ghana. 20 April 2018. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  28. "Joy FM partners Agoo Magazine for Ghana As One dinner". MyJoyOnline.com. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  29. "Kojo Bonsu 'checks out' of NDC flagbearer race". Graphic Online. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  30. emmakd (30 March 2023). "I'm optimistic about leading the NDC – Kojo Bonsu". Ghana Business News. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  31. "National Democratic Congress (NDC) Presidential and Parliamentary Primaries – Electoral Commission". ec.gov.gh. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  32. "John Mahama wins Ghana's opposition presidential primaries". Africanews. 14 May 2023. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  33. Abayateye, Felix (12 January 2010). Graphic Sports: Issue 2,773 January 12–14 2010. Graphic Communications Group.
  34. "The mystery of NDC's vice-presidential candidate". MyJoyOnline.com. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  35. "My marriage is on the rocks – Kojo Bonso". GhanaWeb. 20 April 2016. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
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