Samuel Abu Jinapor

Samuel Abu Jinapor (born 1983) is a Ghanaian lawyer and politician. He is a member of the New Patriotic Party and the current deputy Chief of Staff of the President of Ghana.[1][2]

Samuel Abu Jinapor
Deputy Chief of Staff
Incumbent
Assumed office January 2017
President	Nana Akuffo-Addo
Personal details
Born	1983 (age 37–38) Ghana
Nationality	Ghanaian
Political party	New Patriotic Party
Spouse(s)	Naada B.D. Jinapor
Relations	Abdulai Jinapor( father) John Jinapor (brother)
Children	4
Alma mater	Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, University of Ghana, Ghana School of Law
Occupation	Politician
Profession	Lawyer

Early life and education

Samuel Jinapor was born in 1983 to Abudulai Jinapor, a former police officer and Chief of Buipe in the Northern Region of Ghana.[3] He attended the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in physics in 2006. He proceeded to the University of Ghana in 2008 where he earned a Bachelor of Laws in 2010.[4] That same year, he was admitted to read LLB at Ghana School of Law, Makola, Accra. He was called to the Ghana Bar in 2012 as a Solicitor and Barrister of the Supreme Court of Ghana.[4] He also holds a Master of Laws in Alternative Dispute Resolution from the Faculty of Law, University Of Ghana.[4]

Working life

Abu Jinapor was employed in 2012 at the commercial and corporate law firm, Kulendi@Law, upon his graduation for the Ghana School of Law. His two years at the firm saw him rise from a pupil to senior associate.[3]

Political life

Jinapor became active in politics at an early age. His elder brother, John Jinapor a former deputy Minister for Energy and Petroleum[5][6] and a stalwart in the National Democratic Congress (NDC),[7] had encouraged him to pursue politics by joining the NDC. Whiles at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Haruna Mahama, a member of the youth wing of the NPP, introduced Samuel to Nana Akufo-Addo.[3] It was from this time that his allegiance changed from the NDC to the NPP. He became a member of the Tertiary Education Students Confederacy of the New Patriotic Party (TESCON), the university wing of the NPP and begun actively campaigning for the party. During this period he got acquainted with Richard W. Anane who is reported to have been his sponsor.[3]He has been elected the Member of Parliament for Damongo Constituency in 2020 elections.[8]

Deputy Chief of Staff

After the Ghanaian general election in 2016, President Akuffo-Addo, appointed him to be the deputy Chief of Staff to Frema Opare.[9] At the time of his appointment he was 33 years old.[1][10] His appointment received mixed reaction from New Patriotic Party members and the Ghanaian populace.[11] Some believed he was too young to hold such a sensitive position whiles others also held the view that he abandoned the party after it lost the 2012 Ghanaian general election.[12][13] Some also applauded the President for his bold decision to appoint a young person to the position.[7][13][14] He replied to his critics by making it known that his aim was to ensure that Nana Akuffo-Addo's vision for the country would all be fulfilled by the end of presidency.[12]

He was accused and chastised by sections of the Ghanaian public for taking selfies with Otiko Afisa Djaba whiles on official duty as the UN Headquarters with the President.[15] The pictures were taken whiles the President was giving his address before the United Nations General Assembly.[15]

Personal life

Abu Jinapor is married to Naada Jinapor daughter of Nayon Bilijo, a former Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture of Ghana.[3] Naada is a corporate lawyer with Social Security and National Insurance Trust. They have 4 daughters.[3]

References

1. "Nana Akufo-Addo makes key appointments for Presidency, National Security – Government of Ghana". www.ghana.gov.gh. Archived from the original on 2017-12-01. Retrieved 2017-11-20.
2. Graphic.com.gh. "Meet Akufo-Addo's key team members at the presidency – Graphic Online". Graphic Online. Archived from the original on 2018-04-24. Retrieved 2017-11-20.
3. Online, Peace FM. "Akufo-Addos Aide Abu Jinapor Defects To NDC". Archived from the original on 2017-12-01. Retrieved 2017-11-20.
4. "Profile of Nana Addo's administrative staff [Photos] |". citifmonline.com. 4 January 2017. Archived from the original on 2017-12-01. Retrieved 2017-11-20.
5. Ghana, ICT Dept. Office of Parliament. "Parliament of Ghana". www.parliament.gh. Archived from the original on 2017-12-15. Retrieved 2017-12-15.
6. "Ghana MPs – MP Details – Jinapor, John Abdulai". ghanamps.com. Archived from the original on 2017-12-15. Retrieved 2017-12-15.
7. "Samuel Abu-Jinapor's appointment must stand!". www.ghanaweb.com. Archived from the original on 2017-12-01. Retrieved 2017-11-20.
8. "Damongo Constituency: Abu Jinapor unseats Adam Mutawakilu". Graphic Online. Retrieved 2020-12-08.
9. "Full list of Nana Addo's administrative staff". Modern Ghana. Archived from the original on 2017-12-01. Retrieved 2017-11-20.
10. "I won't let Akufo-Addo down – Abu Jinapor – Ghana News". Ghana News. 2017-01-05. Archived from the original on 2017-12-15. Retrieved 2017-12-15.
11. Abdul-Fatawu, Fuseini. "The Confusion Around The Rumoured Appointment Of Samuel Abu Jinapor As The Deputy Chief Of Staff For The President Elect, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo". Modern Ghana. Archived from the original on 2017-12-01. Retrieved 2017-11-20.
12. Arku, Jasmine. "Abu Jinapor responds to critics on his appointment – Graphic Online". Graphic Online. Archived from the original on 2018-04-24. Retrieved 2017-11-20.
13. "Akufo–Addo under pressure to drop Abu Jinapor as Deputy Chief of Staff". www.ghanaweb.com. Archived from the original on 2017-05-06. Retrieved 2017-11-20.
14. Newton-Offei, Justice Abeeku. "Samuel Abu Jinapor Living Up To Expectation". Modern Ghana. Archived from the original on 2017-12-01. Retrieved 2017-11-20.
15. "Otiko Djaba and Abu Jinapor spotted taking fun selfies during Akufo-Addo's UN address". www.ghanaweb.com. Archived from the original on 2017-12-01. Retrieved 2017-11-20.