Haruna Iddrisu (born 8 September 1970) is a Ghanaian lawyer, politician, football enthusiast and owner of Karela United and Steadfast Football clubs owner who is a member of the eighth Parliament of the Fourth Republic of Ghana representing Tamale South.[1] He served as the Minority Leader for NDC in Ghana's Parliament from January 2017[2][3][4][5] and was succeeded by Ato Forson.[6]
Hon. Haruna Iddrisu MP | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the Ghana Parliament for Tamale South | |
| Assumed office Jan 2005 | |
| Preceded by | First |
| Minority Leader in Parliament | |
| In office July 2017 – January 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Osei Kyei-Mensa-Bonsu (MP) |
| Succeeded by | Cassiel Ato Forson (MP) |
| Minister for Employment and Labour Relations | |
| In office 16 July 2014 – 6 January 2017 | |
| President | John Dramani Mahama |
| Preceded by | Nii Armah Ashitey (MP) |
| Succeeded by | Ignatius Baffour-Awuah (MP) |
| Minister for Trade and Industry | |
| In office Feb 2013 – 16 July 2014 | |
| President | John Dramani Mahama |
| Preceded by | Hanna Tetteh |
| Succeeded by | Ekwow Spio-Garbrah |
| Minister for Communications | |
| In office Feb 2009 – Feb 2013 | |
| President | John Evans Atta Mills |
| Preceded by | Ben Aggrey Ntim |
| Succeeded by | Edward Omane Boamah |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 8 September 1970 Tamale, Ghana |
| Political party | National Democratic Congress |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | University of Ghana |
| Profession | Barrister |
Early life and education
editHaruna Iddrisu was born in 1970 at Tamale, Ghana.He started his early education at Kulikuli school. Iddrisu studied at the University of Ghana between 1993 and 1997 where he obtained B.A. (Hons) in Sociology.[7] He was active in student politics and was the President of the National Union of Ghana Students during his final year. Iddrisu is also a barrister and has been a member of the Ghana Bar Association since 2002.[8]
Political career
editAfter being a student leader for years in his tertiary education period, Iddrisu transitioned into mainstream national politics and rose to become the National Youth Organizer for the National Democratic Congress in 2002.[9][10] He held that position for 8 years even whilst serving as Minister of Communications in the Atta Mills Government. Iddrisu stepped down from the position in 2010.[11]
As Member of Parliament
editHe stood for MP in the 2004 parliamentary election in the then newly formed Tamale South constituency.[12] Iddrisu served as the Ranking Member of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Communications and also the Minority Spokesman on Communications in the fourth Parliament when the National Democratic Congress, his party was in opposition.[13]
He retained his seat in the 2008 parliamentary election by gaining 78.2% of the total votes cast.[14] He once again retained his seat in the 2012 parliamentary elections by getting 74.6% of the total votes cast.[15]
Even though his party lost the Presidential Elections, Haruna retained his seat in the 2016 Elections and was selected to lead the minority caucus as the Minority Leader of the 7th Parliament of the 4th Republic in Ghana.[16]
In January 2020, Haruna Iddrisu donated a CHPS compound to the Duunyin community in the Northern region of Ghana to provide health care services to the indigents of the community.[17] During the elections that year, Even though, Iddrisu's party, the NDC, failed to recapture power from the NPP, he retained the Tamale South Constituency seat after winning by a landslide.[18][19]
In January 2023, Haruna's reign as Minority Leader came to an end after the minority NDC changed its leadership in parliament, replacing Haruna with Ato Forson.[20][21][22]
In May 2023, Haruna run unopposed for the NDC Parliamentary primaries and won. In the history of Ghana's politics, he is the only incumbent MP to run for primaries unopposed for 4 consecutive times.[23][24]
As Minister of state
editHe has held various positions in government, including Minister for Communications under the Mills and Mahama governments as well as Minister for Trade between 2013 and 2014. He was appointed the Minister for Employment and Labour Relations by President Mahama in July 2014.[25]
Personal life
editHe is a married Muslim, has 3 children and hails from the Northern Region of Ghana.
Football
editHaruna Iddrisu is a football enthusiast. He plays the game on weekends and on holiday in his native, Tamale. Iddrisu also owns Ghana Premier League club, Karela United, and Division One side, Steadfast FC, a club that produced Leicester City's winger, Abdul Fatawu Issahaku.[26]The English Premier League outfit reportedly paid 17 million Euros to secure Issahaku's services from Sporting CP. Haruna iddrisu and his Steadfast Football Club earned 7.9 million Euros from the deal.[27]
As a philanthropist
editSee also
editReferences
edit- ^ "We haven't received any PPEs from government – EC tells Haruna Iddrisu". MyJoyOnline. 11 May 2020. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
- ^ "10 things you didn't know about new Minority Leader, Dr. Ato Forson". Citinewsroom - Comprehensive News in Ghana. 25 January 2023. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
- ^ "SIM cards re-registration comment by Bawumia ill-informed, highly naive – Minority Leader – MyJoyOnline.com". Myjoyonline. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
- ^ "Galamsey fight: Akufo-Addo's endorsement of burning excavators a breach of law – Haruna Iddrisu – MyJoyOnline.com". Myjoyonline. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
- ^ Online, Peace FM. "Speaker Not An MP, For What Reason Will Gov't Gag Him? - Egyapa Mercer Quizzes". Peace fm online – Ghana news. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
- ^ "Ato Forson replaces Haruna Iddrisu as Minority Leader". Citinewsroom - Comprehensive News in Ghana. 24 January 2023. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
- ^ "Hon. Iddrisu Haruna". Parliament of Ghana. Archived from the original on 17 May 2011. Retrieved 2 July 2010.
- ^ "Hon Haruna Iddrisu – Minister for Communications". Government of Ghana. Archived from the original on 24 July 2019. Retrieved 2 July 2010.
- ^ "Don't leave out any Ghanaian stranded abroad – Haruna Iddrisu to government". Citinewsroom – Comprehensive News in Ghana. 26 July 2020. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
- ^ "Haruna Iddrisu, Biography". Ghanaweb. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
- ^ "Haruna Iddrisu to step down as NDC Youth Organiser". MyJoyOnline. 14 October 2009. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
- ^ "Parliamentary Results Tamale South (Northern Region)". Ghana Home Page. Retrieved 2 July 2010.
- ^ "ITU Council 2009 – Biography of Haruna Iddrisu, Chairman of Council 2009, Ghana's Minister of Communications". Itu international. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
- ^ "Parliamentary Results Tamale-South (Northern Region)". Ghana Home Page. Retrieved 2 July 2010.
- ^ "Parliamentary Results – Tamale SouthConstituency". Ghanaweb. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
- ^ "Haruna Iddrisu named Minority Leader". Graphic Online. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
- ^ "N/R: Haruna Iddrisu commissions health facility at Duunyin". Citinewsroom – Comprehensive News in Ghana. 7 January 2020. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
- ^ admin (9 December 2020). "Haruna Iddrisu retains Tamale South seat". Ghanaian Times. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
- ^ "Election 2020: Haruna Iddrisu retains Tamale South". GhanaWeb. 8 December 2020. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
- ^ Awal, Mohammed (24 January 2023). "NDC reshuffles Parliamentary leadership; Ato Forson replaces Haruna as Minority leader". The Business & Financial Times. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
- ^ Frimpong, Enoch Darfah (24 January 2023). "Ato Forson replaces Haruna Iddrisu as Minority Leader in Parliament". Graphic Online. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
- ^ GTonline (25 January 2023). "Minority reshuffles front bench: • Dr Ato Forson replaces Haruna Iddrisu •Agbodza takes over from Muntaka". Ghanaian Times. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
- ^ GTonline (15 May 2023). "NDC parliamentary primaries: Winners, losers nationwide". Ghanaian Times. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
- ^ "Haruna Iddrisu confident of victory after subjecting himself to vetting by the NDC - MyJoyOnline.com". Myjoyonline. 3 April 2023. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
- ^ "Ministerial reshuffle: Spio rejoins gov't". Ghanaweb. 16 July 2014. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
- ^ "Haruna Iddrisu's football club reported to GFA for alleged contract breach - MyJoyOnline". www.myjoyonline.com. 5 September 2022. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
- ^ "Haruna Iddrisu's Steadfast FC earn €7.9 million from Issahaku's permanent move to Leicester City".
External links
edit- Profile on Ghana government website Archived 24 July 2019 at the Wayback Machine
- Profile on Parliament of Ghana website Archived 17 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine