The Member of Parliament (MP) for Asutifi South, Collins Dauda, has opened up on the extremely close relationship he shares with his colleague MP for Asunafo South and Minister of Food and Agriculture-designate, Eric Opoku.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, Collins Dauda, to the shock of the entire House, disclosed that he taught Eric Opoku at secondary school.
He made this disclosure during a debate on a report by the Appointment Committee of Parliament for the approval of three ministerial nominees of President John Dramani Mahama, including Eric Opoku, who was nominated as the Minister for Food and Agriculture-designate.
The Asutifi South legislator indicated that he was the person who guided Eric Opoku through his political career.
“I taught him (Eric Opoku) in secondary school. I was his teacher at Ahafoman Secondary Technical School, then. And when he completed university, I was the chairman of the NDC in the Brong Ahafo Region and he disclosed to me his intention to contest elections.
“I supported him to contest the Asunafo South Constituency and by the grace of Allah, he won the election,” Dauda said.
He also disclosed that Eric Opoku lived with him in Accra for about a year when he assumed his role as Member of Parliament for Asunafo South.
“When he came to Parliament, he lived with me for one year in my house and at the time I used to go on the radio for radio programmes and also television programmes, he would carry my books, my references,” he said.
“He has learnt. And today if you watch Hon. Eric Opoku, if you listen to Hon. Eric Opoku espousing on agriculture, you will fall in love with this young man. He’s a very good debater.
“He has debated very well on this floor to the admiration of many people including Hon. Afenyo-Markin who describes him as a very knowledgeable person and very meticulous when it comes to facts.”
Collins Dauda, who is Ghana’s longest-serving member of Parliament, expressed his confidence in the Minister for Food and Agriculture-designate’s ability to transform the country’s agriculture sector.
“I have no doubt in my mind that those of us who are cocoa farmers in addition to our political career will benefit a lot from his knowledge and his performance. I wish to call on all members to support the adoption of this report in order that these young men will start work today,” he added
BAI/EK