View source for Sammi Awuku

{{short description|Ghanaian politician|bot=PearBOT 5}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2021}}
{{Infobox person
| name        = Sammi Awuku
| image       =
| caption     =
| birth_date  = {{Birth date and age|1984|04|10|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Koforidua]], Ghana
| known for   = [[New Patriotic Party]]
| education   =
| alma_mater  = [[University of Ghana]]
| employer    =
| occupation  =  Politician
| years_active =
| website     =
}}
'''Samuel Awuku''' (born April 10, 1984)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Youth Employment Agency |url=https://www.yea.gov.gh/index.php/component/content/article/114-ceos/178-samuel-awuku |access-date=2021-03-06 |website=Youth Employment Agency}}</ref> is a [[Ghanaian]] politician who was Deputy Communications Director, National Youth Organiser and currently the National Organiser of the [[New Patriotic Party]] (NPP). He is also the board chairman of the [[National Youth Employment Program|National Youth Employment Agency]] (YEA).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://citifmonline.com/2017/09/13/sammy-awuku-appointed-yea-board-chairman/|title=Sammy Awuku appointed YEA Board Chairman - citifmonline.com|date=13 September 2017|publisher=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title='Sammi Awuku is a classic representation of excellent organisation' – Praye |url=https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Sammi-Awuku-is-a-classic-representation-of-excellent-organisation-Praye-640016 |website=GhanaWeb}}</ref> In 2021, he was appointed as the Director General of the National Lottery Authority.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sammy Awuku appointed NLA Director-General|url=https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/politics/sammy-awuku-appointed-nla-director-general.html|access-date=2021-11-02|website=Graphic Online|language=en-gb}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Sammi Awuku defends records of party executive|url=https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/politics/sammi-awuku-defends-records-of-party-executive.html|access-date=2022-01-24|website=Graphic Online|language=en-gb}}</ref>
== Birth ==
Sammi is the only son among four sisters and the last born of his parents. He was born and raised in [[Koforidua]], in the [[Eastern Region, Ghana|Eastern Region]] of Ghana.<ref name="enewsgh.com">{{cite web |title=NAYA MEETS: Sammy Awuku (National Youth Organiser of the NPP) – Proudly Ghanaian! – EnewsGH |url=https://enewsgh.com/2017/02/11/naya-meets-sammy-awuku-national-youth-organiser-npp/ |website=e news ghana}}</ref>
== Education ==
Sammi had his basic education at Nana Kwaku Boateng Experimental School. He continued his secondary education at [[St. Augustine's College (Cape Coast)|St. Augustine's College]] in [[Cape Coast]] and later read [[Political science]] and [[Psychology]] at the University of Ghana, Legon.<ref name=":0" /> Sammi holds a Diploma in Law from the [[University of London]] and is currently pursuing a master's degree in [[International relations]] at the [[Freie University|Free University of Berlin]] in Germany.<ref name="enewsgh.com"/> He  has also earned a Diploma of Higher Education in Law from the University of London and an Executive Education Certificate in Public Leadership from the Kennedy School of Government in Harvard University, USA. He  holds  Postgraduate Certificates in Public Administration and Advertising, Marketing and Public Relations from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) and the Ghana Institute of Journalism respectively.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|date=2021-07-31|title=Akufo-Addo appoints Sammi Awuku as Director General of NLA|url=https://citinewsroom.com/2021/07/akufo-addo-appoints-sammi-awuku-as-director-general-of-nla/|access-date=2021-11-02|website=Citinewsroom - Comprehensive News in Ghana|language=en-US}}</ref>
== Personal life ==
Sammi is married to Mary Anane, with three daughters.<ref name="enewsgh.com"/><ref>{{Cite web |title=XCLUSIV FOTOS: Sammy Awuku Weds Mary Anane |url=https://www.peacefmonline.com/pages/showbiz/news/201207/125703.php |access-date=6 March 2021 |website=Peacefmonline.}}</ref>
== Political career ==
While at the [[University of Ghana]], Sammi was a political community member, once contesting for the presidency of the [[Student Representative Council]]. From 2011 to 2013, he worked at the Communications Directorate of the New Patriotic Party, assisting then Director of Communications, [[Nana Akomea]], before his election as National Youth Organiser in April 2014.<ref name="enewsgh.com"/>
During 2012 Election Petition hearing at the [[Supreme Court of Ghana]], Sammi was charged with contempt of the highest court of the land. He was pardoned after pleading guilty and showing remorse.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/politics/court-descends-on-sammy-awuku-bars-him-from-election-petition-hearing.html|title=Court descends on Sammy Awuku, bars him from election petition hearing|first=Samuel K.|last=Obour|publisher=|date=27 June 2013}}</ref>
As National Youth Organiser, Sammi played a vital role in mobilizing the youth leading to NPP's victory in the [[2016 Ghanaian general election]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.adomonline.com/ghana-news/sammi-awuku-astute-politician-ndc-man/|title=Sammi Awuku is an astute politician – NDC man - AdomOnline.com|first=Kwaku|last=Nti|date=10 January 2018|publisher=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Sammi Awuku fever grips NPP |url=https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Sammi-Awuku-fever-grips-NPP-630922 |website=GhanaWeb.}}</ref>
In 2016, Sammi was number five among fifty most Influential Young Ghanaians ranking.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.peacefmonline.com/pages/local/social/201701/303018.php|title=Sammi Awuku Among Top Five (5) Most Influential Young Ghanaians For 2016|first=Peace FM|last=Online|publisher=}}</ref>
== Other roles ==
He is a Director at the Brain Hill International School and was a Director of Strategy and Innovation at the April–June Company Limited in Accra until 2021. He has been on the  Board of the Accra City Hotel since 2017. He has been the Vice Chairman of the International Young Democrats Union (IYDU) for three terms. It is an international association of the youth wings of conservative parties worldwide.<ref name=":0" />
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Awuku, Sammi}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:University of Ghana alumni]]
[[Category:1984 births]]
[[Category:People from Koforidua]]
[[Category:Politicians from Eastern Region (Ghana)]]
[[Category:New Patriotic Party politicians]]
[[Category:St. Augustine's College (Cape Coast) alumni]]
[[Category:Akan people]]
[[Category:21st-century Ghanaian politicians]]