Boakye Agyarko

Boakye Kyeremateng Agyarko (born 1956)

Early life and education Agyarko was born in 1956, at Kumasi in the Ashanti Region to Kwasi Agyarko. His father was a merchant and United Party activist from Jamase in the Ashanti Region and his mother was Jane Ladze Padi from Krobo Odumase in the Eastern Region. He is the brother of Dedo Difie Agyarko-Kusi and Emmanuel Kwabena Kyeremateng Agyarko.

Agyarko attended the K. O. Methodist Primary School in Ashtown and the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology Primary School in Kumasi. He then proceeded to Mfantsipim School in Cape Coast for his secondary education from where he had both his GCE Ordinary Level and GCE Advanced Level certified.

Wrongful arrest After a failed coup d'état led by Lance Corporal Halidu Giwa and Sergeant Abdul Malik, the military high command assumed that he was part of coup plotters. This was due to his high political activism and criticism of the economic policies adopted by the country's military leaders led by Jerry John Rawlings. He was arrested by men from the Ghana Armed Forces who took him to the Air Force Base at Burma Camp in Accra. He was shot at the base and sent to the 37 Military Hospital morgue.

Ministerial appointment In January 2017, Agyarko was appointed the minister of energy in the Akufo-Addo administration. He was approved by parliament in February 2017. As the Energy Minister, Agyarko had supervisory responsibility for fifteen major agencies under the ministry. Ayariga reported on Radio Gold, that Agyarko through Muntaka Mubarak, the minority Chief Whip, had tried to influence the decision of the Appointments Committee of Parliament by giving each minority member a bribe. The Speaker of Parliament, Aaron Mike Oquaye set up an ad hoc parliamentary committee to investigate the matter. After the investigation, the Joe Ghartey committee exonerated Agyarko but cited and found Ayariga guilty of being in contempt of parliament for making false allegations against a colleague and bringing the parliament into disrepute. Ayariga was made to render an apology on the floor of parliament and warned to be mindful of his actions in the future. After his ministerial appointment was approved, Ayariga publicly praised Agyarko for his track record asserting that his nomination was approved on merit.

Cabinet minister In May 2017, President Nana Akufo-Addo named Boakye Agyarko as part of nineteen ministers who would form his cabinet.