OMJ Foundation CEO enters race for NPP's Akuapem South parliamentary seat

Osei Mensah Joseph, the founder and Chief Executive Officer of the OMJ Foundation, has thrown his hat into the ring for the New Patriotic Party's parliamentary primary in the Akuapem South Constituency of the Eastern Region. The businessman and philanthropist, widely known by his initials OMJ, says the decision came after extensive consultations with constituents and a period of prayerful reflection — and that it is rooted in a belief that genuine leadership must produce measurable change in people's lives.

"My decision is driven by a deep conviction that leadership must translate into service and that service must deliver meaningful and measurable improvements in people's lives," he said in his declaration of intent.

Who is Osei Mensah Joseph?

OMJ grew up in Konkonuru-Aburi, located within the Akuapem South Municipality — the very constituency he now seeks to represent. He has spoken openly about experiencing poverty during his upbringing, and credits those early hardships with shaping his commitment to community development and youth empowerment.

Academically, he holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Administration from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), graduating with Second Class Honours (Upper Division). His time at GIMPA was marked by active student leadership: he served as Public Relations Officer of the Tertiary Students Confederacy (TESCON) in 2017, became the first Speaker of the General Assembly of the Public Administration Students Association in the same year, and later rose to become President of the Students' Representative Council during the 2018/2019 academic year — an office that placed him at the head of student governance at one of Ghana's premier public administration institutions.

His contributions during his tenure as SRC Welfare Committee Chairman in 2016/2017 earned him the award of Most Outstanding Executive Committee Member. Professionally, he currently serves as Administrative Secretary at Mutivet Ghana Limited, while also running his own entrepreneurial ventures.

Through the OMJ Foundation, which he established in 2022, he has extended his reach beyond the boardroom. The foundation focuses on social welfare, youth development and community empowerment, running flagship programmes including the YES Initiative, The Widows' Mite, OMJ Soccerfest, the Menstrual Hygiene Drive and an Educational Support scheme. The foundation reports that over 4,000 people have directly benefited from its interventions since its founding, and has set an ambitious target of reaching 20,000 beneficiaries by 2035.

What this means for Akuapem South and the NPP

Akuapem South, nestled in the Eastern Region and home to communities stretching across the Akuapem Ridge, has historically been a constituency where local credentials and grassroots connections carry significant weight among NPP delegates. OMJ's entry into the race signals a growing trend of younger, civically active candidates — those who have built visible community track records outside of formal party structures — seeking to transition into elected office through the NPP's internal processes.

His campaign is being framed around three central themes: leadership, empowerment and impact. He has emphasised that his bid is not purely about personal political advancement, but rather an extension of the community work he has already been doing.

"For me, this is bigger than just a political ambition; it is a responsibility to contribute meaningfully to a stronger party, empowered communities, and a more prosperous Akuapem South," he stated.

With Ghana's major political parties gradually refocusing after the December 2024 general elections — in which the NPP lost the presidency to the National Democratic Congress — internal primaries like this one will be closely watched as a gauge of where grassroots support within the party now lies. For the NPP, selecting credible and development-oriented candidates at the constituency level will be critical to rebuilding its parliamentary presence ahead of the next electoral cycle.

The road ahead

OMJ now turns his attention to winning over NPP delegates in Akuapem South, who will ultimately decide the party's parliamentary candidate for the constituency. His pitch rests on a combination of academic background, student leadership experience, administrative work and a philanthropic record that he argues gives him both the vision and the practical experience to serve effectively.

"I step forward with humility, experience, and an unwavering commitment to serve," he said, as he called on delegates and community members to back his candidacy.

• His OMJ Foundation has reached over 4,000 beneficiaries since launching in 2022.
• He is a former SRC President of GIMPA, Ghana's leading public administration school.
• His campaign focuses on youth empowerment, unity and measurable development in Akuapem South.