Benita Sena Okity-Duah

Benita Okity Duah at a UN session in New York in 2013

Benita Sena Okity-Duah (born 19 June 1976) is a Ghanaian fashion designer, politician and a former member of parliament for Ledzokuku constituency in the Greater Accra Region.[1]

Early life and education

She was born on 19 June 1976 in Anloga in the Volta Region of Ghana.[2] She won the Miss Ghana pageant in 1997 at the age of 20 as a student.[3] She attended Achimota School in Accra for her secondary school education. She then went on to study fashion at the London School of Fashion for four years.[4]

Career

She returned to Ghana in 2003 and has since carved a niche for herself in the Ghanaian fashion industry. She is the founder and CEO of LadyBird Fashions in Accra, Ghana. [5]

Politics

Benita resigned as the Women's Organizer of the National Democratic Congress of the Ledzokuku Constituency in the Greater Accra Region. She contested for the party primaries and defeated the then-incumbent member of parliament Nii Nortey Dua to represent the National Democratic Congress in the constituency. She won the election in 2012 to represent the people of Ledzokuku in the parliament of Ghana. She became the first ever Miss Ghana beauty queen to be elected as a member of parliament in Ghana.[4] Additionally, she served as a Deputy Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection of Ghana from April 2013 to June 2014.[6] She was also the Deputy Minister of Fishery and Aquaculture of the Republic of Ghana.[7] Benita lost her seat to Bernard Okoe-Boye who stood on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party in the 2016 Parliamentary election.[8]

Personal life

Benita is married to Steve Okity-Duah. Born Benita Golomeke, she was crowned Embassy pleasure Ms Ghana 1997. She is a Christian and a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.[9]

References

  1. ^ "Member of Parliament". Parliament of Ghana. Archived from the original on 8 December 2016. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  2. ^ Vieta, Kojo T., 1962- (2013). Know your MPs in the 6th Parliament : (2013-2017). Accra: Flagbearers Publishers. ISBN 978-9988-1-8039-3. OCLC 869428481.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ "Photos: Miss Ghana 1997 Benita Sena Okity-Duah at 2013 Ghana Movie Awards!". Ghanagist. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  4. ^ a b "Benita Sena Okity-Duah Goes To Parliament…First Ever Miss Ghana Beauty Queen To Enter Parliament". Ghana Celebrities. 14 December 2012. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  5. ^ Vieta, Kojo T., 1962- (2013). Know your MPs in the 6th Parliament : (2013-2017). Accra: Flagbearers Publishers. ISBN 978-9988-1-8039-3. OCLC 869428481.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ "Parliament approves nomination of 35 deputy ministers-designate". Multimedia Group. 29 April 2013. Archived from the original on 27 August 2016. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
  7. ^ "Ministerial reshuffle: Nii Lantey Vanderpuye out?". Multimedia Group. 2 June 2014. Archived from the original on 22 August 2016. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
  8. ^ "Miss Ghana Loses Ledzokuku Seat - Daily Guide Africa". DailyGuideAfrica. 9 December 2016. Archived from the original on 25 February 2017. Retrieved 25 February 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  9. ^ "Ghana MPs - MP Details - Okity-Dua, Sena Benita". GhanaMps. Retrieved 25 January 2020.