Meet the only NPP MP representing the Savannah Region
Following the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) defeat in the 2024 general elections, the party suffered a significant reduction in parliamentary seats, dropping from 137 in 2020 to just 88 out of the 275 seats in Parliament.
This sharp decline has left the NPP with little to no representation in certain regions across the country one such region being the Savannah Region.
The Savannah Region, carved out of the Northern Region in recent years, comprises seven constituencies: Bole, Daboya-Mankarigu, Damongo, Salaga North, Salaga South, Sawla-Tuna-Kalba, and Yapei-Kusawgu. Of these, six are now represented by Members of Parliament from the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).
The only exception is Damongo, represented by Samuel Abu Jinapor, making him the sole NPP MP in the region.
Interestingly, Samuel Jinapor’s brother, John Abdulai Jinapor, is also a prominent political figure but represents the opposing NDC as the MP for Yapei-Kusawgu.
A rising Star in Ghanaian politics
Samuel Abu Jinapor has carved out an impressive political career. He is currently the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, a position he has held since 2021. He first entered frontline politics when he was appointed Deputy Chief of Staff in charge of Operations at the Office of the President in 2017. At just 33 years old, he became the youngest individual in Ghana’s history to hold that position.
Jinapor was elected MP for the Damongo Constituency in the 2020 elections and successfully retained the seat in 2024. Damongo, one of Ghana’s oldest constituencies, has since remained a strategic stronghold for the NPP in the Savannah Region.Born in 1983, Samuel Jinapor is the son of Abudulai Jinapor, a retired police officer and Chief of Buipe in the Northern Region.
He began his academic journey at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics in 2006. He later pursued a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) at the University of Ghana, graduating in 2010, and was called to the Bar in 2012. He also holds a Master of Laws (LL.M) in Alternative Dispute Resolution from the University of Ghana.
Legal Career and Entry into Politics
After being called to the Bar, Jinapor began his legal career at the reputable law firm Kulendi@Law. He quickly rose through the ranks from a pupil to a senior associate. His political journey, however, began even earlier. Although his family had ties to the NDC—his brother being a key figure in the party—Samuel eventually shifted allegiance to the NPP during his university days. He joined the Tertiary Education Students Confederacy (TESCON), the student wing of the NPP, and became deeply involved in party activities.
His rise within the party was swift. He was mentored by figures such as Nana Akufo-Addo and Richard Anane, and by the time the NPP returned to power in 2016, Jinapor was already considered a trusted party operative.
Personal Life
Samuel Abu Jinapor is married to Naada Jinapor, the daughter of Nayon Bilijo, a former Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture. Naada is a corporate lawyer with the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT). Together, the couple has four daughters.
As the lone NPP MP in the Savannah Region, Samuel Abu Jinapor’s presence in Parliament is not just symbolic but strategic. His ability to retain his seat in a region that overwhelmingly leaned toward the NDC in 2024 demonstrates his individual popularity and the political weight he carries.
Whether he can help the NPP regain ground in the region remains to be seen, but for now, he stands as the party’s last bastion in Savannah.
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