Mark Owen Woyongo (9 June 1946 – 17 January 2024) was a Ghanaian politician who served as the Ghanaian Minister for the Interior for the Ghanaian Ministry of the Interior. He was also the Member of Parliament for the Navrongo Central constituency in Ghana.

Hon.
Mark Owen Woyongo
Member of the Ghana Parliament
for Navrongo Central
In office
7 January 2013 – 2017
Preceded byJoseph Kofi Adda
Majority2,464
Upper East Region Minister
In office
2009–2014
PresidentJohn Atta Mills
Preceded byAlhassan Samari
Succeeded byEphraim Avea Nsoh
Minister for Defence
In office
2013–2014
PresidentJohn Dramani Mahama
Preceded byJoseph Henry Smith
Succeeded byBenjamin Kunbuor
Minister for the Interior
In office
16 July 2014 – 7 January 2017
PresidentJohn Dramani Mahama
Preceded byKwesi Ahwoi
Succeeded byAmbrose Dery
Personal details
Born(1946-06-09)9 June 1946
Bolgatanga, Northern Territories
Died17 January 2024(2024-01-17) (aged 77)
Accra, Ghana
NationalityGhanaian
Political partyNational Democratic Congress

Woyongo first stood for election on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress in the 2008 Ghanaian parliamentary election, winning 41.7% of the votes and losing to Joseph Kofi Adda of the New Patriotic Party by 1,130 votes (3.5%).[1] He was however appointed the Upper East Regional Minister by President Mills in his government in 2009. He was retained in this position by President Mahama following the death of Mills. In 2013, he was nominated by President Mahama for the position of Minister for Defence.[2]

Early life and education

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Woyongo was born on 9 June 1946 in Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region of Ghana. He attended Notre Dame Secondary School in Navrongo in 1966. He completed a Diploma in Journalism from Ghana Institute of Journalism in 1971. He undertook professional courses in Ghana and abroad.[3]

Political career

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Mark Owen Woyongo was the Public Relations Officer for the Upper East Regional Administration from 1978 and 1985. He was appointed the Regional Information Officer, Upper East Region in 1985. In 1994, he was appointed the Minister Counselor for Information at the Ghana High Commission in London, United Kingdom. Mark Woyongo was the Minister for the Upper East Region from 2009 to 2012.[4] He survived a fatal accident when returning from the NDC congress held in the Upper East region.[5]

Woyongo won the 2012 parliamentary elections on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC). In 2013, he was appointed Defence Minister and subsequently to the Ministry of the Interior during his tenure as Upper East Regional Minister.[6]

Personal life and death

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Mark Woyongo was married and had two children.[7] He died on 17 January 2024, at the age of 77.[8][9][10]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Parliamentary Results Navrongo-Central (Upper East)". GhanaWeb. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
  2. ^ "Mahama appoints more ministers: Haruna for Trade". GhanaWeb. Archived from the original on 23 January 2013. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
  3. ^ "Profile of Hon. Mark Owen Woyongo". Ministry of the Interior│Republic of Ghana. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  4. ^ "Profile of Hon. Mark Owen Woyongo". Ministry of the Interior│Republic of Ghana. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  5. ^ "Mark Woyongo survives near fatal crash". The Ghana Guardian News. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  6. ^ "Profile of Hon. Mark Owen Woyongo". Ministry of the Interior│Republic of Ghana. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  7. ^ "Profile of Hon. Mark Owen Woyongo". Ministry of the Interior│Republic of Ghana. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  8. ^ "Mark Woyongo is reportedly dead". GhanaWeb. 18 January 2024. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  9. ^ "Former Defence Minister Mark Woyongo dead". Citinewsroom - Comprehensive News in Ghana. 18 January 2024. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  10. ^ "Former Interior Minister Mark Woyongo passes on - MyJoyOnline". www.myjoyonline.com. 18 January 2024. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
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Parliament of Ghana
Preceded by Navrongo Central
2013–2017
Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by
Alhassan Samari
Ministry for Upper East Region
2009–2014
Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister for the Interior
2014–2017
Succeeded by
Military offices
Preceded by Minister for Defence
2013–2014
Succeeded by