The 2024 Ghana general elections is scheduled to be held on 7th December and one of the National Democratic Congresses’ parliamentary candidates is Yakubu Issifu, a former Hearts of Oak U20 player, who is in the race to become member of parliament for Mampong constituency.
Issifu also served as Student Representative Council (SRC) president at Sunyani Polytechnic now known as Sunyani Technical University between 2013 and 2014.
The insurance marketer is largely touted as one one of the brightest young politicians within the National Democratic Congress (NDC) party. In addition, many sons of Mampong see him as the ideal person to represent the constituency in Ghana’s parliament.
Keep on reading this article to learn more about the life and achievements of one of the rising stars in Ghanaian politics.
Yakubu Issifu at Hearts of Oak U20
After playing for third-tier side Kofiase Red Lions in Asante Mampong between 2009 and 2010, Yakubu Issifu joined another third-tier side Odomobro FC where he helped qualify the team to the second division during the middle league of 2011 that took place at the Mampong St Monica’s park.
Due to his talent, a number of Ghana Premier League clubs chased for his signature, however, it was Hearts of Oak that succeeded in signing the striking sensation. It was the late famous Phobian Kwabena Adusei “Kanawu” who first scouted Yakubu before the club sealed his transfer from the Ashanti region to the capital.
Likened to Nigerian international striker Yabuku Ayigbeni and Senegal’s Demba Ba, Yakubu Issifu was a powerful center-forward who could have easily become of one of the best Ghanaian strikers to reach greater heights in global soccer but for injuries.
After impressing Auroras head coaches Sampson Lamptey and Dauda Luterodt, Yakubu Issifu was promoted to the senior team in 2011, however, series of injuries prevented him from making a first-team appearance.
Yakubu Issifu at Sunyani Technical University
Frustrated by the niggling injuries, Yakubu Issifu reasonably ended his professional footballer ambitions to pursue further education as he enrolled at STU where bagged a Higher National Diploma in Marketing.
Once a footballer always a footballer. Issifu was an integral part of the university’s football team where he won the top goal-scorer award to help his school clinch gold medal in men’s football at the Ghana Polytechnic Games (GHAPSA). Moreover, he formed part of the team that competed at the West African Polytechnic Games (WAPOGHA) held in Yaba state, Nigeria.
Due to his humility, dedicated involvement in extracurricular activities, resilience, confidence, integrity and his innate talent to lead, Yakubu Issifu won election to become the SRC president of the STU and served for the 2013/14 academic year.
From a talented lower-tier footballer to SRC president, insurance marketer, and an Assemblyman for Kofiase electoral area, the charismatic 42-year old politician chalked another big success with his resounding victory in the Mampong NDC parliamentary primary ahead of the 2024 Ghana general election.
The former student leader secured 723 votes with his opponent polling 284 which shows Yakubu Issifu’s remarkable rise in political popularity as he now seeks to go to parliament.
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