{{short description|Ghanaian politician and lawyer}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = Hon. | name = John Darko | honorific_suffix = MP | constituency_MP = Suame | parliament = Ghana | term_start = 7 January 2025 | predecessor = Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu | president2 = John Dramani Mahama | vice_president2 = Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1979|06|04|df=yes}} | birth_place = Bremang, Ashanti Region, Ghana | party = New Patriotic Party | occupation = Politician | profession = Lawyer | alma_mater = University of Ghana (BA, LLB)<br>Ghana School of Law (BL)<br>University of Houston (LLM) }}
'''John Darko''' (born June 4, 1979) is a Ghanaian lawyer and politician, serving as the Member of Parliament for the Suame constituency in the Ashanti Region.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-03-08 |title=Minority appoints John Darko as Legal Counsel |url=https://citinewsroom.com/2025/03/minority-appoints-john-darko-as-legal-counsel/ |access-date=2025-05-01 |language=en-US}}</ref> He represents the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Ninth Parliament of the Fourth Republic of Ghana<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-04-16 |title=Removing CJ will set a bad precedent for Ghana - John Darko |url=https://citinewsroom.com/2025/04/removing-cj-will-set-a-bad-precedent-for-ghana-john-darko/ |access-date=2025-05-01 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Parliament of Ghana |url=https://www.parliament.gh/members?mp=94210 |access-date=2025-06-25 |website=www.parliament.gh}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=24 April 2025 |title=Has Mahama been suspended for travelling in a private jet with his son - Suame MP questions |url=https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Has-Mahama-been-suspended-for-travelling-in-a-private-jet-with-his-son-Suame-MP-questions-1981143 |access-date=1 May 2025 |website=Ghana Web}}</ref>
== Early life and education == John Darko hails from Bremang, a suburb of Kumasi in the Ashanti Region of Ghana.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Parliament of Ghana |url=https://parliament.gh/members?mp=94210 |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=parliament.gh}}</ref> He holds BA (HON) political science & Theatre Arts in 2003 from the University of Ghana. He also holds a LLB from the University of Ghana in 2007.<ref name=":0" /> He further went to the Ghana School of Law and completed in 2009. He also has an LLM from the University of Houston in 2010.<ref name=":0" />
== Career == Darko began his legal career as an Associate at Gyandoh Asmah & Co., and later became a partner at Darko, Keli‑Delataa & Co. He joined the faculty at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) in 2014, teaching courses such as constitutional, environmental, and natural resource law.<ref>{{Cite web |title=John Darko – Donewell Life Company Limited |url=https://donewelllife.com.gh/team_member/john-darko/ |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=donewelllife.com.gh}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Mr John Darko – GIMPA |url=https://gimpa.edu.gh/faculty/mr-john-darko-2/ |access-date=2025-05-01 |language=en-US}}</ref>
=== Politics === John Darko was appointed Legal Counsel to the NPP Minority Caucus in Parliament in March 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |last=at +233 0543 900 732 |first=For more information, please contact ExpressNewsGhana via email at expressnewsgh@gmail com or WhatsApp |date=2025-03-09 |title=MP for Suame leads Minority Caucus as Legal Counsel |url=https://expressnewsghana.com/2025/03/09/mp-for-suame-leads-minority-caucus-as-legal-counsel/ |access-date=2025-06-25 |website=Express News Ghana |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Minority Caucus appoints John Darko as legal counsel - MyJoyOnline |url=https://www.myjoyonline.com/minority-caucus-appoints-john-darko-as-legal-counsel/ |access-date=2025-06-25 |website=www.myjoyonline.com |language=en-US}}</ref> He contested and won the New Patriotic Party (NPP) primaries for the Suame constituency in July 2024, securing 68% of the votes.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-01-27 |title=NPP Primaries: Lawyer John Darko beats Suame MCE |url=https://www.gbcghanaonline.com/news/politics/john-darko-beats-suame-mce/2024/ |access-date=2025-06-25 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=GIMPA Law Faculty lecturer files to contest NPP Suame constituency primaries - MyJoyOnline |url=https://www.myjoyonline.com/gimpa-law-faculty-lecturer-files-to-contest-npp-suame-constituency-primaries/ |access-date=2025-06-25 |website=www.myjoyonline.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
In the December 2024 general elections, he was elected as Member of Parliament for Suame with approximately 74.6% of the valid votes cast, succeeding the long-serving MP and former Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Suame Summary - 2024 Elections |url=https://www.modernghana.com/ghanahome/ghanavotes/2024/result_constituency.asp?constituency_id=2116 |access-date=2025-06-25 |website=www.modernghana.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Ghana 2024 Election - Suame Constituency Parliament Results |url=https://www.peacefmonline.com/pages/2024/parliament/ashanti/suame |access-date=2025-06-25 |website=www.peacefmonline.com |language=en}}</ref> In Parliament, he serves on the Youth, Sports and Culture Committee, and the Judiciary Committee <ref>{{Cite web |title=Parliament of Ghana |url=https://www.parliament.gh/members?mp=94210 |access-date=2025-06-25 |website=www.parliament.gh}}</ref>'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Minority caucus is not afraid of ORAL team - John Darko - MyJoyOnline |url=https://www.myjoyonline.com/minority-caucus-is-not-afraid-of-oral-team-john-darko/ |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=www.myjoyonline.com |language=en-US}}</ref>'''
== Personal life == Darko is a Christian.<ref name=":0" />
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Darko, John}} Category:Living people Category:1979 births Category:New Patriotic Party politicians Category:University of Ghana alumni Category:Politicians from Ashanti Region Category:Ghana School of Law alumni Category:University of Houston alumni Category:Ghanaian Christians Category:Ghanaian MPs 2025–2029