Mr Ussif Mustapha, New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) elect for Yagaba/Kubori Constituency in the Northern Region, has commended the people for voting massively for him.
He said: "I accept the responsibility with humility and will like to commend the people of Yagba/Kubori and all the constituents for the confidence they have reposed in me."
Mr Mustapha, in the December 7 election, polled 8,123 representing 53.10% whiles the incumbent Abdull-Rauf Tanko Ibrahim of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) polled 7,175 representing 46.90% of the total valid votes cast.
In an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Accra on Friday, he said people of the constituency voted for change because they understood that the future of their children was at risk if they should continue with the incumbent MP.
"They also understand that the challenge the modern Ghanaian society faces is too important to toy with," he said.
Mr Mustapha said the constituency had been under-represented since its inception in 2004 and that there was no single community or village which had access to electricity, adding; "People are still dying on bicycles whiles trying to access health care."
He said the incumbent MP was silent on the plight of the people who voted him to Parliament to represent their interest.
"As far as I am concerned, education and agriculture will be my priority as a development facilitator, more than 75 per cent of the people in my constituency have little or no formal education and more than 90 per cent of the people are into the agric and farming business."
Mr Mustapha thanked opinion leaders, including Imams and pastors in the Yagba/Kubori Constituency, for their commitment in maintaining peace during the elections and appealed to them to continue to pray for peace, unity and development.
He assured them of his commitment to develop the area, adding, "I gladly accept the mandate and hope to live up to expectation. I thank all whose effort has contributed to this unprecedented victory."
"I hope to inspire and really represent my constituency as a member of parliament in the truest sense, with passion, humility and conviction."
Mr Ussif Mustapha was born on 16 August 1979 in the Tamale Metropolis of the Northern Region.
He started his primary education at the Koforidua Presbyterian Primary school in the Eastern Region and continued to Salaga Secondary School in the Northern Region from 1993 to 1996.
Mr Mustapha then proceeded to Bagabaga Training College in the Northern Region where he obtained a Teacher Certificate "A" from the University of Cape Coast from 1998 to 2001.
He taught at Wataniya Islamic Primary and Junior Secondary School from 2001 to 2004 and worked at Block & Hexter, Pennsylvania, USA, as a store manager from 2004 to 2006 and proceeded to pursue a B.A (Hon) in International Business Management at the Anglia Ruskin University at Chelmsford, United Kingdom from 2007 to 2010.
Mr Mustapha obtained an MBA in Financial Investment with distinction at the University of Gloucestershire, UK, from 2010 to 2011.
He worked as Sales Manager at Spinach and Agushi, UK, from 2007 to 2008 and G4S Inte’d Service, Stevenage, UK, as a Supervisor from 2008 t0 2010 and a Freelance Translator for Action Aid, London.
Mr Mustapha is computer literate and a dedicated Muslim who does not play with his religious duties.
He likes watching football and movies, listening to music and reading to be updated on current affairs locally and globally.
Mr Mustapha is married to Mrs Fuseini Zulfawu Mustapha and had one son, Jamal Malgu Mustapha, and one daughter, Nasara Mustapha.