Samuel Atta Akyea

Samuel Atta Akyea is a lawyer from Kyebi who succeeded Nana Akufo-Addo as MP for Abuakwa South in the Eastern Region, holding the seat for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) from 2009 to 2025, and served as Minister for Works and Housing from 2017 to 2021.

State attorney and private practice

Born on 20 August 1962, Atta Akyea studied law and philosophy at the University of Ghana and was called to the Bar in 1994. He began as a state attorney at the Attorney-General's Department, then joined Akufo-Addo, Prempeh and Co, the law firm co-founded by the future president. In 2003 he set up his own chambers, Zoe Akyea and Co.

Following Akufo-Addo

When Akufo-Addo gave up Abuakwa South to focus on his 2008 presidential campaign, Atta Akyea took over the seat, winning about 75 percent of the vote. He was only the second person to represent the constituency in the Fourth Republic, and he held it for four terms.

Works and Housing

As Minister for Works and Housing he pledged to finish the housing projects left incomplete by the previous government. In the Eighth Parliament he chaired the Works and Housing Committee and had earlier served on the Finance, Public Accounts, Judiciary and Appointments committees.

Kingsley Agyemang succeeded him as the NPP's MP in 2025.

Recent legal work

After leaving Parliament Atta Akyea returned to the courtroom in high-profile cases involving NPP figures. He is lead counsel for Chairman Wontumi in his appeal against a 20-year sentence for illegal mining, and on 15 October 2026 asked the High Court to grant bail pending appeal, arguing that his client had always complied with earlier bail terms; the ruling was fixed for 4 November. On 1 October 2026 he accompanied Manhyia South MP Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah when the MP reported himself to EOCO.