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She will be 45 years on July 12, this year and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Lower West Akyem in the Eastern Region.

Ms Gifty Klenam was sworn in as an MP in January, 2008 and is among those who would be contesting to be the party’s parliamentary candidate for Lower West Akyem.

Ms. Klenam was the guest on the newly introduced TV3 programme, Everyday People last Saturday. It is broadcast on Saturdays during the 7.00 p.m. news bulletin.

At the age of 13 years, she became a Kayayo in Tema, to earn a living because her aunty, who she stayed with, did not care much about her. Her aunty’s husband asked that she (Gifty) be sent to school and she was enrolled at Datus School in Tema. She started at the age of 16 years in stage four.

Asked whether she was not embarrassed by being in stage four at that age, she said she was not bothered because she was determined to improve herself.

Gifty revealed that quite a lot of her elementary school expenses were borne by proceeds from the Kayayo business. Even whilst at school, she would use her spare time to do the Kayayo business.

The NPP MP studied hard and passed the Common Entrance Examination so well that she had a government scholarship for her SSS education at Asuom Secondary School.

On why she entered politics, Ms Klenam explained: “It is an occupation/profession that you need credible people to enter. If you sit back and say you are not interested in the act of governance, the performance or otherwise of politicians will impact on you. It is a decision I made and will continue to serve my people.”