Abena Oppong-Asare wins Newcomer MP of the Year Award

Another week and more good news concerning OBV alumni. Abena Oppong-Asare MP has been awarded the Newcomer MP of the Year Award by the Patchwork Foundation. She was chosen for the award due to her inspirational work to combat discrimination in the media and in society, and with students in her constituency throughout the pandemic. Upon receiving the award she thanked her constituents of Erith and Thamesmead. She stressed that she had not represented her constituents alone and extended thanks toward community organisations, faith groups, teachers and NHS and care workers.

It has been a year which featured personal success for the Labour MP. The former Bexley councillor was promoted to the opposition front bench in October when she was rewarded for her impressive start as an MP by being handed the role of the Shadow Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury. This left her responsible for Labour's economic strategy within the UK.

She received additional praise in October for her call on MPs to form a Race Equality Strategy, a statement in line with OBV's continued stance on the matter. Meanwhile her demand for the UK's school curriculum to be looked into to ensure it was reflective of the UK's diverse makeup, made her one of a number of high profile figures to join the fight for a diverse curriculum.

All of this has been achieved in the relatively short space of a year, and she is only the second ever British Ghanaian MP.

This follows on from last week’s announcement concerning the recent success of councillors Sharon Thompson and Sanicha Alasia at the Baton Awards, as well as Sanchia Alasia's latest win as The Outstanding Woman in the Public Sector at the Precious Awards.

All in all, it's been an encouraging week for OBV alumni, who continue to make a difference in their respective communities.

Well done Abena!

OBV

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